Halfbrick Studios recently shared their excitement about an innovative new project, Guncrypt, a dungeon crawler that pivots away from the traditional gear chase, focusing instead on the strategic loading of bullets. Known for their hit mobile games such as Jetpack Joyride, Fruit Ninja, and Dan the Man, Halfbrick is poised to capture the attention of gamers once again.
In Guncrypt, players will encounter a unique weapon system featuring three guns, complemented by over 60 bullet types and 80 relic types. This combination allows for a customizable gameplay experience tailored to individual playstyles. For instance, loading a Corrosive Shot before a Heavy Shot creates a different impact than if the order were reversed. Players can also fuse bullets for new effects or rearrange their entire magazine between rooms to adapt to changing challenges.
Adding depth to the gameplay, tarot cards provide passive bonuses to the starting loadout between runs, while the Curse Level introduces escalating challenges across five tiers, ensuring that the gameplay remains engaging as players progress. The adventure unfolds across four procedurally generated floors, each filled with distinct enemies, hazards, and a formidable boss awaiting at the end.
The demo plays nice
Testing the demo version of Guncrypt on my Nobara Linux setup was a seamless experience, with no additional files required thanks to Steam Play utilizing Proton for compatibility. The game opens with a captivating cutscene that sets the narrative backdrop: the once-thriving town of Guncrypt has fallen under the curse of an evil wizard, who has stolen the souls of its inhabitants, leaving them in disarray and unable to act. This predicament ultimately falls into the hands of the player.
The tutorial presented a refreshing twist on movement mechanics, as I navigated my gunslinger by holding down the left-click and dragging rather than using the conventional WASD keys. Engaging with NPCs like the Pirate and the Blacksmith led me to the crypt, where I was presented with a quest list, the primary objective being to unravel the mystery behind the wizard’s curse.
Upon entering the dungeon, I was thrust into immediate combat, skillfully dodging enemies while managing my reload timer. After a challenging run, I was greeted with a scoreboard detailing my performance, including the floor I reached, the bullets I utilized, and a comprehensive breakdown of my scoring metrics.
Bullet pickups added another layer of strategy; I encountered three options and selected Spark, a powerful round that inflicts 110 damage and unleashes lightning upon enemies during reload. Later, I received bombs from the pirate, “Plunderin’ Pete,” which proved invaluable for clearing obstacles and dispatching foes.
Release, when?
As it stands, Guncrypt does not yet have a confirmed release date or pricing, with the Steam page simply indicating “Coming soon.” However, players can explore the demo, which performed admirably on my testing setup. Additionally, a native Linux build is in development and is expected to be available after the game’s official launch.
