[The First Journey of a Solo Developer, Filled with Sincerity]
Hello! I am a solo developer who fell in love with Unreal Engine through self-study, learning from YouTube and various lectures. UNDERKING KINGDOM is my precious first project, finally brought into the world after countless trials and errors.
I poured my heart into every moment to deliver the best action and presentation I am currently capable of creating. Compared to games backed by massive budgets, it may seem modest, but I worked hard to fill it with all the passion a single developer can hold. Although I still feel some regret for not fully reaching the goals I set for myself, I truly gave it everything I had. My heartfelt thanks to every player who joins me on this humble first step! :)
[UNDERKING KINGDOM: Reflecting Together on Humanity and Common Sense]
UNDERKING KINGDOM is a belt-scroll action game that evokes the nostalgia of old arcades. However, this game does not merely chase the thrill of victory. Amid the horrors of war, where senseless violence runs rampant, it raises questions about the “humanity and common sense” we must ultimately protect.
[Beyond a Game, Carrying Philosophy: Good and Evil, and War]
More than simple entertainment, this is a game that delivers a deep resonance about modern society, where common sense and absurdity are intertwined.
Recently, our society seems to be seeing more and more people who feel no guilt even while committing senseless acts. Reflecting this reality, the game portrays the dark side of irrational wars in which countless innocent lives are sacrificed because of the selfish desires of a few.
By deeply exploring the inner world of the “King,” the central figure of war, the game seeks to deliver a message that makes us reflect once again on the true meaning of good and evil.
[Combat System]
The game presents a combat system that combines the deep tension of soulslike games with the satisfying action of hack-and-slash combat.
Amid countless enemies, you can continue chaining combo attacks while freely changing your attack direction. By reading the wind-up of enemy attacks, you must make split-second decisions on whether to continue your combo, evade, or defend. This goes beyond simple button-mashing action and delivers strategic combat filled with tension at every moment.
The legendary sword techniques are activated only when both a “sword” and a “magic grimoire” are equipped at the same time. Only when both pieces of equipment are prepared can the swordsmanship sealed within the grimoire manifest through the sword.
[The Grimoire Enchanted with Magic]
This magical grimoire randomly summons the sword techniques of legendary knights at the start of battle. Because countless sword styles are mixed within it, it is impossible to predict which technique will appear each time. Each magic grimoire has its own unique skill sealed inside. Depending on which grimoire you equip, the type of legendary swordsmanship that manifests will differ.
[Stages]
Each stage symbolizes a single nation, and the game progresses by clearing them.
Stages are composed of multiple branching paths, and depending on the player’s choices, you will advance along different routes before eventually facing the final boss. However, on some paths, you may encounter unexpectedly powerful enemies.
[Item Crafting]
Instead of a typical level-up or stat enhancement system, the game focuses character growth on skins in order to preserve its unique atmosphere. By collecting materials obtained from defeating enemies, you can craft various skins yourself and enjoy customizing your character. Special NPCs also await you in certain stages.
When crafting items, only the materials currently in your bag can be used.
We carefully explored various ways to implement a feature that would automatically recognize materials stored in the warehouse as well, but due to technical limitations in the current system environment, that feature could not be included. We kindly ask for your understanding regarding the inconvenience of having to move materials into your bag before use.
[A Message of Gratitude from UNDERKING]
When I first began developing games, my standards were set by blockbuster titles backed by massive budgets. I believed that with enough effort, I could reach that level, but now, facing my first project, I am left with much regret that my current abilities could not meet that goal.
There were many moments when I wanted to give up because of the high standards I had set for myself. But because this was my first challenge, I wanted to see it through to the end no matter what. The development period of over a year became a time of tremendous learning and growth for me.
Although this project may still leave some regrets, I will use the precious experience and workflow I gained here as the foundation for creating an even more complete game next time. My sincere thanks to this project for filling me with the energy of passion, and to every player who joins me on this humble first step! :)
