This is Jakub from Team Epikugemu - and yes, you've read the title correctly. We proudly announce to you...
EPIC QUEST - DEFINITIVE EDITION
While Krzysztof is working on his own little side-projects, I took up the task of rebuilding the game from the ground up and finally doing it justice. First and foremost: The Definitive Edition will replace the original, free of charge for anyone who previously bought the original release - which will also be included as a separate launch option for anyone curious enough to try it.
The game will be ported over to a new engine - possibly ensuring compatibility with more systems going forward. It will also now run natively in a 720p resolution and feature a plethora of new content.
SAME OLD GAME, FRESH COAT OF PAINT
To make it up to par with another ongoing project's standards, I've gone for my own art direction. No longer does the game look like a 40-year old relic. I took the given liberty to improve the aesthetics, while staying true to the game's roots, but that's not everything there is to it! The change also affects the map design! Have a look at some examples:
Here's the first overworld section:
The literal first room you see:
One of the dungeons:
And one of the later towns:
Much more pleasing to the eye, isn't it? Sure, it may lack some NPCs at the moment, but that'll be resolved soon enough. The other major change in the artstyle are some of the enemy sprites, now looking less like this; and more like this:
Already much better, eh?
Now in proper 2A03 sound!
The original game used a soundtrack comprised of simplified RPG Maker 2000 Midis with an NES soundfont thrown over them - Nothing too bad, nothing to brag about either - Well, that changes today! We're proud to announce a collaboration with SL3DZ to bring you a proper soundtrack fitting the 8-bit system's limitations. Check out the two tracks made for the game that he already published on his YouTube channel!
Your quest, Hero's journey
Now we move on to the really good stuff - The original was, more or less - a better or worse clone of a 40 year old barebones jRPG game. What worked back then is pretty outdated nowadays, and thus - a plot comprised entirely of two major conversations will simply not suffice these days.
As such, I took it upon myself to expand on it vastly, giving more purpose to things you'll find in the world, more reason as to why you're visiting certain places, quite a few side-quests, and a taste of things to come in the form of postgame content, including many enemies and locations exclusive to the Definitive Edition
Of course, with the engine change comes a new feature many players were probably waiting for: Achievements! We're preparing 20 different achievements in total, some story progression-based, others rewarding exploration!
Coming soon!
I'll be posting more updates on the remake from time to time, so be on the lookout until then! We're finally giving the game the justice it deserved, by bringing it right to the state it should've been in day 1! Remember - if you previously owned Epic Quest, your game will be updated to Definitive Edition free of charge as soon as it releases! Anyone who buys the game after that point will also be able to play the original 2024 release using the appropriate launch option, or by simply launching it from the game's files.
This was Jakub from Team Epikugemu, and I'll be seeing you on the flip side when we're ready to show off more progress!