Micahl Dickens
OkiDoki-NrdShmN
Evolver is a new 2D fighter being worked on by an indie startup called Weapons Grade Studios. We hope to accomplish several things with Evolver, but we primarily want to create a fun, new, easy-to-start-difficult-to-master, competitive 2D fighter, as well as create a fighting game with a truly deep metroidvania style single player campaign. The primary purpose of this post is presenting the multiplayer, and explaining the game mechanics. Throughout the post, I will be using the following notation:
A – Square/X A, B, C, and D are mapped to attack keys.
B – Triangle/Y If not mapped, they do nothing.
C – Cross/A
D – Circle/B
L – Light attack
H – Heavy attack
f – Forward
b – Back
d – Down
(EvB) Evade Burst - L1/LB Player is intangible during a short dash forward
(PoB) Power Burst/Toss Item - R1/RB Tosses bomb or charges knockout attack
(ReB) Repulse Burst - L2/LT Counters and parries most attacks
(CrB) Create Burst - R2/RT Adds meter or converts meter into health
(AuB) Augment Burst - L2+R2/LT+RT Instantly kills opponent over 88% damage
(SoB) Soul Burst - All shoulder buttons Does a multitude of things
(Thr) Throw – down+(PoB) Throws enemies; ignores (EvB)
(CoB) Control Burst (while attacking) – down+(CrB) Resets string without recovering or juggling
(BrB) Break Burst – down+(ReB) Knocks away enemies while being hit; combo breaker
A string of attacks indicates the buttons are pressed in succession, e.g: AAA or ABA or CDB. A “~” symbol indicates a connection between an attack and a special move that requires direction inputs, like BBA~ffA.
As the stances can be mapped to any key, combo specific notation is as follows:
StancenameClassAttack = SnCA; for example CopterbladeHeavy3 = CbH3
An S in the attack position indicates a special (CbLS), and no attack indicates a full string.
Example: CbL,CbLS = CbL1,CbL2,CbL3,CbLS = CopterbladeLight1,2,3,Special
Here's an example of an actual combo
One of the most unique things about Evolver is the string select system. Each combatant has 3 fighting styles, and each fighting style has a Light String, and a Heavy String, with each string having a respective special attack or Stance Burst. Players must select 4 of the 6 strings for their chosen fighter which will also decide their specials and possible Augment Bursts.
The character select screen
Once both players have selected their four strings, a map is chosen and the round begins. Players then fight to the death using a number of resources to prevail. The game is over when a player reaches the designated number of kills which by default is 3.
Gameplay Mechanics:
Both players start with 0 on their Damage Gauge, and 35 Synergy in their Synergy meter. Synergy is the primary resource within the game universe, as well as the meter gauge for fighting. Each stance has at least 1 knockup attack, and most strings (not to be confused with stances) have 2 to 3 attacks. Synergy is earned by landing attacks, being attacked, or using Create Burst. Synergy is spent during most bursts according to the burst chart below:
Stance Bursts vary in cost and are generally more expensive for more powerful/utilitarian specials. As almost everything cost Synergy, it is extremely important to manage your meter.
Basic bursts include EvB, PoB, ReB, and CrB. These bursts are done by simply pressing the corresponding key with no prerequisites outside of the meter required and the cooldown. Advanced bursts include Augment Burst, Control Burst, and Soul Burst. Control Burst can only be performed during an attack string and will reset the current attack string as well as cross up to the other side of the defender. Augment Burst can only be performed if the defender is over 88 on their damage gauge and can only be down if the correct attack combination is performed. So with Thadeo, the main character, one of his Augment Bursts is BighandHeavy1,StormcallerHeavy2,CopterBladeLight3. To perform an Augment Burst, you must get the opponent above the base damage limit of 88, complete the specific combo, press L2+R2 at the right time between the second and third attack, and have the 50 meter necessary.
Soul Bursts are a special kind of bursts that use 100 Synergy. The specific of Soul Burst are different for each character, but you basically become extremely vulnerable for a short time while dolling out extreme damage. While Soul Bursting, all attacks add special marks that effect the opponent negatively. Marks from hand to hand attacks cause stagger damage causing the enemy to lose both movement and attack speed. Marks from weapons cause DoT/bleed damage. Marks from Helix or power stances varies based on the power. For example, Auriel’s Gravitor stance adds marks the decrease the gravity factor for opponents allowing for much longer combos.
Most bursts can be changed or Shifted by holding the down key. To EvB backwards, simply hold down when you press the key. Similarly, PoB can be shifted to throw and ReB can be shifted to breaker. Shift can also be used to change stance during a control burst.
