Forgottenlor checks out the dungeon crawler Vaporum.

Since the success of The Legend of Grimrock in 2012, many indie developers have tried their hand at making a first-person grid based dungeon crawler with varied success. While Vaporum might look like a Grimrock clone at first glance, it does enough different to stand on its own feet. First is the rarely used steampunk setting. In addition, Vaporum has a story, and the kind of storytelling it employs was clearly inspired by System Shock and its successors (like Bioshock and Prey). Also, in Vaporum you don't control a party, but a single character and that character's abilities are determined by his rig, a kind of exoskeleton. Lastly, Vaporum has an optional pause system, which lets you tackle combat in either real time, or real time with pause.  While doing some different things is fine and good, executing them well is the key. Vaporum is clearly developed with a limited budget, but when one takes that into account it generally has well designed, if not incredibly original elements.

The developers of Vaporum did a fan art video for Eye of the Beholder.

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Dungeon Master was a defining game of this type, but many of us have also spent a lot of time playing one of its successors. We could even say that it is the second best known representative of this sub-genre of RPGs. Eye of the Beholder is very close to our gamers’ hearts, and, several decades later, it definitely was one of the strong examples we were drawing inspiration from while creating Vaporum.

Perhaps if it wasn’t for Legend of Grimrock, nobody would even think that this old type of gameplay could work in modern times. But, as Grimrock has proven, and we hope that Vaporum has too, a system based on the legacy of Dungeon Master and the likes works like a charm, even today. So it’s no surprise that while working on Vaporum, we sometimes talked about Eye of the Beholder and its appeal. What could this game look like in this age, with today’s possibilities? Dressed in modern 3D graphics, yet at the same time staying true to its original style?

During the winter holidays, we created a small visual homage to this big piece of inspiration of ours, and now we want to share it with you.

The latest patch for Vaporum brings a new Exoskeleton Rig as well as new circuits and modules.

The latest patch for Vaporum introduces a stop time mode for people with disabilities.

Hey guys!

We have a major update for you today! Yesterday (December 3rd) was the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and we wish to address some of the issues people with disabilities may have while playing Vaporum and other games. One of the reasons why we took this stance is this article written by Olivia Falk at GameSpew. Olivia pointed out several in-game situations where Vaporum fails to fully allow people with various forms of disabilities a full gaming experience.

In the past patches, we were adding quality of life improvements and some changes to make the game more accessible to people with motion sickness and hearing deficiencies. Today, we're introducing a Stop Time Mode.

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You can turn this mode on and off at any time by pressing CapsLock (default key). When the mode is active, it automatically stops time whenever you are taking no action. This can be very useful in difficult combat situations where you need time to plan the best attack, or retreat for that matter. While you're taking an action, time goes by as normal. But the moment you stop doing anything, time stops again, giving you the opportunity to plan the next move. Sometimes, the best course of action is to wait. You can hold Shift (default key) to advance time. You can make time tick while holding a weapon attack button too (LMB or RMB).

The Stop Time Mode can also be used in puzzles and hazards that require perfect timing, obstacles you may find too difficult to beat in real time. Using the Shift key, you can time your movement down to the millisecond. Please note that this is not meant as some sort of turn-based combat mode, but rather a more tactical approach to combat that is available in the game. We thought it would be interesting for people who like to play games at a slower pace, or people with physical difficulties, to give them plenty of time to reason about their moves.

We're also adding an on-screen directional keypad for people who can only play with a mouse or only via touch. Or for those who love the old-school feel! 🙂

As usual, here are patch notes:

• Added a Stop Time Mode.
• Added an on-screen directional keypad.
• Added item comparison tooltips.

Enjoy!

Farflame spotted a new patch for the steampunk dungeon crawler Vaporum:

Localization Finally Here! (Patch #2)

Hey guys!

We know it took a lot more time than it should have, for which we are sorry, but it’s finally here! In today’s patch (Patch #2), we bring you 9 new languages: Chinese (simplified), Czech, French, German, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Slovak, and Spanish.

Apart from these official languages, we also bring you the ability to write your own localization! Go to Vaporum/Localization and read the ReadMe.txt for info on how to start. We appreciate any feedback on the localization so if you find a typo, incorrect wording, or anything, feel free to tell us, and we will fix it for the next patch. In the coming days, we will also enable Steam Workshop so you will be able to upload and download localization files easily.

