DESCRIPTION
Mi'kma'ki (Mii-Gah-Maa-Gi | listen) is a Metroidvania adventure platformer game that is heavily inspired by the culture and language of the Mi’kmaq (Mii-Gah-Maa | listen) people of Mi’kma’ki. With an emphasis on exploration and close combat, the player navigates the beautiful and sometimes dark world of Mi'kma'ki. Play as Ga'wi, a young porcupine who is afraid of everything. One day, Ga'wi encounters a Mi'kmaq elder who gives Ga'wi a dally with an incomplete pattern made of quills and birchbark. She asks Ga'wi to find The Lost Quill Masters to complete the pattern. Elder promises that by doing so, Ga'wi will gain the ability to overcome everything they fear most. Ga'wi is scared and apprehensive but knows we must listen to our elders. Discover the world of Mi'kma'ki as Ga'wi learns how to confront their fears to find The Lost Quill Masters and restore the Dally of the Elders.
FEATURES
Unlock previously unaccessible parts of Mi’kmak’i as The Lost Quill Masters teach you the power within your quills.
Improve your combat skills and agility as you use your quills to fight your way through beasts and navigate through interesting puzzles
With your basket, collect items that help you along your journey, as you meet friendly and hostile inhabitants of Mi’kma’ki.
Uncover the history of The Lost Quill Masters and Mi’kmaki itself. Inhabitants speak to you in Mi’kmaq to reveal history and clues.
Bosses have their own dallies each offering a unique challenge for Ga’wi.
DALLY POWERS
Ga’wi will have to traverse obstacles, hostile creatures, and difficult bosses to find each Lost Quill Master. Each will grant Ga’wi with an ability to use their quills in a new way that will change the way they interact with the world.
Combat
Mobility
LOST QUILL MASTERS
Ga’wi will encounter eight Lost Quill Masters throughout the game. Each will grant Ga’wi a new power or ability. Lost Quill Masters wear ancient dallies which are the source of their unique wisdom. They are mythical in stature and closely resemble wild creatures. They vary in size based off the creatures they embody.
Quill Master Skoden (bird figure) tries to teach you flight but it Ga’wi is unable to fly with quills and instead is granted Skoden Dash. This mobility power enables a lateral dash in the air or on the ground which extends Ga’wi‘s jump distance but not height.
POWER EXAMPLES
Example of several mobility powers working together to reach a platform.
Quill Vault is another possible mobility upgrade to increase jump height.
Two mobility upgrades, Quill Vault and Skoden Dash, are needed to reach this higher platform.
Wall slide mobility upgrade
NEW POWER!
Power acquisition animations will add dynamic and charming game play feel.
ELDER’S BASKET
Another resident of Mi'kma'ki gives Ga'wi a basket where items can be collected. These items might offer new skills but aren't movement or combat-related. Collected items might also include keys, currency, food, etc.
The Elder's Basket is a hand-woven, intricate, and beautiful example of traditional Mi'kmaq basket weaving. Ga'wi is incredibly grateful for this essential vessel.
DIALOGUE IN MI’KMAQ
All character dialogue will be in Mi'kmaq and translated into different languages via text.
From time immemorial Mi’qmaq have lived here.
Ta'n wejgwa'tegemgeg Mi'gmaq tet wigultijig.
ADDITIONAL GAME DETAILS
Ga’wi can purchase and find quill upgrades and mods that offer additional function or player buffs.
Waterways provide the mechanism for fast-travel in the world of Mi’kma’ki. They are enabled after Ga’wi acquires the Birchbark Canoe. Waterways previously appeared as benign background imagery, are suddenly revealed as a vast fast-travel network that allows Ga’wi to fast-travel downstream one-way through the map. Later in the game, Ga’wi befriends The Salmon who offers upstream travel.
Dynamic combat animation with superb gameplay feel. These animations are scratch examples and will be refined.
Artistic liberties will be used to create a fictional land that contains mountains, caves, and lakes. The color palette will be rich and moody like the image in this photo.
