Heterodox is a boomer shooter inspired from Heretic / Hexen

[Palax]

This project is in works since 2014 and is made in UE4. It is inspired from the Heretic / Hexen classics that I played when I was a kid.

I will release it as Early Access on 14 May 2021.

What else I can tell you about this project is that has extensive code written exactly to make it look like a successor to these two parents.

All models ingame and plenty of textures are hand made by me. In the first version of Early Access it will have 4 levels, 5 enemy types, somewhere around 20 weapons.

It features advanced dismemberment and AI is reactive to it, meaning that it does not automatically die when it has lost a limb but it reacts and is affected by the lost limb.

The steam page is https://store.steampowered.com/app/1420400/Heterodox

 

If you like how it looks, please join the steam page, wishlist it, like it, comment it here or there. Thank you!

 

Edited April 30, 2021 by Palax

[Hitboi]

Looks cool, But these animations and sound effects are a bit awkward.
I might wishlist this anyway.

[Palax]

You mean the trailer sounds or the game sounds? Trailer has some whooshes, such as the one at the beginning, or when the text appears. Thanks

[Redneckerz]

  On 4/30/2021 at 10:41 PM, Palax said:

You mean the trailer sounds or the game sounds? Trailer has some whooshes, such as the one at the beginning, or when the text appears. Thanks

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Some of the game sounds sound very low-fi.

 

Judging by the trailer, enemies seem to respond very slowly. I know this is early access ofcourse.

 

The environments look clean, not rive of effects, but i feel you are aiming for a GL-like look that was apparent in 1997 or when Hexen 2 got released. If that's the case, then i get that :P

 

However, take a look at Graven. Graven's style is instantly recognizable because it does not look clean, but a little gritty.

 

Never the less, will wishlist! I love retro titles and this one looks really good considering its a one man team (?) doing it.

[Palax]

What I can tell you is that many aspects of this game will be getting improvements in rotation depending of the support and community feedback  around it.

There is some intention to have the lower tier enemies as slow in order to make the player learn how to efectively kill them at the beginning of the game.

The dismemberment mecanic implies that the player has to aim at limbs and disable the enemy AI or kill it.

Thanks for your feedback.

[Palax]

Graven is a great game and I can wait to play it and take notes from it.

[I Drink Lava]

Why is your game named "hetero dox"?

[Gez]

  On 5/2/2021 at 12:41 AM, I Drink Lava said:

Why is your game named "hetero dox"?

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That's an obvious play on "Heretic": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterodoxy

[omx32x]

im trying to get into game making this year that is learning how to program, draw, and make music

i know how hard game development can be this looks very cool dude i hope i can play it when it releases

you did all of it alone?

[Palax]

Indeed the fact that Heterodox is a similar word and has similar characters with Heretic and Hexen weighted more against other potential names.

 

  On 5/2/2021 at 2:33 AM, omalefico32x said:

im trying to get into game making this year that is learning how to program, draw, and make music

i know how hard game development can be this looks very cool dude i hope i can play it when it releases

you did all of it alone?

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Good luck, my aproach to that is to learn one at a time and do it well.

Yes this game is build all by me. I had to learn some skills that are totally different such as making 3D models, modifing and drawing textures and writing code.

I also learn to edit sounds so I can add sounds into this game. I have no musical skills and probably never will.

[Palax]

 

[omx32x]

  On 5/2/2021 at 6:16 PM, Palax said:

 

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the melee weapons look a bit stiff but the crossbow looks great dude

[I Drink Lava]

  On 5/2/2021 at 1:33 AM, Gez said:

That's an obvious play on "Heretic": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterodoxy

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Thanks for the heads up. Years of being on the internet has ruined my perception of certain words. I see "hetero" and "dox" next to each other and my mind goes to a very different place.

[Palax]

  On 5/2/2021 at 10:00 PM, omalefico32x said:

the melee weapons look a bit stiff but the crossbow looks great dude

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Interesting observation about the melee weapons.

My only thought about this is that newer games have also some camera movement when playing with melee weapons.

If any of you played Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, swords in there will have some camera movement, especially when ultimate attack animation plays.

When I made the weapons and the code behind I favored a more static camera (similar to heretic) because the dismemberment mecanic requires a lot of aim and it gets harder to aim when your camera and your enemy is moving at the same time.

  On 5/3/2021 at 12:06 AM, I Drink Lava said:

Thanks for the heads up. Years of being on the internet has ruined my perception of certain words. I see "hetero" and "dox" next to each other and my mind goes to a very different place.

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I imagine that DeusEx did ok over time even though orally sounded more like "do sex".

[Palax]

 

Edited May 10, 2021 by Palax

[Palax]

After 7 years of building Heterodox, today an important milestone is reached for this game.
As it is released as early access you can now play this game at the same time with me as I work on it.
Feedback of any kind is welcomed.

The game page on steam is at https://store.steampowered.com/app/1420400/Heterodox/

Edited May 14, 2021 by Palax
Display Video

[omx32x]

  On 5/14/2021 at 6:34 PM, Palax said:

After 7 years of building Heterodox, today an important milestone is reached for this game.
As it is released as early access you can now play this game at the same time with me as I work on it.
Feedback of any kind is welcomed.

The game page on steam is at https://store.steampowered.com/app/1420400/Heterodox/

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i have to say im quite hyped for the game though i am out of a job currentely so i wont be buying it when it releases (probaly) but i am really digging the art style the models and the weapons you are doint a good job dude