ABOUT FOUNDLINGS
Foundlings is a story-driven RPG that hybridizes aspects of JRPGs and CRPGs to bring the best of both genres together into an emotional journey of maturing, self-discovery and forgiveness.
STORY
Foundlings takes place during the rebellion against King Henry II in England, AD 1173, within the fictional county of Vorraine.
After getting arrested on the same night due to performing unsanctioned magical acts, young healer's apprentice Agnes and remorseful ex-executioner Frant are brought together by the whim of a local feudal lord.
They are tasked with tracking down the head of a deviant mages' guild, whom they suspect to be responsible for the recent unrest among both the local wildlife and the inhabitants of the surrounding villages.
The stakes are high, yet intimately personal. This is not a cliché story about saving the world. It is one about the experience of being human in a grim world.
COMBAT
Featuring a cooldown-based real-time combat system with manual execution that focuses solely on spellcasting, positioning and managing/manipulating resources for both your party members and your enemies, Foundlings also attempts to hybridize turn-based and action combat systems by taking cues from the classics of the RPG genre.
Innovating on the "active-time battle" system seen in many beloved '90's JRPGs, the game puts the onus on the player to get into advantageous positioning and place their spells carefully.
This way, casting the spells themselves takes on an active dimension, while the downtime in between is made exciting by the inclusion of movement which enables tactical maneuvers such as dodging and repositioning.
To add to the engagement of offence and defence in Foundlings, the player can attempt to perform timed inputs to both augment their spells' effects and nullify their enemies' assaults.
The player alternately controls Agnes and Frant as they battle both rival mages and abominable beasts. The companions each have their own decision-making logic while the player isn't controlling them, which evolves in nuance and utility as the characters grow closer together throughout the story.
In Foundlings, there are no swords or shields; only spells, scrolls, potions and movement.
Key Features:
15-20 hours of playtime, 10+ alternate endings
A touching, character-driven story
Real-time combat with manual spellcasting & timed inputs
Branching dialogue paths & stat-based skill checks
Unique stats and resources based on historical science and philosophy
Character customization via narrative choices
Exploration revealing the mysterious forces governing the medieval world
Enemies visible within the game's levels, without random encounters
16-bit pixel aesthetics + illustrations inspired by medieval European art
Music blending progressive rock, PSX-era game soundtracks & middle eastern folk music
