Heartbound (video game)

Heartbound is a role-playing video game developed by American indie developer Pirate Software. The game centers around a boy who deals with depression, anxiety, and fear as he embarks on a journey through different locations in search of his dog, Baron.[2] The narrative changes with different pathways and endings depending on how the player interacts with the environment, other characters, and combat system. Each choice or interaction has the potential to change the game by adding dialog, encounters, or interactive objects to the world.[3]

Heartbound
Designer(s)Jason Thor Hall
Artist(s)Bradie Shaye Rehmel
Composer(s)Stijn van Wakeren
EngineGameMaker Studio
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux
ReleaseEarly Access: December 25, 2018[1]
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

An alpha version of the game was released for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux in November 2016 on Steam Greenlight. The game was greenlit by the community in ten days and received enough support to reach the top game on the platform for that time period. A beta was then released for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux in February 2017 along with a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. This campaign was successful within its first 24 hours, and the game is now in development for the final release.

Initially scheduled for a full release in December 2017, the game is currently planned to be released in sections; an early access version of the game has been released in December 2018, and content will be added over time through patches. Its now fully released. [1]

Gameplay

Heartbound is a role-playing game that borrows many conventions from other gaming genres. Progress is achieved by exploration and player choice, and how the player interacts with the world shapes the story line and the environment for the rest of the play-through. According to the Pirate Software website:

"Every time you interact with an object, talk to an NPC, forget to turn off a light-switch, take out the trash, or disregard a sparkly bush the game remembers this and will change subtly for all further interactions. The greatest part about this design is that it already works and is in the current builds of the game. Both minor and major differences are going to pop up throughout the game and give the community something to share with one another. Everything you do matters no matter what kind of player you are or choose to be." [4]

Alternate reality game

A series of cryptographic puzzles can be solved outside of Heartbound, accessible from the game's website. These puzzles provide additional lore and offer an alternative narrative parallel to the game. Completing portions of the Alternate reality game (ARG) can foreshadow or unlock additional game content.

Combat
A gameplay screenshot of Heartbound, showing Lore in combat against an enemy named Barghest in a memorization mini-game. Lore's health is noticeably low.

Heartbound does not use the traditional systems of levels, experience, or consumables; everything is skill-based and combat can change based on the player's actions and relationships with others. Equipment can be found throughout the world, which augments Lore's damage and maximum health. Every enemy has unique mini-games that are not encountered anywhere else in the game. There are no random battles, and a number of encounters are avoidable based on how the player progresses.

Characters

Home World
  • Lore is the main protagonist of Heartbound. He is a troubled young man who routinely fights off internal turmoil and negative thoughts. His outlook can alter how he perceives both communication from others and the physical world around him. Together with his faithful companion, Baron, Lore manages to make it through each day. He has the bad habit of never cleaning up his socks, and they can be found nearly everywhere.
  • Baron is Lore's dog, guardian, and best friend. He overflows with happy-go-lucky positivity in every situation and always knows what to do. This helps to balance out Lore's innate negativity and unease. Baron has an intense fear of isolation and cannot function without Lore nearby. Because of their reliance on one another, the duo are essentially inseparable.
  • Binder is a mysterious old man who lives deep in the forest. He possesses immense strength of will and is incredibly stubborn. His home serves as a makeshift library, with tomes haphazardly littering the walls and floor. Binder knows a lot more than he lets on, but he prefers to allow others the pleasure of discovering things for themselves. Binder has an intense addiction to apples but will not admit this fact to any living soul. He also has the ability to speak in Guardian Glyphs.
  • Lore's father is mostly absent in Lore's life. He is somewhat rude to Lore, and is described as being in a bad mood most of the time.
  • The Barghest is a Darksider Lore meets in the forest after waking up and finding Baron to be missing. Its namesake is The Barghest of Northern English folklore.

