Navigate the war-torn lands of Heian period Japan in this FTL-style roguelike where you’ll make tough choices in randomized events, fight off a dangerous yokai army in tactical, turn-based hex combat, and recruit powerful allies to defeat the bloodthirsty sorceress Takiyasha.
Background story
In 940 Taira no Masakado, the leader of insurgent forces against the central Japanese government, was killed in battle. His killer, Fujiwara no Hidesato, removed his head and took it to the capital in Heian-kyō, present-day Kyoto, to serve as a warning to other potential rebels.
Upon hearing the news of her father’s death, Takiyasha, was sent into a deep rage. Determined to exact her revenge on the imperial government, she contacted a local onmyouji, or sorcerer, to teach her how to summon an army to rekindle her father’s rebellion. From her father’s now ruined palace of Soma, she summoned an army of yokai. Demons, ghosts, spirits, and other horrible creatures spread forth from Soma, terrorizing Japan. The central government, weakened by the Fujiwara clan through years of decentralization efforts, is quickly disintegrating. Infighting among the other rich lords has left them unable to mount a combined defense against the yokai forces. Japan is flooded with refugees from the ongoing war. Pockets of resistance attempt to keep the yokai at bay, but their forces are wearing thin.
Assuming the role of a famous persona from the Heian era, you must lead a small band of warriors from the small island of Yakushima, south of the main island of Kyushu, north through Japan, acquiring powerful weapons and allies and carving a path to defeat Takiyasha and her yokai army.
Gameplay info
In The Wind and Wilting Blossom you’ll navigate the war-torn lands of a 959AD Japan with a party of characters led by a famous persona of the era. You’ll stop at famous locations of the period, triggering randomized events in the style of FTL where you’ll make tough choices that could result in positive or negative results or combat.
Combat in The Wind and Wilting Blossom is tactical and turn-based, taking place on a hex grid. Combat alternates between Player and Enemy Turn. Each unit in combat receives one Attack action and one Move action per Turn, and these actions may be used in any order. During their respective Turns, combat units may take their individual turns in any order. You’ll fight a variety of enemy types, each with unique combat abilities to overcome through tactical decision-making.
In the style of roguelikes, you’ll die often and restart often in The Wind and Wilting Blossom. However, as you progress, you’ll be unlocking a variety of weapons to wield, characters to recruit, and new leaders to help you on your path to defeating the bloodthirsty Takiyasha and her yokai army.
Key features
- Tactical Combat – Battle a variety of enemies in tactical, turn-based, hex combat.
- Randomized Events – Travel across Japan triggering randomized Events with multiple outcomes where each playthrough is different.
- Permadeath – Each playthrough forces you to make tough decisions that matter -because there are no second chances.
- Unique Allies to Recruit – Recruit and level up a band of warriors composed of farmers, samurais, poets, ninjas, and many more — each with their own unique abilities to bring to the fight.
- Powerful Weapons – Collect a variety of powerful weapons — each with their own unique attack.
- Unlocks – Unlock new leaders and warriors through achievements during gameplay.
- Historical – Assume the role of a famous persona such as the brave samurai Minamoto Yoshiie, the powerful warrior monk Benkei, the author of The Tale of Genji Murasaki Shikibu, and many more from the Heian period of Japanese history to lead a band of heroic warriors.
About developer
Picklefeet Games team includes folks who have worked on indie PC releases, free-to-play mobile games, and even the AAA title Middle-earth: Shadow of War. While none of them are currently employed in the games industry, they like to think they’ve seen enough to know how to design, build, and launch a great game.
They are passionate about finishing this project and sharing it with other gamers like themself and have always seen this as the proverbial “labor of love” since they first began very slowly working on it several years ago.
Release date & platforms
Steam Early Access: Summer 2020 Target Release Date: Spring 2021
Platforms: PC, Mac (and hopefully Switch!)
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