Hotfix
- Players can't select secret techniques
- [Fix] Players can't select secret techniques
Bloodless
Point N' Sheep · Shoreline Games
- Released
- Aug 29, 2024
- Platforms
- Last updated
Updates & announcements
Developer postOriginal post- Developer post
Bug Fixes
- Fix: Some players couldn't unlock the achievement for visiting all areas
Original post- Fix: Some players couldn't unlock the achievement for visiting all areas
- Developer post
Laser Guy - New Game by Bloodless devs
Hello players, we hope you're having fun with the Trials of Namazu Update ! We're here to announce our next game! Laser Guy is a comedic twin-stick anti-shooter where you’re an anxious game developer maneuvering your laser around coworkers trying not to blast anyone. Just another
Original postHello players, we hope you're having fun with the Trials of Namazu Update! We're here to announce our next game!
Laser Guy is a comedic twin-stick anti-shooter where you’re an anxious game developer maneuvering your laser around coworkers trying not to blast anyone. Just another day in the gamedev office!
Watch on YouTube It was originally a GMTK Jam entry a few years ago and got featured in Mark Brown's video, so if you remember the game it's probably from that xD
We recently got back to work on it, and just launched the Steam Page today, so wishlists are greatly appreciated, here's the game page:View game page
- Developer post
Namazu's Wrath, Interstitial Art, & Casual Mode
Hey all, it's that time! We've just released, a major new content update that contains a casual mode, new interstitial artwork by Chamba, and a fancy rogue-like mode called Namazu's Wrath. New Interstitial Artwork by Chamba : Throughout the campaign, players will encounter beauti
Original postHey all, it's that time!
We've just released, a major new content update that contains a casual mode, new interstitial artwork by Chamba, and a fancy rogue-like mode called Namazu's Wrath.
Watch on YouTube New Interstitial Artwork by Chamba https://www.instagram.com/thechamba/: Throughout the campaign, players will encounter beautifully illustrated cutscenes depicting key story moments and major character introductions. These hand-crafted visuals elevate the emotional impact of the narrative and highlight memorable encounters in the world of Bloodless.
New Casual Mode and Assist options: Allow players to enjoy Tomoe’s journey with reduced difficulty through carefully rebalanced combat systems. This mode is designed for players who want to focus on the story without the intensity of the original experience.
Key Adjustments:
Slower enemy stamina regeneration
Reduced stamina costs for player actions Increased starting HP
Enhanced tea recovery effects
Less aggressive enemy AI behavior
Rogue-like Mode, Namazu’s Wrath: A free update that places Tomoe on a mysterious island where the gods Namazu and Baku guide her. Fight through corruption and clear challenges to cleanse the island and chase after your former self, The Slasher.
We hope you enjoy this update and please let us know if you encounter any bugs.
Thank you for all the support!
- Developer post
Namazu's Wrath free update is out!
- New Rogue-like Mode, Namazu’s Wrath: A free update that places Tomoe on a mysterious island where the gods Namazu and Baku guide her. - New Interstitial Artwork illustrated cutscenes depicting key story moments and major character introductions. - New Casual Mode and Assist opt
Original post- New Rogue-like Mode, Namazu’s Wrath: A free update that places Tomoe on a mysterious island where the gods Namazu and Baku guide her.
- New Interstitial Artwork illustrated cutscenes depicting key story moments and major character introductions.
- New Casual Mode and Assist options: Allow players to enjoy Tomoe’s journey with reduced difficulty through carefully rebalanced combat systems. - Developer post
New Major Bloodless Update arrives March 17
Hey all, We have a major set of updates in the works that we wanted to share with our community. It includes a casual mode, roguelike mode, and new interstitial artwork by the incredible Chamba. But before we get into the fine details of it all, here's a trailer showing it off! N
Original postHey all,
We have a major set of updates in the works that we wanted to share with our community. It includes a casual mode, roguelike mode, and new interstitial artwork by the incredible Chamba. But before we get into the fine details of it all, here's a trailer showing it off!
