A new challenger in the platforming Metroidvania genre has just been announced. Developed by Petoons Studio, Curse of the Sea Rats describes itself as new genre named “Ratoidvania”. The game will scurry its way to multiple platforms by 2021.
Curse of the Sea Rats is a platformer that is focused on exploration and discovery set on the coast of Ireland in 1777. The game’s story revolves around a group of heroes who are transformed into rats by a pirate witch. It is now the players task to help them rescue the Admiral’s son and break the magic spell.
The game follows the usual Metroidvania elements, with combat displayed in 2D while being in a 3D environment. Curse of the Sea Rats will also provide players the freedom to explore the vast world with its non-linear stage and quest design. Players can choose from four playable rats (David Douglas, Bussa, Buffalo Calf, and Akane Yamakawa) that they will guide throughout the game’s 11 different scenarios.
Customization options are also available, such as upgradable weapons and special abilities. A local multiplayer mode will also be included for the game’s release. One more feature guaranteed by Petoons Studio is downloadable content and free updates to engage their playerbase after launch. Lastly, Petoons Studio CEO Sergio Garcia said that Curse of the Sea Rats is just a part of the big project they are planning: “Curse of the Sea Rats is part of a transmedia project including an animated series, comic books, and toys…The game will become the first Metroidvania starring rats.”
The game looks pretty good already despite it only being in a pre-alpha state, with hand-drawn animations taking centerstage. If Curse of the Sea Rats can back it up with gameplay then consider me sold on this “Ratoidvania.”
The announcement was accompanied by a two-minute trailer consisting of pre-alpha gameplay. Fans of the genre should be seeing more of Curse of the Sea Rats when it is presented for the first time at Gamescom 2019, to be held at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany from August 20 to 24. Curse of the Sea Rats will launch on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC by 2021, which is still a ways away. Don't expect to see a release date announced at this year's Gamescom presentation.