Additionally, almost all bursts have cooldowns that vary based on the power of the burst. You can see the cooldowns in the HUD. Below are a few more combos from the game. If you're interested, like our page here.
A – Square/X A, B, C, and D are mapped to attack keys.
B – Triangle/Y If not mapped, they do nothing.
C – Cross/A
D – Circle/B
L – Light attack
H – Heavy attack
f – Forward
b – Back
d – Down
(EvB) Evade Burst - L1/LB Player is intangible during a short dash forward
(PoB) Power Burst/Toss Item - R1/RB Tosses bomb or charges knockout attack
(ReB) Repulse Burst - L2/LT Counters and parries most attacks
(CrB) Create Burst - R2/RT Adds meter or converts meter into health
(AuB) Augment Burst - L2+R2/LT+RT Instantly kills opponent over 88% damage
(SoB) Soul Burst - All shoulder buttons Does a multitude of things
(Thr) Throw – down+(PoB) Throws enemies; ignores (EvB)
(CoB) Control Burst (while attacking) – down+(CrB) Resets string without recovering or juggling
(BrB) Break Burst – down+(ReB) Knocks away enemies while being hit; combo breaker
A string of attacks indicates the buttons are pressed in succession, e.g: AAA or ABA or CDB. A “~” symbol indicates a connection between an attack and a special move that requires direction inputs, like BBA~ffA.
As the stances can be mapped to any key, combo specific notation is as follows:
StancenameClassAttack = SnCA; for example CopterbladeHeavy3 = CbH3
An S in the attack position indicates a special (CbLS), and no attack indicates a full string.
Example: CbL,CbLS = CbL1,CbL2,CbL3,CbLS = CopterbladeLight1,2,3,Special
Here's an example of an actual combo
One of the most unique things about Evolver is the string select system. Each combatant has 3 fighting styles, and each fighting style has a Light String, and a Heavy String, with each string having a respective special attack or Stance Burst. Players must select 4 of the 6 strings for their chosen fighter which will also decide their specials and possible Augment Bursts.
The character select screen
Once both players have selected their four strings, a map is chosen and the round begins. Players then fight to the death using a number of resources to prevail. The game is over when a player reaches the designated number of kills which by default is 3.
Gameplay Mechanics:
Both players start with 0 on their Damage Gauge, and 35 Synergy in their Synergy meter. Synergy is the primary resource within the game universe, as well as the meter gauge for fighting. Each stance has at least 1 knockup attack, and most strings (not to be confused with stances) have 2 to 3 attacks. Synergy is earned by landing attacks, being attacked, or using Create Burst. Synergy is spent during most bursts according to the burst chart below:
Stance Bursts vary in cost and are generally more expensive for more powerful/utilitarian specials. As almost everything cost Synergy, it is extremely important to manage your meter.
Basic bursts include EvB, PoB, ReB, and CrB. These bursts are done by simply pressing the corresponding key with no prerequisites outside of the meter required and the cooldown. Advanced bursts include Augment Burst, Control Burst, and Soul Burst. Control Burst can only be performed during an attack string and will reset the current attack string as well as cross up to the other side of the defender. Augment Burst can only be performed if the defender is over 88 on their damage gauge and can only be down if the correct attack combination is performed. So with Thadeo, the main character, one of his Augment Bursts is BighandHeavy1,StormcallerHeavy2,CopterBladeLight3. To perform an Augment Burst, you must get the opponent above the base damage limit of 88, complete the specific combo, press L2+R2 at the right time between the second and third attack, and have the 50 meter necessary.
Soul Bursts are a special kind of bursts that use 100 Synergy. The specific of Soul Burst are different for each character, but you basically become extremely vulnerable for a short time while dolling out extreme damage. While Soul Bursting, all attacks add special marks that effect the opponent negatively. Marks from hand to hand attacks cause stagger damage causing the enemy to lose both movement and attack speed. Marks from weapons cause DoT/bleed damage. Marks from Helix or power stances varies based on the power. For example, Auriel’s Gravitor stance adds marks the decrease the gravity factor for opponents allowing for much longer combos.
Most bursts can be changed or Shifted by holding the down key. To EvB backwards, simply hold down when you press the key. Similarly, PoB can be shifted to throw and ReB can be shifted to breaker. Shift can also be used to change stance during a control burst.
Additionally, almost all bursts have cooldowns that vary based on the power of the burst. You can see the cooldowns in the HUD. Below are a few more combos from the game. If you're interested, like our page here.
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