Orphan

Release Date: October 31, 2018

Arcade, platformers, 2D, metroidvania, crowdfunding, indie games, singleplayer

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Steam

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A two-dimensional platformer created by independent American developer Wind Hill. The players control a young boy abandoned by his family, who tries to survive an alien invasion.

Plot
Game mechanics
Technical aspects

Orphan is an independent 2D platformer born through Kickstarter campaign started by Windy Kill studio. It is the debut project of the American team and has been developed since 2015. The game was inspired by classics like Another World, Blackthorne, Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysey and Limbo.

Plot

Orphan’s story is set in a near future and Appalachia region of United States, where a small boy lives with his family. One day, the Earth is invaded by alien machines, aiming to eradicate all life. The first attack results in a destruction of the protagonist’s house, with his relatives disappearing without a trace. Without a help of adults, the boy must venture into the world to find a safe place. His journey will through mountains, valleys, forests and abandoned houses won’t be easy, as entire Appalachia is patrolled by alien machines, forcing the protagonist to fight for survival.

Game mechanics

Orphan is a classic two-dimensional platformer with a side view. The game focuses on fights with enemies, both ordinary robots and powerful bosses, which he can deal with in a few ways. Firstly, the player can simply avoid opponents by distracting them and sneaking behind them while hiding behind covers like rocks and boxes. Secondly, robots can be eliminated silently by getting quietly behind them. And lastly, later in the game, it is possible to face them head on, but one must still be on guard, as even a single contact with an enemy will result in death. As risky as fighting is, it can also net us precious items, like force field generator that can be used to overcome traps.

To make fighting easier, developers provided players with various weapons that can be found in the game. Those include bottles, dynamite, EMP grenades, mines, and even rocket launchers and aliens’ laser guns. As different robots have different weak points, choosing a proper weaponry is crucial.

As players progress through the game, the hero gains new skills. He will be able to climb more efficiently, run faster and become better at hiding. Skills also improve his battle prowess.

According to developers, Orphan isn’t the game for once. Many stages can be completed in a few ways, offering a different kind of experience with different items.

Technical aspects

The visual style of Orphan strongly resembles the 2010’s Limbo. The game’s world is varied, but grim and colorless, with shade-like enemies. Creators revealed that they combined real photographs with highly detailed background animations to create those graphics.

A lot of work has been put into animating the protagonist. The boy moves using almost twenty animated parts.

Last updated on September 19, 2018

Videos and Screens

[1:11] Orphan launch trailer

[1:36] Orphan trailer #1

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