Pixel artist and independent game developer Addy Valentine has revealed GUN NOSE, a new 3D pixel art top-down action mystery game for PC. A Kickstarter campaign has been initiated to secure $35,000 in funding. Stretch goals for PlayStation 4 and Switch ports are set at $200,000 and $400,000, respectively. No release date has been specified.
Details about the game are available on its Kickstarter page.
About the Game
GUN NOSE is a top-down action mystery game taking place in the meticulously crafted, pixel art city of Ironwood. Players control Gun Nose, a robot detective with an enigmatic history and a deadly appearance. The objective is to locate a missing creator by investigating a series of violent murders committed by Serial Murder-Bots hidden among the citizens.
Each main story case leads deeper into the city’s complex layers. Cases are semi-procedural, offering varied victims, suspects, clues, and murderers in each playthrough. Solving a case requires interrogating suspects, analyzing evidence, and identifying the killer’s distinct signature. The game presents dangers, and suspects will resist capture.
Combat unfolds in real-time and is chaotic. As the truth is uncovered, suspects might employ Psychic Hacks, summoning electrical projections to attack.
Players are assisted by the quirky AI companion, Jiminy Drive, and a diverse group of allies. Together, they will set traps, uncover secrets, and face a growing conspiracy within the city.
Setting
Despite its retro aesthetic, GUN NOSE incorporates modern design and technology.
Exploring Ironwood reveals residents engaging in daily routines: shopping, eating, working, and sleeping. They also react to player actions. Some NPCs may offer side quests, such as finding a lost dog, challenging to a race, or addressing local nuisances like dinosaurs eating trash.
These are not generic NPCs; each character in GUN NOSE is uniquely designed with a distinct personality, backstory, and schedule. Players can learn their habits, routines, and relationships.
However, caution is advised.
In Ironwood, any character can become a victim or the killer, and their demise is permanent.
Characters
Amidst the procedural city’s chaos, a core group of vibrant characters will assist in solving cases. Each character holds secrets that will be revealed as the story of the missing creator progresses.
- Dyna Might – A rookie assigned to murder cases, known for her expertise with explosives.
- Slack Ballista – An officer with keen instincts and little tolerance for robot detectives. Gaining his respect may lead to his support.
- Virgil – The lead detective at Bloodsucker’s Detective Agency, who takes cases for a fee and then assigns them to the player.
- Commissioner Crane – Responsible for solving MurderBot cases, she manages the department firmly, when not preoccupied with personal matters.
- The Gunsmith – The player’s mysterious creator, who has disappeared.
- Jimini-Drive – A witty AI companion, programmed by the Gunsmith to manage internal systems and detective functions.
Murder Bots
Murder Bots are central to every case in GUN NOSE, with each one being unique.
Each Murder Bot has a distinct motive, method, behaviors, and visual cues. They vary in appearance but always remain hidden among the population.
Identifying them requires interrogation and thorough examination of the crime scene. Some leave clues, while others leave none. Identification is only the first step; confronting and defeating them follows.
A diverse range of models is planned to challenge players, with some designs and quirks detailed below.
- Gun-Gut
- Motive: Greed
- Method: Drains blood with a syringe-like horn, growing to fire belly bullets.
- Gun-Eye
- Motive: Envy
- Method: Rolls, firing from a heavily armored shell.
- Gun-Tongue
- Motive: To Conceal a Secret
- Method: Propels forward, spinning gunfire from its propeller head.
- Gun-Heart
- Motive: Crime of Passion
- Method: Rapidly fires heavy artillery from its massive chest cannon.
- Gun-Lung
- Motive: Resentment
- Method: Inhales deeply to float, raining air-powered bullets from above.
- Gun-???
- Motive: ???
- Method: ???
The announcement trailer is available below.
