Another Star is a console-style RPG with a fast-paced battle system and a world that encourages players to explore and discover hidden areas as they lead their party on a journey across a fantasy world. While clearly influenced by the style and gameplay of the past, the game also implements innovations and ideas from the present. Random battles are less intrusive than classic console RPGs, alerting the player when enemies have been encountered, but giving them the choice to accept and fight, or ignore and continue exploring.

Inspired by the 26th Ludum Dare competition theme of Minimalism, Another Star uses a single 128 × 128 tile sheet to craft a vast and varied world for players to experience. While some retro games focus on parody and humor, Another Star lets its plot play out on its own weight to evoke the atmosphere of storytelling in an age when storage space was tight and every word had to count.

The game is presented using an optional CRT filter to emulate the look and feel of classic eight bit consoles. Additionally, the game's soundtrack is composed using samples from the Yamaha YM2413, a budget-priced FM that was built into or used as an add-on in several systems of the era.

Another Star is currently available for Windows and Linux, with planned support for Mac in the near future.

Download the playable demo![www.visionriders.com]

The game is currently available for sale through Desura[www.desura.com], IndieGameStand[indiegamestand.com], and via the Humble Widget on the game's website[visionriders.com].

STORY

Tachi is the inexperienced prince of Clan Minas, eager to prove himself as a warrior. Under his father's orders, Tachi is sent on a mission to retrieve a fallen star in the hopes that it will bring power and glory to his clan. But before long, Tachi's quest spirals out of control with clans betraying each other in the hope of getting the star's power for themselves. Thus begins a chain of events that will set Tachi on a journey across the entire planet, eventually learning the true nature of the fallen star he had once hoped to harness.

FEATURES

• An entire game packed into just 256 eight by eight pixel tiles!
  
• Optional CRT filter, originally developed for console emulators, that can be enabled and disabled at any time.
  
• Over 30 original music tracks composed using actual samples from the Yamaha YM2413 FM chip.
  
• Approximately 20 hours of gameplay for the main storyline.
  
• Secret areas are hidden everywhere. Those who explore are sure to be well rewarded.
  
• Over a dozen dungeons to delve into and conquer, some hidden off the beaten path.
  
• Five difficulty levels, giving each player a chance to beat the game on their own terms.
  
• Four levels of character growth speed, including an "Old School" setting for those who love to grind for EXP.
  
• Both the game difficulty and character growth can be customized at any time from the options menu!