‘Time Snatcher Handy’, which is being developed by the ‘Clockwork Cat’ team consisting of six college students, is a time-stopping bullet hell roguelike game, and it was officially released on Steam and Stove on November 27th through indie game publisher Comet Soft.
Don’t dodge the barrage, stop it.
This game’s most distinctive feature is its reinterpretation of the standard bullet hell formula. Instead of squeezing through a dense wall of bullets, which are difficult to avoid, the core mechanic revolves around stopping “time” to find an easier path.
Gamers take on the role of Handy, a thief cat who has stolen the “Clock Hands” from the Time Museum. They must evade and defeat the guards’ attacks and escape. Using the “Clock Hands”‘ special power, Handy can stop “time,” evading the guards’ relentless barrage of attacks by stopping time, swooping through the barrage, and launching surprise attacks to defeat them.
Strategic use of the resource called ‘time’
Time plays a key role in the game. Stopping time or purchasing items consumes time, and being attacked by enemies also reduces your “handy” time. This time can be recovered by attacking guards and stealing it.
A variety of items appear, offering benefits or even dangers, such as speeding up time or dropping meteors. Players can acquire and combine items of their choice to develop their character in their own unique way.
Roguelike mechanics are incorporated into a clean, time-centric approach to resource management. Strategically selecting items allows for riskier and more daring gameplay, while alternatives favor a more secure approach.
Attention at domestic and international game festivals
‘Time Snatcher Handy’ recently attracted the attention of many people by participating in the indie game festival ‘Burning Beaver’ hosted by ‘Smilegate Future Lab’ and the global indie game festival ‘Busan Indie Connect Festival (BIC)’ held in Busan.
It was evaluated as a demo that was enjoyable to play because the clean dot graphics, sound, and direction were faithful to the game’s concept, and it was also praised for feeling like it was possible to play as if you were coordinating tactics due to various devices that could minimize time consumption, such as the existence of a clock-shaped floor that indicates the direction of enemy attacks or powerful bullet attacks.
“Time Snatcher Handy,” a roguelike game that demands strategic use of time, will be available for 9,900 won (approximately $9 USD) on Steam and Stove for a two-week launch promotion. The original soundtrack, which can be enjoyed along with the main game, will also be available for purchase, with the main game and OST bundle priced at 14,310 won (approximately $14 USD) during the two-week launch promotion.
Additionally, ‘Time Snatcher Handy’ will participate in the ‘INDIE Live Expo’ held on November 29th. ‘INDIE Live Expo’ is an indie game showcase broadcast themed ‘Contribution to Games’. It will be simultaneously broadcast worldwide in four languages: Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and English, and the game will be introduced to indie gamers worldwide through INDIE Waves.