Along with the languages, we also updated the game. Here are the patch notes:

• Added 9 official languages: Slovak, Czech, Russian, Polish, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Chinese (simplified).
• Added the ability to write community localizations. Head to the Localization folder and read the help file for more info.
• Improved organic hit sounds to sound more meaty and impactful.
• Added difficulty change prompt when you die a lot in a short time.
• Tweaked: Emergency Braces module will now also activate when you’re below the threshold when it comes off cooldown. Previously, this only activated when taking damage.
• Tweaked: Drainer gadgets now heal you for a portion of your max integrity, with a hard cap, instead of flat heal. Previously, you could abuse the system to get a lot more healing. Check this post for more info. Thanks motorbit!
• Fixed: In some cases, the automap may remain disabled even after returning from the teleport chambers in the Arx Vaporum level.
• Fixed: In rare cases, in the last room of Creepy Little Things, when you teleport back, the door remains closed and you cannot go back.
• Fixed: The chest with coal on platform in Boiling Point sometimes glitches, falling down.
• Lots of other small fixes.

Thank you!

Chalgyr reviewed the dungeon crawler Vaporum:

Vaporum - PC Review

Vaporum treads into territory that I have personally seen very little of. While I love the Dungeon Crawling style I think to this point I have only ever explored Malevolence: The Sword of Ahkranox by myself without party members by my side. Taking things a step further, you’ll have to be quick on your toes because Vaporum while being designed as that robust old school Wizardry styled adventure that we all love, is also designed to be experienced in real-time.
[...]
Any fan of the Dungeon Crawling experience will find plenty to love here with the mix of the old schooled ideas and the new ones. Adding real-time elements to an experience that for so long as been turned based was brilliant and it works. While I’m not sure if the concepts that Vaporum introduce will become widely used in the future, I may have found myself with a new classic to hold others to a new standard.

Score: 8.5/10

Thanks Farflame!

Farflame spotted some Vaporum reviews:

GameBanshee:

Conclusion

I liked Vaporum well enough, but I didn't love it.  The game owes a lot to Legend of Grimrock -- both in how it looks and how it plays -- but it feels like a more simplified, minimalistic version of that game, with significantly easier puzzles.  But since Legend of Grimrock 3 might never arrive, Vaporum fills a niche, and it's a perfectly reasonable way to spend 20 hours of your life.

Gamespace:

Our Vaporum Review Conclusion

Overall, I enjoyed my time with Vaporum. The developers did a great job of updating a genre that has been buried by the sands of time. They took an old-school dungeon crawl, added a fresh coat of paint (no crappy 8-bit graphics here), dropped it into a fresh Steampunk setting, and added some modern mechanics while staying true to the genre. The story was well told, but it would have been better had it been as unique as the setting.

Score: 8.5/10

Bonusstage:

Vaporum is such a refreshing return to form that I completely didn’t know I wanted nor was expecting. By taking two different gameplay ideas – dungeon crawling and steampunk – and marrying them without too many ridiculous offshoot tactics, you get something that’s distilled to a truly solid concept. I can’t tell you how many “steampunk” ideas have been hokey, or how many Bioshock “inspired” games might as well be called “Not Rapture.” And, rather than just be a straight Grimrock variation, Vaporum adds a huge twist on the leveling and combat system without giving up completely on the formula. For a first game, this is an incredibly impressive endeavor, and I’ve invested hours, yet I’m certain I haven’t found everything. By all means, step into your own exo-rig and prepare for an incredible journey, Vaporum deserves your full attention.

Score: 9/10

Our Farflame interviewed Fatbot Studios' Matej Zajaeik about their steampunk dungeon crawler Vaporum, which is going to be released today.

RPGWatch: Story-driven games with strong narrative are trendy nowadays. How big a role does the story have in Vaporum? Do you have some NPCs and dialogues in the game?

Matej: For me, the story is always the force that drives me forward in any game, once the novelty of the setting, the mechanics, and the enemies fades. And yes, the story plays a major role in Vaporum. We always wanted it such. That's one of the reasons why Vaporum only has a single character with a pre-defined history that you reveal, and not a party of anonymous heroes. With this setup, we were able to tightly involve the character in the storyline and make it, hopefully, interesting.

As for the NPCs and dialogs, yes, you will come to know a few via logs and recordings, with their own personalities and motives. The major ones are fully voiced by quality voice-actors so you don't even need to read that much.

Actually, you don't need to pay attention to the story at all if you just want to have a blast killing enemies and beating puzzles.

The steampunk dungeon crawler Vaporum will be released today:

Vaporum is a grid-based, single-player & single-character dungeon crawler RPG seen from the first person perspective in an original steampunk setting. Inspired by old-school games like Dungeon Master I and II, the Eye of the Beholder series, and the most recent Legend of Grimrock I and II. Stranded in the middle of an ocean, in front of a gigantic tower, the hero has to find out what the place is, what happened there, and most importantly, who he is.

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Key Features

• First person real-time combat
• Puzzles and level-wide objectives
• Gadget-based RPG system
• Lots of exploration, loot, and character customization
• Mysterious storyline filled with secrets
• Fully voiced main characters
• Immersive steampunk setting

Combat

Combat takes place in real time. Each enemy has a distinctive set of strengths and weaknesses so you have to employ different tactics to beat each one. Weapon types have each a set of unique bonuses and behaviors which adds more depth and thought when choosing what weapons to equip.