Watch on YouTube Now then, here's a bit more info on each major part of the update.
New Interstitial Artwork by Chamba https://www.instagram.com/thechamba/: Throughout the campaign, players will encounter beautifully illustrated cutscenes depicting key story moments and major character introductions. These hand-crafted visuals elevate the emotional impact of the narrative and highlight memorable encounters in the world of Bloodless.
New Casual Mode and Assist options: Allow players to enjoy Tomoe’s journey with reduced difficulty through carefully rebalanced combat systems. This mode is designed for players who want to focus on the story without the intensity of the original experience.
Key Adjustments:
Slower enemy stamina regeneration
Reduced stamina costs for player actions Increased starting HP
Enhanced tea recovery effects
Less aggressive enemy AI behavior
Upcoming Rogue-like Mode, Namazu’s Wrath: A free update that places Tomoe on a mysterious island where the gods Namazu and Baku guide her. Fight through corruption and clear challenges to cleanse the island and chase after your former self, The Slasher.
That's all for now but we thank each and everyone of you for keeping up with us along this journey of ours and for all of your support.
Thank you!
- Developer post
Bug Fixes
- Fixed Secret Technique UI selection preventing from switching techniques
Original post- Fixed Secret Technique UI selection preventing from switching techniques
- Developer post
Looking for Playtesters for Roguelike Mode!
Hey, Back in August of 2024, we launched Bloodless as a very small team from Brazil. It had been a long journey to reach that point but it was rewarding seeing all the positive reviews from folks. However, since then we’ve constantly heard one crucial bit of feedback that we’ve t
Original postHey,
Back in August of 2024, we launched Bloodless as a very small team from Brazil. It had been a long journey to reach that point but it was rewarding seeing all the positive reviews from folks. However, since then we’ve constantly heard one crucial bit of feedback that we’ve taken to heart. "What if I just wanna beat the shit out of enemies...can you help us do just that?"
So we've spent the last 6 months building exactly that - a rogue-like mode where Tomoe's journey never ends.
**What we're adding:**
Main Campaign
Now called in game as "The Ronin of Bakugawa" on mode selection
Action-adventure featuring counter-based, non-lethal combat.
Released on August 2024, inspired by Sekiro and top-down Zelda games
Tomoe has sworn not to take another life, and must instead just disarm her enemies. Use a combination of counters and disarming ki-attacks to defeat the shogun’s army.
New Roguelike Mode
Called in game as "Namazu's Wrath" on mode selection
This is a free update including a new, separate roguelike mode in the game
The roguelike mode can be played as a separate experience from the base game, either before, after or as you play through the regular mode telling the story of Tomoe's return to Bakugawa!
Roguelike Mode - Story
On her way to Bakugawa, Tomoe gets stranded on a mysterious oneiric island
The gods Namazu and Baku guide her as she chases The Slasher - her former self
Fight through the corruption, cleansing the island as you clear challenges
Dig through Tomoe's painful memories to unearth special moments
Roguelike Mode - Gameplay
A condensed experience packing all the intensity of Bloodless' mechanics into a fast paced roguelike
A scaling difficulty mechanic to test for true mastery of the parry based combat
6 new powerups to spice up your runs
Secret Techniques - Special attacks that consumes ki-energy to use
VERNAL SQUALL - Blow a strong blast of rosy winds that can knock enemies back. Useful to interrupt enemy attacks.
KARMIC SPHERE - Block even the most dangerous attacks with a ki sphere that explodes in a shock wave. Useful to counter hard-to-dodge enemy combos
Power-ups - Passive abilities given as rewards as the player advances through the roguelike run
HELMET OF THE FEARLESS - Become invulnerable while using Ki Attacks.
BUNNY KITE - Increase Tomoe's base dash distance.
PRESSED MEMORY - Refill Ki Petals at the start of every combat encounter.
BANNER OF VICTORY - Become invulnerable for X seconds after performing a counter disarm.
HELP!
We're looking for 15-20 roguelike fans to playtest this mode before launch (March 18). If you're interested in helping us balance difficulty and provide feedback, fill out the form here:
We're offering free keys to play testers. No strings attached - we just want to make sure we're honoring the rogue-like genre properly.
