A downloadable game

Summary

Above The Dust is a 2d horizontal game with action and puzzle elements. The game background is set in 2065, in which the whole world is within a post-apocalyptic environment. 40 years ago, a worldwide nuclear war happened, and it almost destroyed everything. Cities, transportations, and necessities for survival were turned into dust. 75% of the population died from that disaster and following riots and hunger. What’s worse, because of nuclear pollution, humans cannot stay more than 5 minutes above the ground. Ever since that, humans have been pushed to live underground. However, luckily, lots of technology is still capable of being used to keep humans alive and make it possible to reach the prosperity of pre-apocalypse high-tech society again.

After 40 years of recovery, people start to move attention to the ground. Scientists have designed numerous AI robots, and are going to use them to rebuild everything above the dust. Ludens is our main character (which is the only character controlled by players) that is the latest version of an all-purpose AI robot created by Docter Bridges. He is going to rebuild nuclear-proof infrastructure. In his journey, he will encounter many obstacles on his way to the north. Players have to apply their wisdom to Ludens to find out ways to pass those obstacles and solve some puzzles to get into some pre-war facilities. The most important thing is to build wireless generators to keep Ludens moving. In unexplored areas, if players cannot find the right places to build the generators, after Ludens uses up its power, it will not be able to move. Besides those essential gameplays, players would gradually find secrets and conspiracies as the game goes on. In the end, players would make their own decisions that determine how the game ends.

Gameplay

The gameplay is centered around passing each of the levels designed in the game. In each level, users will take on the perspective of the Ludens (the main character) who they will be able to control via various standard keyboard commands (WASD + space bar + P). At each level, users will be tasked with avoiding traps and finding certain items that will aid them in passing the level. In this process, the player will have a set amount of energy that is continuously being used up. If the player does not have the right equipment to replenish their energy in time, they will not be able to travel forward and the level will be reset. The player’s ultimate goal is to reach the final level where they will be revealed the ultimate truth and they will have to make a decision in which direction to proceed with the game.

Key Feature

2d-horizontal game

A grand worldview and a complete story

Exquisite level design

Well-designed cutscenes and storyline

Multiple endings

Something About the Current Version Of The Game

This is a prototype version of the game, so there is limited content in the game itself. But we have completed the whole storyline and gameplay design. A complete version will come out later.

Github Link: https://github.com/Thomas1728/A-Game