A modern take on classic turn-based RPGs
Sea of Stars follows two Children of the Solstice who combine the powers of the sun and moon to perform Eclipse Magic, the only force capable of fending off the monstrous creations of the evil alchemist known as The Fleshmancer. The game is a turn-based RPG inspired by the classics, with dozens of original characters and story arcs. The tone shifts between epic, silly and emotional while exploring themes of adventure and friendship, with the twists and events you would expect from a Sabotage production. Combat keeps things moving with no random encounters, no transitions to separate battlefields and no grinding. You move through the world with a navigation system based on platformer expertise rather than grid-locked tiles, so you can swim, climb, vault, jump off ledges and hoist yourself up as you traverse seamlessly across the world.
Playing together with friends
The adventure is playable in its entirety by up to three players. Allies can drop in and out anytime to traverse the world together, and the group works as a party in combat. The shared mechanic to master is Co-op Timed Hits: pressing the action button in sync with the animations increases your damage output while reducing incoming damage, so coordinating timing with your friends pays off directly. The game is also available via Steam Remote Play Together, which gives your group another way to join up.
Combat systems worth knowing before you start
Beyond timed hits, combat features multi-character combo attacks, boosting, and a strategic "locks" system. Locks let you play with different damage types to hinder enemies while they are channeling powerful attacks or spells, so paying attention to what an enemy is casting matters. Outside of fighting, there is plenty to do when you want a change of pace: sailing, cooking, fishing, stopping by a tavern to listen to a song or playing the tabletop game known as "Wheels". The world itself is built on a custom render pipeline that pushes the limits of 2D pixel-art games, giving the whole journey a strong retro look with modern presentation.