Update #25: A Chapter Unfolding
about 1 year ago
– Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 09:27:33 AM
Hey everyone,
We hope you’ve been having a lovely Q1 so far! First off, we want to thank you for your patience and continued support. We know it’s been a while since our last update, and we appreciate every single one of you for sticking with us on this journey. We want to remedy that, though, so here’s the tea.
As most of you know, early last year, we mentioned in a couple of updates how we’re searching for a new publishing partner since we parted ways with our former. This has meant an exhaustive search with many twists and turns that involves a lot of people working extremely hard to make sure we find a perfect match.
We understand how frustrating this process can be for you all, and we’re deeply sorry you haven’t been able to get your hands on the game yet. We want to reassure you that we remain committed to delivering the best experience we can and a story you can enjoy. Finding a publisher takes time (and a lot of paperwork), but we’re confident we’ll have news soon!
However, we haven’t been idle during the search. Production has continued throughout this process, though the rhythm has changed until we close a deal. That’s not to say we can’t show you all a preview of what we’ve been cooking!
For example, there has been much brainstorming about original monsters and sketchy folks who roam close to Santa Mascota. How do you think they’ve turned out?
There’s also been some interesting UI work done regarding the looks and workings of menus. One of them is an element any Metroidvania fan grows very familiar with: the map. We wanted to create a unique and memorable style while still drawing inspiration from something dear to our hearts. Guess what that could be!
The new year also meant we wanted to reinvent ourselves, and so did several areas. Just look at these new space ideas, where we’ve played around with the theme to create something great. These sketches are now being rendered, so you can expect a look update soon.
And, of course, we couldn't give you an update without including news on whatever the Mariachi Legends have been plotting. From looking at their hidden supply crates, what do you believe they'll do next?
We’ve also been tweaking some levels while also working on the character controller to make everything look seamless and fast-paced. You can check out this preview to get an idea:
Though, if there’s one theme that hasn’t shifted, it is food and flavor and their role in Mexican society. And to work up your appetite, take a look at these traditional dishes, freshly out of the oven.
Believe us, they pack a punch, and consuming them will guarantee that Pablo can face any challenge coming his way. You can expect more menu updates as we move along, so stay tuned for more tasty reveals!
On that note, your patience means everything to us, and we want to make sure that you remain hopeful about this project. Therefore, we want to craft something special to thank you for waiting and to lift your spirits. For all our backers who’ve supported us from the beginning, you’ll be happy to know that your pledge will come with a bonus from beyond: The Catrina’s Cache, a backer-exclusive digital bundle filled with three limited-edition rewards!
There are three fun pieces you’ll find inside: One item that will be indispensable in your journey inside the game. Another that’ll let you deep-dive into the lore of Santa Mascota and its history. And a final one that’s a symbol of the game’s artistry.
We’ve already started crafting these rewards, so you’ll get them when the game arrives, and you have another cool thing to look forward to. And why not? We will even tease them in the future!
Thank you for being part of this adventure. Know that we’ll continue our commitment to updating you monthly, and if something cool happens along the way, you’ll get the scoop before anyone else!
To wrap up, we want to emphasize how much we appreciate your support—it has been invaluable and continues to drive us forward. While every journey has its challenges, we remain fully committed to seeing this project through and making it the best it can be. On behalf of the entire Halberd team, thank you for being part of this with us!
Follow us on socials and keep up with our updates so you never miss out on anything!
Until next time!
- The Halberd Team