What features would you most want to see in a mode like this?
- Developer post
Update notes Feb 11th
Updated splashart and credits to include Shoreline Games :)
Original postUpdated splashart and credits to include Shoreline Games :)
- Developer post
Hotfix Patch #3
Thank you for playing! Hey everyone, a new hotfix is live which fixes a variety of bugs and adjusts game balance. We hope you're enjoying your time playing Bloodless! Changes Adjusted the balance on the Bakushiki Tusk Crest by increasing its stamina cost Fixes: Fixed playable scr
Original postThank you for playing!
Hey everyone, a new hotfix is live which fixes a variety of bugs and adjusts game balance. We hope you're enjoying your time playing Bloodless!
Changes
- Adjusted the balance on the Bakushiki Tusk Crest by increasing its stamina cost
Fixes:
- Fixed playable screen area issues with 16:10 resolutions
- Fixed an issue where combat wouldn't initiate on Help Sharphead Mountains sidequest
- Fixed an issue where Tomoe would get stuck on a pushed animation loop after the Tea Gourd tutorial
- Fixed pause popup being triggered by the Steam Overlay activation
- Fixed Vibration toggle functionality on the options menu
- Fixed an issue during the Tokichiro boss fight where he would not use his full moveset
If you experience other bugs or issues, submit a ticket to our Support page or the Bloodless Discord server.
If you enjoyed the game, tell a friend and leave us a review! It helps a lot 🙏.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1592490/Bloodless/
- Developer post
Hotfix Patch #2
Thank you for playing! It's great to see the positive reviews on Steam and to hear from everyone enjoying Bloodless since launch! We have just released another hotfix patch to address a few minor bugs. We've outlined the changes below: Fixes: Fixed an issue where the Eikichi NPC
Original postThank you for playing!
It's great to see the positive reviews on Steam and to hear from everyone enjoying Bloodless since launch!
We have just released another hotfix patch to address a few minor bugs. We've outlined the changes below:
Fixes:
- Fixed an issue where the Eikichi NPC was in front of Tomoe’s sprite on Sacred Path
- Fixed a bug where ‘red’ attacks from Heavy enemies could be countered like a normal ‘white’ attack
- Fixed an issue where Tomoe could leave the battle before it started and be blocked outside on Sharphead Mountains and Old City
- Fixed an issue where the Heavy enemy with chains on Sharphead Mountains had a blindspot where they couldn’t attack Tomoe
- Fixed incorrect UI button prompts of additional Tea Gourds tutorial
If you experience other bugs or issues, submit a ticket to our Support page or the Bloodless Discord server.
If you enjoyed the game, leave us a review! It helps a lot 🙏.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1592490/Bloodless/
- Developer post
Hotfix Patch #1
Bloodless is finally out! Thank you to everyone who has played Bloodless so far! Our whole team at Point N' Sheep is really proud of the game and we're excited to see players enjoying it! We just pushed our first hotfix patch for the game and we've outlined the changes below: Cha
Original postBloodless is finally out!
Thank you to everyone who has played Bloodless so far! Our whole team at Point N' Sheep is really proud of the game and we're excited to see players enjoying it!
We just pushed our first hotfix patch for the game and we've outlined the changes below:
Changes:
- Increased knockback strength from Fast Lieutenant’s larger Shuriken attack
Fixes:
- Fixed an issue where UI button prompts would overlap
- Fixed a resolution scaling issue on Steam Deck
- Improved Elite Soldier animation timings
- Fixed an issue where Sora and Kenji would disappear before leaving on the ‘Help Bandits’ sidequest
- Fixed a visual bug with bamboo poles in the Bamboo Forest
If you experience other bugs or issues, submit a ticket to our Support page or the Bloodless Discord server.
If you enjoyed the game, leave us a review! It helps a lot 🙏.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1592490/Bloodless/
- Developer post
Bloodless is available NOW!
