Developer Martov Co first began to draw attention with its Kickstarter campaign for Chiaro and the Elixir of Life. The crowdfunding campaign drew a very positive response, and managed to successfully fund the project and then some. Backers and other interested parties will no doubt be pleased to learn that the title is now ready for release on Steam.
Chiaro and the Elixir of Life is a first-person virtual reality (VR) adventure which has been inspired partially by the Steampunk aesthetic and partially by classic children’s picture books.
The story concerns a young engineer called Chiaro who has returned to his home in the forest of Noverain to build a robot called Boka and bring him to life using the mysterious Elixir. The two then embark on a quest to find the Fountain of Elixir in an attempt to restore the list race of living machines.
Players can expect to encounter all sorts of unique characters, from faithful steam-powered companion, to Ellary, the owner of the Neverain Tool Company and the oddly-named Peanut Butter Pig.
A range of puzzles are available to solve along with various mini-games. Chiaro gets access to certain special tools to assist in solving puzzles and passing obstacles, such as the Janus Knife which can cut portal into reality or the flaming lantern the Salamande’s Breath. Players can even play a game of Catch with Boka, who will engage in impressive acrobatics to snag the object you throw.
The developers have aimed to create a mysterious and beautiful fantasy land that has been built specifically with VR in mind using Unreal Engine 4. To enhance the experience, a sweeping orchestral soundtrack has been added, to bring players closer to the characters in the tale.
Chiaro and the Elixir of Life is available on Steam for HTC Vive, Oculus rift and Windows Mixed Reality, priced at £23.79 (GBP). Further information can be found on the Steam Store page. Future coverage on new and upcoming VR projects will be here on VRFocus.