Return to the island you called home
What is Laputa? Laputa is a game inspired by both my favorite childhood game, Cave Story and my favorite movie, Castle in the Sky.
It's the story of a floating island which has watched over the rise and fall of empires. Laputa was once a place filled with treasures; spoken of in ancient history books, and spotted once in a blue moon. The island was a dream of both humanity and beastfolk alike.
Then a day came when the two species mastered plane and airship. The explorers were the first to arrive, followed by the treasure seekers and trading companies. It was after them that the settlers came and plowed the land.
During Laputa's golden era, it was plundered of its gold and troves of ancient artifacts. The people were the miners, treasure hunters and pirates who extracted its material resources, and the those who built the island's towns around them. Riches flowed out from the island of Laputa, which seemed to hold them in infinite supply.
The troubles of living on Laputa however, were immediately evident. The air was thin enough to make travelers sick, and food was scarce. Monsters roamed the wilds, as they had for centuries, unbothered by man and beast's encroach.
But the worst of all were the 7-year clouds. During most of any decade, a thick blanket of clouds obscured the island and prevented any entry in or out. When the cycle was complete, Laputa would appear some place above the surface, and remain drifting there for just one year. These cloudless years were the colonists only opportunity to call for supplies and export their goods. Many colonists left during Laputa's last cycle.
At the time of our story, it's been many years since the island's golden age, and most have chosen to leave Laputa behind. Those who remain struggle to find purpose in their isolated communities.
Meanwhile, the surface world is undergoing a industrialization boom. The son of the former King of Laputa waits eagerly for his time to return and claim his spot on the throne.
You play as Juniper, a beastfolk rabbit of no particular renoun or origin, who gets mixed up in a group of Sky Pirates. The pirates' leader Dola, leaves him to get caught as their patsy for the crime after they pull off a heist for a special item; one that was on it's way to the new king Davey's throning ceremony.
After escaping jail, he finds the two owners of a mechanic shop called PHR Repair. Juniper meets the boy-genius gunsmith, Basil, who is the adoptive brother of the kind-hearted mechanic girl, Sage. The pair offer to help find a way to get him off the island. In spite of their efforts, the trio becomes entangled within in the political chaos that's sweeping over Laputa.
Throughout their journey, they meet many people who are trying to survive Laputa in their own way. Through this, Juniper realizes that the colonists are in more need of help more than he himself. When tragedy is wrapped up in every corner of his new home, Juniper has only one choice. He and his friends must tear back the island from the clutches of the young dictator-king, overcome his two immortal courtiers, and fuel the flames of rebellion to rise against his corporate army.
The game is a platformer shooter, very much based on Cave Story's arcade-like, exploration-based gameplay. My goal with Laputa is to present a jrpg type story with rich cast of characters and locations you can travel to throughout the story. "Adventure" is the only word for it.
Thank you for reading. Come find live updates to the game at: https://discord.gg/McmnkEhcju
Please look forward to Laputa!
-Luka