Hey everyone! We're really excited to finally launch Bloodless! It's wild to think that Bloodless started 5 years ago! Back then, we were just a bunch of youngsters here in the sunny Brazilian city of Recife getting together for a weekend to make a small game, have some good laug
Original postWatch on YouTube Hey everyone! We're really excited to finally launch Bloodless!
It's wild to think that Bloodless started 5 years ago! Back then, we were just a bunch of youngsters here in the sunny Brazilian city of Recife getting together for a weekend to make a small game, have some good laughs, and share some drinks.
After iterating a lot on incorporating feedback we got from showcasing the game in festivals, the project evolved into something more suitable to the international indie market. We had built upon our references of Sekiro and Zelda, as well as other indies like Hollow Knight, to make something truly our own.
Bloodless is a mix of everything we love about video games, storytelling, and art that we hope will bring as much joy to those who play it as it brought to those who made it.
Bloodless is available now and we’re super proud of how a small game jam project evolved into such a unique indie game. Thanks for your support and we hope you enjoy the game!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1592490/Bloodless/
Join us on our official Discord!
- Developer post
Bloodless Gameplay Stream
Original postWatch on YouTube https://store.steampowered.com/app/1592490/Bloodless/
Developer postBloodless Dev Diary #5 - Looking Back Before Launch
Hey everyone! We're very close to the release of Bloodless on August 29th . As we approach the launch of our first game as a studio at Point N Sheep , we think it's a great time to look back on the development journey that brought us here! Origins Eep! It's wild to think that thi
Original postHey everyone! We're very close to the release of Bloodless on August 29th. As we approach the launch of our first game as a studio at Point N Sheep, we think it's a great time to look back on the development journey that brought us here!
Origins
Eep! It's wild to think that this project started 5 years ago! Back then, we were just a bunch of youngsters here in the sunny Brazilian city of Recife getting together for a weekend to make a small game, have some good laughs, and share some drinks.
You can still play the original Bloodless 2019 version on its itch.io page! :)
Over the course of that weekend, the first version of Bloodless was born. In it, you played as a samurai with no sword, parrying your way into the Shogun’s castle to show them that you don’t need violence to get your message across… Or something like that.
The narrative was simple, but the gameplay was really fun and people seemed to be having a good time with it. We were really proud of what we had created, and the positive feedback was the fuel we needed to expand upon that small prototype.
Pre-Production
Now that we wanted to turn this into a full game, many questions came flooding in. What games do we use as a reference? What are our protagonist's motivations? Does it have to be a man? Maybe we don't want an exact historical portrayal of feudal Japanese society so we can make our own land of Bakugawa, where women samurai are just as common as men.
Maybe that means we need to develop Bakugawa's history and come up with characters, art, music, game mechanics, and... Oh dear, be careful what you wish for! The early stages of pre-production were intense and long, but we had a lot of fun.
The World
We decided very early on to split Bakugawa into four urban districts. This enabled us to explore the different layers of society and how they were struggling with the oppressive Samurai.
These locations had to balance many functions of both narrative and gameplay, pushing the story forward and giving players your typical adventure game suite of side quests and shops. Getting the geography right took time, and we kept updating the map as the game grew into something bigger.
Even though Bloodless was set in a fictional place, it still had feudal Japan as its main reference, so we researched a lot of history to fully develop all the details of Bakugawa's mythology, religion, history, and culture. Having all of this developed gave us a strong foundation to build upon, which is very important because a lot can change—by necessity or choice (or both)—during development.
Developing the Game
Characters
Early on, we focused a lot on deciding the character design and backstory of our protagonist, and so the nameless samurai quickly evolved into the Tomoe we see today in the game. Other main characters like the antagonists Akechi (the Shogun) and Tokichiro (General and Tomoe’s nephew) were also planned early on, but their character designs only came later, along with secondary characters and enemies.
Combat
The Game Jam version of the game had extremely minimalist combat. You could only walk and dash, and you parried attacks with the dash. We really liked this core mechanic and were very reluctant to add more actions for the player. However, we found that giving the player a purely reactive skillset led to a lot of waiting around, which was taking some fun out of the combat.