Animus
  • Ramul is a quick-witted and quick-footed rabbit who serves as the mailman in Animus. If you ever need a message delivered before you finish writing it, Ramul is the guy you need to see. His adoptive mother and father are Shelly and Sheldon Mossback. Sheldon dislikes Ramul's line of work and wishes that Ramul would slow down and do "real work" on the family farm. Ramul and Remé have been dating for a while but try to keep it low-key.
  • As the grand conspiracy theorist of the village, Remé is always up on the latest rumors and regards himself as the go-to source for news before it's news. He has an uncanny ability to detect vibrations in the ground and can hear others speaking from a great distance away. Remé is constantly cold in the generally chilly environment and wears winter clothing year round. Ramul and Remé have been dating for a while but try to keep it low-key.
  • As the resident outsider of the Animus, not much is known about Phil. He appeared one night and took up residence without a word to any of the other villagers. Remé claims that Phil is a government assassin sent to kill him but says if he cites any sources they would be "taken out" as well. Phil speaks using a strange dialect that results in bubbles filled with imagery depicting his thoughts appearing about his head whenever he talks.
  • Rhode spends most of her time combing the forests outside of Animus searching for medicinal herbs and beautiful flowers to sell. Rhode trades with Cirsi to provide materials for her alchemical creations. She spends a lot of time hanging out with Ramul and Remé, chatting about the latest news or dreams of the future. Pines over Fern but is far too shy to be forward enough for the oblivious deer to notice.
  • Fern is a deer possessing a singularly dominant personality. Fern appears to care nothing for the opinions of others and is very confident in herself. This confidence, however, is just a mask she uses to hide her immense self-doubt and worry. Most of her days are spent with Avocado reading hundreds of books aloud for the mole to transcribe. Because of her internal turmoil Fern is entirely unaware of Rhode's interest.
  • Seto is a great bear of immense power and the guardian of Animus. He watches over the village and would lay down his life for any of the other villagers. A stoic and aloof creature, Seto prefers a life of quiet solitude in a cave near the edge of the forest. Only the oldest remember the times before Seto, and they have nothing pleasant to say about it.
  • One of the most down to earth possums around, Cirsi serves as the village alchemist. Her tinctures and tonics help the crops grow and bring others back from the brink in times of sickness. She describes the villagers as "a bunch of downright animals" and is never afraid to say how she really feels about things even if it's not the most popular opinion. She spends much of her day creating new alchemical tinctures and taking care of her sister Carli.
  • Carli is a sister to Cirsi and one of the sweetest members of the village. She is exceptionally shy and prefers to stay indoors. Many months ago her mother's life was cut short in a terrible accident and she hasn't left the house since. Cirsi takes care of her and keeps her away from the other villagers.
  • Avocado is a small and mostly blind mole that is infatuated with books and puns of all kinds. She spends most of her time transcribing stories into braille with the help of her friend Fern. Avocado rarely leaves her home, but when she does, it's usually to pick up ink and supplies from Cirsi's shop. Her incredible hearing allows her to sense even the slightest movement.
  • Shelly Mossback is a kind and caring tortoise that walks the streets of Animus delivering food from Mossback Farms to the other villagers. In stark contrast to her husband, Shelly believes deeply in following Mania and strives to do something new and exciting each day. She loves her adopted son Ramul and wants him to follow his dreams and be whatever he wants to be.
  • An old snapping turtle, the owner of Mossback Farms, and husband to Shelly Mossback, Sheldon is a strong believer in Misery. He denounces Mania and sticks to his ways claiming that the earth provides for those with a routine and persistence. He dislikes the direction that his adopted son Ramul's life is going in and voices this frequently and vehemently.
  • Emelio is a gruff and no-nonsense blacksmith who builds all of the tools that keep the farm running. A strong believer in the primals, Emelio does everything he can to be productive and neutral in all aspects of his life. He's a very good friend of the Mossbacks and spends a lot of time talking to them.
  • Mania is the primal aspect of chaos, death, and madness. He can be found all around us in every terrible accident or lapse of judgement. He is the storm in sky threatening to overtake everything in an instant. The villagers believe that Mania must be sated with the chaos of new ideas and changing of old ways to avoid total destruction. Mania is one of the deities of the Animus.
  • Misery is the primal aspect of order, life, and sadness. Misery keeps order in the world and ensures the elderly pass on before Mania takes hold of them. When someone is lost to sickness, age, or accident Misery takes their body to the void beyond and replaces it with a sapling. The villagers believe that taking care of these trees honors their ancestors and keeps them happy in the afterlife. Misery is one of the deities of the Animus.

The Tower
  • Joe Regular
  • OScar
  • Phish
  • Whistler
  • The Boss

Muspelheim
  • Muus
  • Fire Penguins

Niflheim
  • Snifl
  • Frost Penguins

Development

Hall lists Secret of Mana, EarthBound (and the Mother series), Wario Ware, Secret of Evermore, and 1o57 as sources of inspiration for Heartbound.[1]

Reception

Heartbound's alpha and beta releases were both very well received. Both IGN and Game Skinny have shown interest in the direction the game is headed.[2][3] The game is currently holding the No. 2 spot for top indie release on Game Jolt.[5]

Video game music label Materia Collective released a preview version of the soundtrack by composer Stijn van Wakeren on July 13, 2018.

References
  1. "Official Heartbound FAQ". gopiratesoftware.com. November 3, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  2. Bonilla, Angelina (February 25, 2017). "Review: Pirate Software Talks about Heartbound's Journey of Emotion". gameskinny.com. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  3. Jagneaux, David (January 27, 2017). "Review: Heartbound First Hands-On Preview: Could This Be the Next Undertale?". IGN. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  4. "Heartbound Home Page". gopiratesoftware.com. November 3, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  5. "The Best Indie Games on Game Jolt". gamejolt.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
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