Retro-style game devlog #1: The fight is on!

Work on our retro-style “Milhamah” action RPG series is progressing, and we just released our first full devlog on YouTube.

Following the recent release of Godot 4.0, Aksanyah Studios introduces a WIP look at its retro-style, action RPG video game, “Milhamah: Fighting Words.” It’s based on a comic series where the grammatical parts of speech fight an apocalyptic war against the ultimate Tower of Babel. In this devlog, we describe our vision and showcase what we’ve done so far using tools like Godot, Aseprite, FL Studio and more. We also describe some upcoming challenges and what you can expect next.

We’re already well on our way toward adding enough new game mechanic features to do a second video, which will focus on a unique physics system in our game. But in the meantime, if you like what you see, subscribe and join us on our journey!

‘Milhamah’ launches first video game demo

Get your game on, and prepare to fight a global censorship empire to save the future of free speech in action-arcade style!

Aksanyah Studios, a metro Detroit-based media and entertainment publisher, today released its first playable “Milhamah: Fighting Words” video game demo.

Aksanyah invites gamers, streamers and more to test the demo’s play mechanics, follow “Milhamah” on social media, donate to the project and watch the game grow.

Plot

“Milhamah,” which follows the 2018 indie comic series, is set in a world where the linguistic parts of speech become living warriors. The plot is loosely tied to the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible’s Tower of Babel story:

“The Bavel Macrostructure promised an era of peace with ‘one language, few words.’ But its decadent dictator, Beli Ya’al, strangles speech and curates a consensus of lies.

“Bavel’s empire seeks to control the 22 letters that formed the universe — so its broadcast tower can brainwash the world. Only the sentient parts of speech, Shem ‘Etzem and his Holy Tongue Society, stand in the way. They’re using the ancient alphabet to fight Bavel’s brainless Guf soldiers. 

“‘Milhamah’ means war. It’s a biblical apocalypse for the freedom to tell the truth!” 

Fight Bavel's Guf soldiers.

Gameplay

The “Milhamah” demo, created through the Godot game engine, lets players try out the basic combat system. Move around your character, Shem ‘Etzem, and attack enemy Guf soldiers with punches or bone shards. Defeat them for points and healing Medicinal Eye Bandages. Stay alive as long as possible and earn a high score, but beware: The enemies also grow stronger over time!

Aksanyah plans to upgrade the demo every few weeks into a full-fledged game with lots of new features. In the next three months, the game’s development will focus on a dynamic inventory system plus new enemies, weapons, abilities, battlefields and items, including the 22 Hebrew letters.

Get involved

Dodge enemy bullets

Play the game by clicking the “Video Game” link on this site’s top menu, which connects to itch.io. If you like the game, please donate to our project over there. It will help us release faster updates. Also, spread the word on social media, and tell your gamer friends about it!

Keep updated on “Milhamah” news via the following websites and social media:

  • Milhamah.com
  • @MilhamahSeries: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Parler
  • @Milhamah: YouTube, Niconico

Game credits

Publisher: Aksanyah Studios
Music: Threadborn

Medicinal Eye Bandage

The Medicinal Eye Bandage is  a healing item.

Behold the Medicinal Eye Bandage!

This bandage is based on the רפא shoresh root and family, which largely deals with healing. In the “Milhamah” video game, your wounded warriors may pick up this poultice dressing full of glinus leaves. The item then heals heroes who apply it to their head or eyes.

A few days ago I finished a sprite animation for this item, and the game demo is shaping up nicely. My recorded video footage of designing it will go in an upcoming devlog.