After much deliberation, we gave the player some "attacks". Of course, we wouldn't have Tomoe killing anyone, but we added Ki Attacks and Secret Techniques that can deplete the enemies' stamina and set them up for a disarm finisher.
This made our combat closer to a game like Sekiro where you can defeat enemies with both proactive attacks and well-timed reactions, and players can alternate between the two depending on their build or the situation.
Equippable crests, a skill tree, and the tea infusion mechanics helped us connect the progression of the combat with exploration and story, with players getting rewards for helping citizens and exploring the land for some goodies to customize their builds with expanded movesets and combat modifiers.
Art Style
The evolution of the game's art style peculiarly mirrored that of the gameplay. Just like how we were reluctant to give Tomoe any attacks, we thought the game's 2-bit palette of red, white, and black was important to its aesthetic.
We started exploring a dithered lighting style that could add visual variety with as few colors as possible. Getting the specifics just right was very challenging, but it really paid off once we put all the pieces together.
The art style we settled on has palettes of seven color tones for shaded objects, but the big twist is that those palettes can be switched to match the moods of different environments or story moments, like how in Pokémon Yellow each city would have a different color scheme!
We built a lot on top of this new art style, adding lighting effects, water objects with cool pixelated reflections, as well as more detailed vegetation and wildlife animals. At some point we were pleasantly surprised with how much of a real place Bakugawa had become.
Labor of Love
With all of this work we put in, and after iterating a lot on incorporating feedback we got from showcasing the game in festivals and reaching out to potential partners, the project evolved into something more suitable to the international indie market. We had built upon our references of Sekiro and Zelda, as well as other indies like Hollow Knight, to make something truly our own.
Seeing the game now complete makes us immensely happy and proud. We feel we never had to settle for something just because, rather, we always followed our design principles of iteration and focus on player experience.
Like with all projects, we had to throw some ideas out and change our perception of what the game even was a few times along the way, but all that was needed for Bloodless to become what it is now: a mix of everything we love about video games, storytelling, and art that we hope will bring as much joy to those who play it as brought to those who made it.
Wishlist and Play the Demo
Bloodless launches on Steam on August 29, 2024. Remember to wishlist (it helps us a lot)! We can’t wait to hear what you think!
PS: you can play the demo today too!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1592490/Bloodless/
- Rock, Paper, Shotgun
Tomoe is back in the free demo for Sekiro-like indie Bloodless
That was…slightly cheeky of me. The Tomoe you play in parry-ful action adventure Bloodless is not the same Tomoe that was conspicuously absent from undeniable influence Sekiro . They might be based on the same historical figure , but that’s simply Sek-ulation. However! You can ma
Original postThat was…slightly cheeky of me. The Tomoe you play in parry-ful action adventure Bloodless is not the same Tomoe that was conspicuously absent from undeniable influence Sekiro. They might be based on the same historical figure, but that’s simply Sek-ulation. However! You can make your mind up yourself for zero money, since Bloodless has a free demo on Steam. Trazzer below.
- Developer post
Bloodless is launching August 29th! Play the Demo NOW!
We’re very excited to announce that Bloodless will be releasing on Steam August 29, 2024! Our team has been working hard on this for the last 5 years and we are very proud of what we’ve created! In Bloodless, you’ll take control of Tomoe, a peaceful Ronin haunted by her violent p
Original postWatch on YouTube We’re very excited to announce that Bloodless will be releasing on Steam August 29, 2024!
Our team has been working hard on this for the last 5 years and we are very proud of what we’ve created!In Bloodless, you’ll take control of Tomoe, a peaceful Ronin haunted by her violent past as she journeys back to her homeland of Bakugawa. As you explore this Edo Shogunate-inspired world, you’ll encounter characters from Tomoe’s past, make new allies, discover special items and skills, fight dangerous bandits and bosses using non-lethal combat techniques, and strive to face off against the Shogun to bring peace to this land.
You can play the DEMO of Bloodless NOW (surprise, we decided to release the demo early)!
