Little Legendary has launched the Kickstarter campaign for SHADE Protocol, a cyber-fantasy sci-fi metroidvania. According to the studio, the campaign reached its funding goal in 30 minutes.
SHADE Protocol follows Zura, a failed experiment who wakes up in a world that remembers its creators more clearly than its future. The game mixes a handcrafted world, fast melee combat, pixel art and a story about humanity, grief, music and machines.
Combat uses precision melee attacks, specialized Instruments, parries and counters. Players can switch between DAWN and SHADE modes to change their approach in real time. The world also exists as code, and Zura can use that structure to alter events, revisit key moments and change outcomes for factions.
Little Legendary says the Kickstarter stretch goals are meant to expand the game rather than make development possible from scratch. The studio wants crowdfunding to keep community feedback close to the production process while the team builds a larger version of the metroidvania.
SHADE Protocol is listed on Steam. Campaign materials also show plans for console platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.
