Rivals of Aether, the elemental, animal, platform fighter, has been gestating in early access for a year and a half now. That all ends today as it’s ready to emerge, fully grown, and it’s well worth a look for fans of the genre.
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The game is due to launch from early access today, according to a recent announcement on Steam.
It’s the game’s single-player modes that are getting the most love in the full launch. Story mode will convey the backstory of each of the game’s characters – or ‘rivals’ – as they seek to uncover the hidden mysteries of aether.
Aether, by the way, is the so-called ‘fifth element’ in theclassical model of chemistry. So. Don’t let anyone say you never learn anything (about erroneous and long-surpassed models of science) from reading videogame news sites.
Abyss mode is also new, letting you play cooperatively with up to four others as you battle waves of different challenges and enemy types. Both this and story mode will have leaderboards. Naturally, the linchpin of a fighting game has been in the early access build for some time – online and local versus mode offers 1v1, 2v2 and free-for-all fights against others. There’s also a tutorial mode to teach you the ropes.
Rivals of Aether is an indie fighting game that looks to have drawn inspiration from Nintendo’s Smash Bros franchise. Represented by their colourful, animalistic rivals, warring civilisations do battle by summoning the power of fire, water, air and earth. A story mode will convey the backstory of each rival as they seek to uncover the hidden mysteries of ‘aether’.
Rivals of Aether is now available on Steam, for the reasonable indie price of £10.99 (or $14.99 US). It’s rated 91% positive.