Start at the beginning of the game and experience a taste of the non-lethal combat system, skill progression, world exploration, character and story moments, and music from the full game coming later this year!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1592490/Bloodless/
We’re eager to hear everyone’s thoughts on the demo! Share your feedback in the Steam Forums.
Thanks for your support and enjoy the game!
Developer postBloodless Dev Diary #4 - Sacred City of Bakugawa
Hello everyone, this is Danilo Freire, Bloodless director. Today I’d like to talk a little bit about the latest Bloodless content we’re working on. If you missed the previous diaries, check them out on the Bloodless Steam page! Bloodless Dev Diary #1 - Intro Bloodless Dev Diary #
Original postHello everyone, this is Danilo Freire, Bloodless director. Today I’d like to talk a little bit about the latest Bloodless content we’re working on. If you missed the previous diaries, check them out on the Bloodless Steam page!
- Bloodless Dev Diary #1 - Intro
- Bloodless Dev Diary #2 - Story
- Bloodless Dev Diary #3 - Foes and Locations
Bakugawa, the nation where Bloodless takes place, is an island surrounded by coral reefs, optimal for fishing and defending from external attacks. Its economy is based on fishing and agricultural activities, and it’s divided into 4 urban districts: Old City, Fishing Village, Shadow District, and Sacred City; where Shogun Akechi resides and our focus for today.
Masaru Akechi is Bakugawa’s shogun, the one responsible for raising Tokichiro - and Bakugawa as a whole - in violence. Facing him and his violent regime becomes Tomoe’s goal.
Akechi became shogun after a popular uprising known as the shogun insurrection. He was a military leader working under the previous daimyo, but when Bakugawa was occupied by a foreign nation, the dreaded Tsushibutta, he rallied his soldiers - including Tomoe and her sister - along with the rest of the population to take down the colonizers, daimyo, and his allies. Now, as shogun, he lives in constant fear that outsiders might come again, so he does all he can to isolate his land, boast his army and crush every enemy that may still hide in his land.
The Sacred City is a Jōkamachi, meaning its urbanization is structured around a castle, which in this case is the base/residence of the region's military and political leader, the Shogun and his samurai army.
To increase the size of his army and give a chance of ascension to some, shogun Masaru Akechi took some children to be trained as samurai so they would eventually rise in social status. Ascensions inside the samurai class would occur but were not common either. Usually, rankings would be given according to the samurai’s family.
Many samurai of the highest rank patrol the city, including two high-rank samurai of the enemy types, sword-wielder and heavy-type, combining many of the previous foes moveset and a few new tricks in their sleeves.
—
Wishlist Bloodless now to keep up to date on its release date and more devlogs! Thanks!Watch on YouTube 
Developer postBloodless Dev Diary #3 - Foes and Locations
Heyo, Danilo here, Bloodless’s director, and today I’d like to talk a little bit about Bloodless’ influences and the latest content we’re working on. If you missed the previous diaries, check them out on the Bloodless steam page! Bloodless Dev Diary #1 - Intro Bloodless Dev Diary
Original postHeyo, Danilo here, Bloodless’s director, and today I’d like to talk a little bit about Bloodless’ influences and the latest content we’re working on. If you missed the previous diaries, check them out on the Bloodless steam page!
Bloodless Dev Diary #1 - Intro
Bloodless Dev Diary #2 - StoryBloodless’ protagonist, Tomoe, is a Ronin. She was a Samurai who fought in a civil war to repel a foreign occupation in her lands and install a new shogun. The death of her sister in this conflict made her realize she wasn’t living properly, so she ran away to start anew. Tokichiro, her nephew, son of her sister Hangaku, was one of the people Tomoe left behind.
After the passing of his mother, Tokichiro was then taken as a protege by the shogun. His mother’s sacrifice made him grow with intense loyalty for the shogun and his cause, even recently as the shogun has grown more and more authoritarian.
Since he was a child he was taught the importance of loyalty. Between that and the gratefulness he feels towards the shogun for adopting him, he feels he owes everything to his father figure, even with doubts about Akechi’s way, he buried these thoughts in favor of his loyalty.