You will find many types of gadgets: direct attacks, area attacks, offensive & defensive buffs... These gadgets are powerful, but some enemies are immune to certain types of attacks, so you will have to figure out the best way to deal with every encounter the game throws at you.

Puzzles

Solve intriguing puzzles and level-wide objectives where you have to use both your wits and reflexes. While most puzzles and riddles are contained in a single room, progression objectives can span an entire level or even multiple levels.

Character Progression

Instead of increasing the abilities of your human character, you will improve an exoskeleton rig you wear. The game combines a "you are what you wear" aspect with a long-term development of your exo-rig. The gadget-based system allows you change your loadout of gadgets at any time, giving you a great deal of flexibility to deal with various situations. On the other hand, as you progress, you get to unlock useful circuits on your exo-rig, gaining significant permanent attribute bonuses and passive skills.

Story and Exploration

Stranded on a small islet in the middle of an ocean, you enter a gigantic mechanical tower. Nothing makes sense to you, but it is all strangely familiar...

If you want to get into the backstory and uncover the mysteries of the tower, you can delve right into it by reading all the notes you can find. Don't worry, though, you can safely ignore all the text. All major story points are narrated by the main characters and they are fully voiced!

There are many optional areas in the game that you can choose to explore. They usually present some form of additional challenge, but come with a reward too! The tower is riddled with secret passages that contain unique items and notes of its inhabitants, giving you an insight into their lives and events that precede your arrival.

@IndieRetroNews Vaporum will release September 28th. Check out the game blog announcement here.

Throughout the years we've had many great dungeon crawlers posted on Indie Retro News, from the grid based classics such as Eye of the Beholder, to our personal favourite Legend of Grimrock 2 and Dungeon Kingdom: Sign of the Moon. Although Grimoire getting a release was a major shock too! So here comes another one that could well be added to that list of coolness, it's the dungeon crawling steam punker 'Vaporum' from FatBot Studio, which is coming to a PC near you, September 28th!
[...]

The devs of Vaporum announced that the game is done. Normally that is accompanied with a release date, but not in this case as they are still working with some PR people on gaining momentum before the game is released, which might be somewhere in September.

We are very sorry for not posting for a while about the project, but the amount of focus we put into the game instead of writing about it was time well spent!

The game is done!

You can expect an announcement about the release date in the coming weeks.

These past two years have been a rollercoaster ride for us. We’ve fought on many winning fronts and it looks like the fight is nearly over. There are just a few slain foes who are here and there sticking out the fingers from their coffins:

• Fixing a few remaining bugs.
• Balancing the game difficulty.
• General polishing of the game.

These are basically done, but we are still vigilant to possible issues that might come at us from the dark depths of quality assurance.

We are also preparing the PR for the release in cooperation with pros in the field, which is, really, a new experience for us. We want to make sure everyone who might like our game will get to know about it — this is something you can help us with by sharing information about us.

There is a lot of organizational stuff that has still to be taken care of and since there are just 4 of us in the team + some help from external contributors, we ask for your patience. We are aware that we are hugely behind schedule, but we are planning to release the game ASAP, and September looks like a promising estimation.

Thanks Hurls!

You can vote for the dungeon crawler Vaporum on Steam Greenlight now:

Vaporum is a grid-based, single-player & single-character dungeon crawler game seen from the first person perspective in an original steampunk setting. Inspired by old-school games like Dungeon Master I and II, the Eye of the Beholder series, and the most recent Legend of Grimrock I and II.

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Key Features

• First person real-time combat
• Puzzles and level-wide objectives
• Gadget-based RPG system
• Lots of exploration, loot, and character customization
• Mysterious storyline filled with secrets
• Fully voiced main characters
• Immersive steampunk setting

Combat

Combat in Vaporum takes place in real time. Each enemy type has a distinctive set of strengths and weaknesses, and various kinds of attacks and defense mechanisms, so you have to employ different tactics to beat each one.

Weapons differ from each other not only by damage and icon image, but each weapon type has a certain unique bonus or behavior other weapons don't. This adds more depth and thought when choosing what weapons to equip.

You will find many types of gadgets: direct attacks, area attacks, offensive & defensive buffs... While these gadgets are powerful, they also drain your energy, and some enemies are immune to certain types of attacks. So you will have to figure out the best way to deal with every encounter the game throws at you.

Puzzles

Most mechanics in Vaporum are very simple. However, combining these mechanics creates intriguing puzzles and level-wide objectives where you have to use both your wits and reflexes. While most puzzles and riddles are contained in a single room, progression objectives can span an entire level or even multiple levels.

