Developer:

Skermunkel

 

Early Access Release Date:

13 October 2023

 

Planned Full Release Date:

Q4 2023

 

Platforms:

Currently Released:
Steam – Windows (Early Access)

Planned for Release:
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 5
Xbox One
Xbox Series X/S
Nintendo Switch
Android
iOS
Mac, Linux

 

Regular Price:

US $14.99

A South African urban legend called the Shakabula traps you in your house, could it be connected to your problematic past? You will need to find a way out of this horrendous curse. Creepy FMV+2D Art Atmosphere. “Steer” ‘n Click + Metroidvania navigation system. Twin-Stick Bullet Hell + JRPG Combat.

 

Developed and Published by South African Solo-Dev, Tiaan Gerber (Skermunkel).

Overview:

Be prepared to take on a terrifying South African legend, in this eerie experimental, horror shooter/exploration/rpg experience. Concocting an amalgamation of FMVs, 2D Art, South African folklore, Metroidvania, JPRG, “Steer” ‘n Click and Twin-Stick Bullet Hell to create a rare hybrid game that gives the player a memorable action rpg horror experience they won’t find anywhere else.

Story:
The Shakabula is a mysterious South Affrican Urban Legend that has taken many forms and is usually used as a character parents used to scare there kids if they were misbehaving. However, it seems that it is real and that not all is well with it, the current state of the world and it’s memory of existence fading away it has become confused and corrupted over time, now it seems to be targeting you and it has trapped inside some kind of spirit realm and you can’t seem to leave the confines of your house. But you’re an adult, not a misbehaving child, why would it be targeting you? Could it perhaps be connected to the guilt and anguish you feel for you past transgressions and terrible decisions. Either way, you will need to find a way out of this situation, otherwise, your soul will wither away and your spirit will be cursed to wander for eternity.

Blending together FMV (Full Motion Video) sequences with 2D Art, ! Shakabula * brings together a unique mix of aesthetics to create a creepy atmosphere and bring to life the players inner demons that will challenge you across your journey.

Navigation and Inventory:
! Shakabula * is heavily inspired by old school FMV Point-and-Click Adventure games in terms of it’s presentation, navigation and item collection, but with a twist, taking more of a “Active-Input” / “Animating Movement” approach to the formula, I call it “Steer” ‘n Click.

In terms of the game and world progression ! Shakabula * takes a strong Metroidvania approach rewarding the player with keys and abilities throughout the game that open up pathways in previous areas, requiring the player to backtrack in engaging ways in order to open up the entire map and make it to the end. With each playthrough having randomized placement of items and incorporating non-linear progression design, there is more than enough reason to replay ! Shakabula ¬ multiple times to receive a different experience each time.

Combat:
The combat also takes a novel approach by combining Turn-based 90s JRPGs for combat management and choices, with light QTEs for raising the risk/reward of conflicts, and intense Twin-Stick Bullet Hell sequences to act as satisfying expressions of the battle between you and your inner demons.

With over 80 different enemies, 7 different enemy types, 5 Power-Ups to collect, multiple different battle arena layouts that get tougher as you progress, ! Shakabula * provides the player with a combat system that feels novel, diverse and engaging.

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Get ready to be taken on a mysterious, creepy and strange little quest. Are you ready for the SHAKABULA?!

Premise:

When starting the conceptualizing and planning phases of the title lead developer/Designer of Skermunkel, Tiaan Gerber, is always inspired by local South African ideas and concepts and always strives to bring a South African flavour to all of the titles he creates. ! Shakabula * is very loosely based on South African folklore and urban legends while blending those elements with a more tragic, human story and presentation.

History:

A lot of the core inspiring mechanics and forms of presentation making up the foundations of ! Shakabula * such as the “Steer ‘n Click” FMV based navigation in a Metroidvania world structure as well as classic JRPG random battles and even wanting to surround the title around the South African urban legend of the Shakabula, were inside Tiaan Gerber’s head since the inception of the studio itself in 2018, but he could never completely figure out what exactly he wanted to do with the concept.

Over the years while working on other titles and running the studio, Tiaan kept tinkering at the idea from different angles with small prototypes and basic design documents.

Then in December 2022, Tiaan decided to finally take the idea head-on and started planning the story, the characters, the game world and the mechanics of the game.

In January 2023, Tiaan started the Unity game project that would eventually become ! Shakabula * and by the end of March 2023 Tiaan had the core FMV-based “Steer ‘n Click” navigation system setup with the Mini-Map and game-world constructed, player movement path ways setup and all video footage captured and integrated.

Next came the hardest task, to create a unique and engaging battle system. Tiaan wanted it to be a random battle system that was inspired by games like Earthbound and Undertale, while being a bit more active and interactive and less focused on keeping track of a bunch of stats and multiple characters, while wading through menus. He wanted to create a JRPG that the average more active focused gamer could find engaging, while also giving a unique approach to a Survival Horror experience.

This process took over 4 months with many iterations of the battle system being scrapped or reworked, each of them coming up either too complex or not fun or interesting enough. Eventually, Tiaan came up with a balance that struck the right balance between health/item management and action based combat.

In August 2023, Tiaan started working on the story and lore of the game, which really helped flesh out the game’s atmosphere, theme and setting. This was completed in about a month and then in September 2023 Tiaan started connecting all of the components of the title together and created the music for the title, while also getting it ready for submission to Steam Early Access.

In October 2023, Tiaan started setting up the Tutorial sequences of the title and finishing it up for Steam Early Access, then on Friday the 13th of October 2023, ! Shakabula * released onto Steam Early Access, with the Free Demo releasing onto Steam on 28 October 2023.

Current and Future Plans:

Currently, Tiaan is busy finalizing the rest of the game’s content as well as polishing it for the full and final release, while also using Steam Early Access and the Free Demo to get as much feedback and visibility as possible in order to be able to ensure the game is refined into the best possible final result. Tiaan is extremely busy around the clock to try and get the title ready for full release by Q1 2024.

Once the game is fully released, Tiaan will start porting and releasing the title to other consoles, platforms and digital stores, while also adding extra special features over time. Then later in 2024, Tiaan would also like to release a DLC for the game that adds more gameplay, story and lore content as well as new enemies, mechanics and an extra Boss.

Team:

Tiaan Gerber – Lead Developer and Designer

Inquiries:

[email protected]

Twitter:

@Skermunkel_ST

Facebook:

facebook.com/skermunkel

Web:

www.skermunkel.com