Trash Heart: A sci-fi raccoon metroidvania

📍 Brisbane, AU (AU)

🏷️ Video Games

Welcome to Trash Heart

Trade Route 45 Pitstop H (aka TR-45-H aka Trash Heart) is a remote planet in the aftermath of a violent uprising. The once peaceful society of outcast robots has been replaced by the tyrannical rule of the Trash Lord. Meet scattered survivors of the resistance and help them take back their planet.

Play The Demo

Trash Heart's store page is currently live on Steam. Click hereto play the demo or wishlist the game.

Trash Heart is a metroidvania platformer that combines run’n’gun combat with challenging platforming. Navigate an unforgiving world full of hostile robots, survive bullet hell flavoured boss encounters and master precision platforming challenges to collect upgrades and unlock new abilities.

Combat features a strategic loadout system where you'll balance primary weapons for consistent damage and ammo generation against powerful special weapons with tactical trade-offs. Combat encounters emphasize pattern recognition and skilful positioning as you face enemies and bosses with varied attack patterns.

Platforming

Creative movement and traversal are central to the platforming experience thanks to a pair of high-tech Launch Boots that enable you to jump higher than a raccoon has any right to. Trash Heart doesn't technically have a double jump mechanic. Instead the Launch Boots generate static when used, but can used from anywhere, even mid-air, as long as they haven't been overloaded. As you progress you'll also find a number of upgrades and attachments that expand their your boots, including a Magnetic Coil for wall running, a Lateral Stabilizer for forward thrust and Static Buffers that increase the number of times the boots can be used before becoming overloaded. Many of the abilities you will collect also offer ways to discharge static allowing further uses of the Launch Boots and enabling fluid aerial movement chains.

Some of the upgrades you will find include:

Spatial Anchor

This device holds the user in place. It can be used to wait for a more opportune moment to land, to avoid enemy attacks, or to maintain a better vantage point to fire from.

Launch Boot Upgrade: Lateral Stabilizer

Focuses thrust vectors to enable horizontal thrust from the Launch Boots. If the user impacts a wall they will be bounced off with an upwards trajectory. This can be used to cross gaps and climb ledges.

Vortex Generator

Rapidly rotates the user. If the user makes contact with certain objects while spinning, static will be discharged. This can be used to allow additional uses of other quantum devices, or to dispel enemy attacks.

Boss Fights

Throughout Trash Heart you will encounter the Trash Lord's Generals. They are powerful robots that will test your mastery of your weapons and abilities. Bosses are never too far from a save point, minimising runbacks.

Augments

In addition to standard stat upgrades to health, damage, ammo etc., Trash Heart has a collection of augments which modify a wide range of aspects of gameplay. Some grant conditional damage boosts, some provide additional utility, and some add additional functionality to your kit. Augments each cost a varied amount of sockets to slot, and extra sockets can be found around the world or bought from vendors.

Examples:

Why Kickstarter?

I am currently working on this project full time. While it is very close to being complete, at current velocity, savings will run out before the game is ready to launch. If this campaign is successful, it will provide the extra runway that is needed to finish the game without having to cut features.

The majority of funds will be used for living expenses during the remaining development period, with some going to other expenses eg. music licensing. A rough breakdown can be seen in the following chart.

Reward Disclaimer:
Custom names are subject to approval to ensure they're appropriate for all players. I'll work with you if there are any concerns.