Fans of titles like Blasphemous and Ender Magnolia should look forward to Vapor World: Over The Mind, a new Souls-like platformer focused on deflection combat where players enter the realm of dreams, seek lost memories, and ultimately face a mysterious world born of anguish and regret.

Shown on a recently concluded Xbox Developers Asia session developed by South Korea’s Alive Inc., Vapor World: Over The Mind stands is a testament to the artistry of hand-painted 2D visuals. With Xbox providing the proper support systems, the game is now ever closer to its journey from concept to reality.

Vapor World is a Souls-like Experience Infused with Atmospheric Depth

Drawing inspiration from critically acclaimed titles such as Inside and Little Nightmares, Vapor World immerses players in a world where human delusions, known as “Ideas,” manifest as nightmarish entities. This grim landscape offers intense battles in beautifully crafted environments that serve as eye candy.

The primary adversaries in this world, Traumas, are physical manifestations of emotions and memories from characters’ pasts. As an amnesiac protagonist, players must confront these ghosts and use a combat system that blends simplicity with depth. The mechanics are heavily influenced by Bloodborne’s methodical dance and Sekiro’s parry-driven action.

Combat is centered around two key approaches: direct assaults or well-timed deflections that weaken and ultimately destroy Traumas. A defensive system complements the game’s melee combat, and players can wield muskets and industrial-era weaponry, offering a diverse arsenal suited for various situations.

In Vapor World, players can encounter over 60 unique entities from the fragmented memories of their owners. Each enemy carries distinctive attack patterns, requiring players to master defensive maneuvers. Most strikes can be blocked or deflected, but certain attacks demand precise dodging, and breaking an enemy’s defenses exposes them to counterattacks.

Vapor World also introduces mini-bosses and creatures that pose significant challenges. Unlike bosses, these foes lack dedicated health bars and are part of the world as ever-present enemies to deal with. Defeating them rewards players with symbols and energy essential for unlocking abilities known as Projections.

Projections are basically skills that grant abilities to deal with the many foes that wander the world. These include projectile attacks and vision-obscuring techniques. Players can then refine these skills through the Inception skill tree, which further boosts the players’ capabilities.

The defining feature of Vapor World is its dreamy 2D aesthetic, enhanced by layered elements that create a near-3D perspective, often resembling a 2D Lies of P. This effect is achieved through advanced shading techniques and dynamic lighting, as every environment is crafted, making exploration a sight to behold.

Vapor World also offers players a seamless world design that ensures an expansive, interconnected map that evolves organically. Gameplay switches between action and narrative moments without interruptions, and boss encounters unfold dynamically, catching players off guard. The experience flows smoothly, further deepening immersion.

Alive Inc. is crafting Vapor World as an original, narrative-driven experience. The Early Access version is expected to offer approximately seven hours of gameplay, with the full release projected to span 20 hours. As development progresses, anticipation continues to build for the final release of this hauntingly beautiful adventure.

Vapor World: Over The Mind is currently under development, and we’re looking forward to more details in its release in the future.