SXSW Sydney 2023 provided the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the beautiful world of Ailuri, a much-anticipated 2D platformer that originated from a humble university graduate project.
Game Crater was fortunate enough to go hands-on with the game and converse with the developers, giving us a clear idea of what players can expect from Ailuri. The game seamlessly blends captivating hand-drawn art, a compelling storyline and intricate gameplay dynamics, making it a standout title at SXSW Sydney 2023.
What is Ailuri?
Ailuri, crafted by Vivink Studios, is a culmination of passion, art, and innovation. Started as a graduate project in 2018, Ailuri’s journey gained momentum with a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2021, allowing the spirited team to fully commit to its development.
Staggeringly, Ailuri’s artwork is entirely hand-drawn by artist and studio lead Liezl Ronquillo, and it does an incredible job of encapsulating the essence of its story. Players will embark on a noble journey to save the world from destruction as Ailuri, a small yet incredibly determined (and cute) red panda.
Here is what you can expect from the game:
- Engage in gameplay packed with puzzles, challenges, and secrets.
- Dive into the solo experience or team up in local couch co-op, with a drop-in, drop-out system
- Harness Ailuri’s abilities from climbing, grappling and swinging to dashing and swimming.
- A melodious soundtrack inspired by nature and classical music.
- Fully animated cutscenes.
- Navigate through four distinct World Maps, each comprising 10 intricate levels, secret levels, collectibles, guardians, and bosses.
- With each level offering unique challenges, players learn varied combat skills and abilities, culminating in a final world that tests everything they’ve learned.
Ailuri Release Date and Pricing Details
Anticipation is high for Ailuri, and gamers won’t have to wait much longer. The development team at Vivink Studios aims to release it in the first half of 2024. Ailuri will be available on Steam and Nintendo Switch for US$14.99 / AU$23.99.
For more updates and game highlights from SXSW Sydney 2023, you can check out our full coverage here.