Character Progression

Instead of increasing the abilities of your human character, you will improve an exo-rig that you find early in the game.

The character progression system combines a "you are what you wear" aspect with a long-term development of your exo-rig. The gadget-based system allows you to equip various gadgets to help you define your own playstyle. Because gadgets are items, you can change your loadout at any time, giving you a great deal of flexibility to deal with various situations.

On the other hand, as your exo-rig becomes more powerful by absorbing energy from destroyed enemies, you get to unlock useful circuits on it, gaining significant permanent attribute bonuses and passive skills.

These two approaches result in a ton of customization, all at your will.

Story and Exploration

Stranded on a small islet in the middle of an ocean, you enter a gigantic mechanical tower. Nothing makes sense to you, but it is all strangely familiar...

If you want to get into the backstory and uncover the mysteries of the tower, you can delve right into it by reading all the notes you can find. Don't worry, though, you can safely ignore all the text. All major story points are told by the main characters and they are fully voiced!

There are many optional areas in the game that you can choose to explore. They usually present some form of additional challenge, but come with a reward too! The tower is riddled with secret passages that contain unique items and notes of its inhabitants, giving you an insight into their lives and events that precede your arrival.

In a development update for Vaporum we are informed of some of the changes to the game.

Hey guys! Just a quick update on what we’ve been up to lately.

We did a focus test where we invited various people to come to play our combat test, most of them never having played the game before. We needed to see if we’re on the right track with the real-time combat, melee vs ranged, and various other features in it. Receiving basically universal praise from the testers boosted our confidence in that we had made the right decisions. Of course, the guys also pointed out some flaws, which we quickly fixed after the test was over.

We have about half of all planned enemies in the game, fully functional, running around doing nasty things (mostly to the player). The focus test proved we already have a solid bunch of bad guys where each has different strengths and weaknesses, poses different types of threats, and requires a different approach to beat (lots of differents, eh?).

We haven't followed the development of Vaporum much, but Eye has spotted some news on their site. First off there is some art updates here and here, and there is also an explanation about what kind of game Vaporum is.

Vaporum is an action-based dungeon crawler set in an original steampunk world. There is no party creation; you only control one character, and that character is deeply involved in a mysterious storyline. You move on a grid of squares, and everything happens in real time: exploration, puzzle-solving, combat. The game uses randomization in certain aspects to make every play-through a fresh experience. There might be some nasty surprises waiting for you in the dark corners of the complex, too. Immersion is one of the major priorities for us.

The game is set in a dystopian world where almost everything is controlled by a single governmental body — the Great Administration. As steam machinery is slowly being replaced by more modern diesel-powered achievements of science, something new looms over the horizon.

Our hero wakes up in the middle of a sea, weak and battered, with only a faint trail of memory. The only thing that’s plain and concrete in this sea of vapors is a megalithic tower-like structure, standing taller than clouds.

With nowhere else to go, the hero delves into the unknown…

FatBot Studio released a new Pre-Alpha Teaser Video for Vaporum last month.

A new teaser video for an indie steampunk dungeon crawler in development.

FatBot Studio released a Story Introduction Video for Vaporum. I'm a Little late with the posting, but I just checked the games website today.

Here is a video, introducing the story in Vaporum. This is where your journey begins…The art for this intro was done by Daniel Mihalik, an upcoming talented comic artist from Slovakia, and the captivating voice-over was done by Sebastian Ruiz Hernandez from Mexico. The music was done by Karel Antonin from Czech Republic. We'd love your feedback on the visuals, sound, voice, and the story itself.

FatBot Studio sent us news of a new update for their Steampunk Dungeon Crawler game Vaporum. The new update contains a couple of new screenshots.

It’s been some time since the last post, but fear not, we’ve been hard at work on various game systems as well as physical assets. We’d like to share a few screenshots of what’s cooking in our artists’ pot. Soon, we will share more of what we’ve been working on, what’s new and what’s planned. Stay tuned!

FatBot Studio sent us news about their new Steampunk Dungeon Crawler game called Vaporum. They also sent a video with some pre-alpha gameplay.

Description

Vaporum is a grid-based, single-player & single-character dungeon crawler game seen from the first person perspective in an original steam-punk setting, that is currently being developed by an indie studio. Its main appeal lies in action oriented combat and mechanical puzzle solving, backed by immersive environment filled with mysteries and secrets to explore. Vaporum uses a simplified character development system that despite its simplicity makes every player’s choice matter. The player can develop their own personal playing skills rather than number-crunching power to defeat enemies and overcome obstacles.

Features

• Immersive steam-punk setting.
• Action oriented combat and puzzle solving.
• Lots of exploration, loot and character customization.
• Mysterious storyline filled with secrets.

The developer is also looking for help to complete the game. If you're interested here are the positions they are looking to fill.