Through the game’s story her aunt Tomoe (aka Bloodless) forces him into a new perspective to question his actions. He fears this might be a weakness, and this feeling will certainly get in the way of her aunt’s journey to put an end to Akechi's reign of violence.
Through her journey to get to the Shogun, and help the people of Bakugawa along the way, Tomoe gets to the Shadow District, the poorest area of Bakugawa. Houses people considered unworthy of the rest of society; simple merchants, artisans, mercenaries… The buildings in this area are precarious and close together. It is split between a residential and a commercial area (which includes an open market). Mountains surround the village, making it dark for most of the day, hence its name.
There is a samurai dojo in this area and its leader usually understates the gains (and consequently the taxes) of the merchants in exchange for personal favors. The Shadow District dojo leader is a powerful enemy from the Elite-type class, armed with a long spear, he unleashes long-range thrust and huge swipe attacks.
Deep inside the district Tomoe will find the district father’s tower, which serves as a warehouse to store contraband. But more than that, is an opulent monument to his success. There he deploys deadly traps and the skilled Shadow Mercenaries to defend from invaders. One of the mercenary enemies is the fast-type Assassin, who has a few new tricks on their sleeves, surprising Tomoe with teleport attacks and big-shuriken ranged attacks.
Wishlist Bloodless now to keep up to date on its release date and more devlogs! Thanks!
Watch on YouTube 
Developer postBloodless Dev Diary #2 - Story
Hi, I’m Renato, Point n’ Sheep’s narrative designer, and today I’d like to talk a little bit about Bloodless’ story and the latest content we’re working on. As we said in our previous Dev Diary , Bloodless began as a Game Jam project. The theme for this Jam was “You start with no
Original postHi, I’m Renato, Point n’ Sheep’s narrative designer, and today I’d like to talk a little bit about Bloodless’ story and the latest content we’re working on.
As we said in our previous Dev Diary, Bloodless began as a Game Jam project. The theme for this Jam was “You start with nothing”, so we thought about a swordless samurai who disarmed his enemies.
This concept was the basis for Bloodless’ gameplay mechanics and narrative as well. After all, we needed it to be cohesive. So, which stories can we tell with this in mind? In Bloodless’ case, it is a story about the use of violence to achieve peace.
Bakugawa, a japanese-inspired fictional land where the game takes place, has a history of war, invasion, insurrection and ongoing oppression. It's a setting which imbues ideals of violence to the characters living there.
One of Bakugawa’s key locations is the Fishing Village, deep into the Bamboo Forest, where the bridges close the gaps between the rivers and canals that cross the region, docks fill the coastline and the houses are made of wood and straw
Different from other regions, where taxes are paid by families, here the taxes are paid by the village as a whole, so that no single family struggles with the taxes.
The setting for the story is important but, as a long-time player of TTRPGs, I believe the best stories are character focused. So, in order to explore the theme of violence and peace, we came up with the character of Tomoe. Formerly a violent samurai, now a peaceful ronin, Tomoe returns to Bakugawa, her homeland, after decades of self-imposed exile. There she will meet old friends, family and allies with conflicting ideals.
The Elite Bandit is one of the many tough foes Tomoe will encounter, armed with a spear, and uses quick spinning attacks to connect long-range thrusts, swipes and slashes.
The predominant enemy faction Tomoe will fight is Akechi’s army of samurai, from low-rank to captains. Further into the story, higher-level enemies will come with stronger weapons and more challenging movesets.
It is up to you, as a player, to take control of Tomoe as she explores Bakugawa. There you will come to understand the problems plaguing the many factions of this land, like the samurai represented by her former ally, shogun Akechi, and her nephew Tokichiro, who is bound to repeat the same violent mistakes she did decades ago. Will Tomoe be able to rescue Tokichiro from this path? Will she be able to change Bakugawa and its people?
We at Point n’ Sheep are working hard to finish Bloodless’ story so we can share it with you.
Thanks!
Watch on YouTube