Pre-Release Update: Last Chance for Early Access

Neverspring Chronicles is almost complete!

A massive new update has been uploaded to the Steam Early Access page stuffed full of bug fixes, performance improvements, new maps, new characters, polished scenes and more. To anyone who might be out there that has played the game as it develops, thank you for your support. It has been a long road and it feels very surreal to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Major Update Notes

• For testing purposes... all boss fights can be skipped by losing or running away. This will change on release.
• For testing purposes... players can save anytime, anywhere. This will change on release. (be careful saving at strange times like in the middle of a scene or event as it may cause problems if you try to load into the middle of something.)
• Several bugs and missing file errors have been fixed. Maps and coding have been cleaned up for better performance. So far in testing this seems to have fixed the problems with lag in towns.
• The planned Boss Fight mechanics have been implemented. Boss fights are now more bossy.
• All dungeons, levels, and map zones have been improved. Tons of new loot and secret treasures await.
• New characters have been introduced to adapt to changes in the storyline overhaul.
• Tutorial images have been peppered throughout early gameplay where appropriate.
• Inner Fire and character ultimates have been returned to the game.
• Incomplete or missing scenes have been fixed and polished.
• and more...

What's Left Until Release

• Available gameplay will take you all the way to the last dungeon. At that point a notice will appear to the player warning them of spoiling the ending.
• The last dungeon is still under construction. It can be visited and explored but the monsters and sub-bosses are inactive. The treasure chests present are also just place holders.
• If a player ascends the final dungeon all the way to the top it will trigger the final confrontation and ending just as it is supposed to. However, while the ending dialogue is all written out completely through to the credits, the final boss fight is just a place holder (not the actual final boss fight) and the ending scenes are not polished with actor movement and eye candy.
• So all that being said... a player can test the game from start to finish and see how it all wraps up but it will not be as grand an experience as it will be when complete.
• Some things may change slightly as I finish up and polish the ending, though, so keep that in mind.
• Once I have completed the final dungeon, final boss fight, and polished up the end scenes then the game will be "complete" but I will still need to comb through it one last time to make sure everything is just right.
• I put the word "complete" in quotes like that because there is still one major part of the game's design that needs to be addressed during this last stretch of testing; balancing the combat formulas and gear progression.
• Finishing the physical map for the final dungeon won't take long. The biggest part of this last stretch is testing and balancing the combat and gear.

Stretch Goals

• There are many things already coded into the game that I just need to build upon. Things I knew I wanted from the beginning but put off because I was focusing on actually getting the game finished.
• There is
• Combination Skills exist in the game (like Dual Techs and Triple Techs in Chrono Trigger) but I still need to actually make some skills for it.
• Side content like Villager Quests, Monster Hunting, and Mercenary Contracts exist in the game but are mostly deactivated while I polish them up.
• One or two more areas may be added, depending on how the flow of the game feels.
• Have you ever played games like Sid Meier's Civilization? You know how when you beat the game it gives you the option to keep playing? I have all this content sitting around from testing, research, and development... not to mention all the times the game went through complete overhauls... I really, really want to have it so that when the player beats the game for the first time it unlocks a whole other "Adventure Mode" that lets you play in the world as a sandbox. If you've ever played Sid Meier's Pirates! Gold then you might have an idea of what kind of sandbox play I'm talking about. No promises, though. It might be something I do in an update after release.

Huge "thank you" to everyone that has helped me along the way by supporting this project's Early Access. Every little bit of feedback is appreciated. As I wrap things up and figure out the gear to combat balancing, now is the time for any "can you add in" or "wouldn't that be cool if". If you see any bugs or plot holes or confusing parts please don't hesitate to report whatever you find. I am working hard to get this project to release before Christmas! Thank you for your support.




Final Days of Early Access: A Call to Kindred Spirits

P.S. - I have set a personal goal of having this project completed before Christmas of 2024. That means I have roughly 2 to 3 weeks to polish things up, balance things out, and tackle some stretch goals. I have held off really marketing this game, even for testing, until I had something of substance to offer. Well now is the time. Are you into JRPGs? Are you interested in the dev process? Did you grow up on titles like Final Fantasy 4/5/6 and Chrono Trigger? Do you want to support indie game devs and see some more classic JRPG adventures? If so, then you are my target audience for these last days of Early Access on Steam. Whatever feedback I can get in these next 3 weeks will help shape the course of this project's release. I'm no Tolkien or Lucas or Martin but I do want to offer a story and gameplay experience that is solid for what it is. Your honest feedback can help me do that.

And of course!

I have some cool ideas in mind to reward Early Access supporters. I am utilizing some of Steam's API to keep track of it all and there are checks hard coded into the game to check for whether or not a player was EA. Through this method I am able to put things in the game that only EA players can experience.