Vesper and The Umbral Passage

Throw the staff. Bend the route. Bring Vesper's family home.

Vesper and The Umbral Passage is a 3D action-platformer. Throw Vesper's staff into a wall, a ledge or an enemy, teleport to it, and climb, fight and explore yourway through a chain of hidden worlds.

Vesper Vaughn is nineteen, quick on his feet, and quietly sure he'll never live up to his parents. Cassiusand Lyra Vaughn are the most famous explorers in Lamoria. They came home heroes from theexpedition that found the Nowhere Shard. Nobody else from that expedition came home.

Years later, his parents vanish chasing the Shard again. Kiya Laestelle, a childhood friend whose ownparents led that expedition, turns up with a lead. The Shard pulls Vesper into the Umbral Passage, ahidden chain of worlds where the lost crew is still waiting, and every one of them remembers the name Vaughn.

Vesper Vaughn the explorer: curious and quick-thinking, with a staff he can throw and teleport to.

Kiya Laestelle Vesper's oldest friend: she talks him through the Passage by payphone, and whena fight turns ugly she answers his call with her golden khopesh-whip.

Kasu Clangs ruler of Velyxara: once the expedition's geologist, now hiding inside his relic armourwhile his Sentinels rule the streets.

One move runs the whole game. Throw the staff into a marked wall, post or ledge, then teleport to it.Throw it at an enemy and it's a weapon.

Throw: aim at a marked wall, ledge or enemy and let it fly.

Teleport: press again and Vesper is there, hanging from the staff, ready to climb.

Strike: the same staff is his weapon, with combos, parries and finishers.

Aim in mid-air and time slows. Umbral Mirrors bounce the staff around corners. Recall it and it hitsenemies on the way back.

A train station between the worlds of the Passage, and Vesper's base. Every trip into a new world starts and ends on its platform.

The library: a scarab relic sits in a glass case on the balcony. Break the glass, catch it before it hits the floor, and it's yours.

Kiya on the line: Kiya talks Vesper through the Passage from the payphone on the platform, one call at a time.

Offer the relic: place it in the station clock. Its doors shut and lightning fills the atrium.

All aboard: a train bursts out of the tunnel, bound for the relic's world. Pull the lever and it heads into the Passage.

A desert town inspired by ancient Egypt, under Kasu's thumb. His Sentinels patrol the streets and push the townsfolk around. Step in when they do, and the town starts to come round to you.

Explore: throw the staff, teleport to it and climb over rooftops, ruins and canyons.

Study: hold the spyglass on an enemy and its journal page fills in: how it moves, how it fights and where it's weak.

Fight: parry, counter and use your abilities.

Help: stand up for the townsfolk.

Forge: strike enemy pieces into outfits.

Each world is ruled by a member of the lost expedition, someone the Vaughns left behind, and they hold its relic. Win it, offer it at the station, and the line to the next world opens.

Staff combos, a last-second parry and a dodge that slows time, plus abilities to unlock at Umbral Vigil shrines and upgrade with gems. Every ability has its own preview clip, so you know what you're getting before you spend.

Strength: Umbral Vault, Umbral Slam, Void Guard, Dunebound Lance

Speed: Chronohop, Gem Rush

Magic: Vortex Reel, ChronoDome, Umbral Dominion, Umbral Terror

Discovery: Dune Thumper

Kiya: Whip Whisper

The map, your quests, every enemy you've studied and your outfits all live in one book. The map starts blank and inks itself in as Vesper explores, writing each district's name as he walks into it. Quests are written in Vesper's own words, with a pin on the map when you track one.

Beaten Sentinels and Reavers drop pieces. Drag a piece onto its outfit at the forge and Vesper strikes it on the anvil. Some outfits are forged from enemy pieces, and others come from the shops.

The Passage is a chain of trapped worlds. Each one is held by a member of the lost expedition, and each one keeps a relic. Velyxara is only the first stop on the line. Next is a snowbound mountain village.

Wishlist Vesper and The Umbral Passage to hear when it's out.