Towering Ambitions Update

Greetings, adventurers!

The world of Fallen Elysium (now Shadows of Elysium: Darkbound) continues to expand with my latest update, v.5.0.0 – “Towering Ambitions”. This update introduces new challenges, characters, and areas, while also refining some core gameplay features to enhance your journey. Whether you’re scaling the newly added tower or unraveling the mysteries of Ethyrya’s reworked story, there’s plenty to discover and conquer.

Without further ado, let’s dive into the highlights of this massive update!

Update Highlights

Major Additions:

• New Tower Area: Explore the towering fortress south of the ruins, a new multi-level area filled with two formidable enemies. (Planning on adding more)
• Zetharos, the Tower Boss: A cursed blackknight awaits at the top, prepared to challenge even the most seasoned adventurers.
• Legendary Knight Michael: Standing guard on the tower’s first floor, this miniboss boasts immense strength and resilience. Can you survive his wrath?

Map Expansions:

• Castle Floors 1, 2, and 3: The royal castle now has three detailed floors, complete with NPCs to interact with (a handful already feature full dialogue) Note: you will need to interact with them multiple times until the next update to get all the choices.
• Castle Town Manor (The SIlver Aegis Guild): Finally integrated into the story as a Guild! It's your first stop after the dragon boss, though work continues on the second floor and basement.
• Enhanced environments in Ruins Entrance, Ruins Depths, and Cave 2, offering more detail and atmosphere.

Gameplay Enhancements:

• DevBook Key Item: Added for testing and fun, this item grants access to powerful cheat tools. Use it wisely, as it will mark you as a cheater!
• Tester and Developer Classes: Exclusive classes with unique weapons, armor, and accessories for testers and developers, accessible via the DevBook.
• New Intro Sequence: A quick, immersive introduction to the game’s story has been added. This requires starting a new game and takes roughly 1-3 minutes to complete.
• New Troops and Enemies: Added several enemies for the caves, ruins, forest and future areas to flesh out combat encounters.

Ethyrya Overhaul:

• Ethyrya, the Goddess of Death, has been fully reworked with a deeper story and new battle mechanics. Her dialogue and fight now reflect her lore from Draggexath’s Dominion.

Miscellaneous Changes:

• Added a massive gold stash to the Castle Jail for treasure hunters.
• Updated various BGM tracks and refined skills for better balance.
• Adjusted events to work seamlessly with the new intro sequence.
• Squashed multiple bugs and polished various gameplay elements.

Other Notable Mentions:

• Tried to make a deal with God (still pending).
• Attempted to feed the dragon boss (it didn’t end well).

Developer Notes

This update is my most ambitious yet, bringing new areas, bosses, and story elements to life while laying the foundation for future expansions. From the towering fortress and its formidable guardians to the reworked Ethyrya encounter, there’s something for every adventurer in this release.

I’ve also introduced the DevBook, a tool designed for testers and developers to streamline testing while offering a fun “cheat” experience. Be warned, however: using it comes with a cheater mark!

Thank you for your continued support and feedback. Your input is invaluable in shaping the world of Fallen Elysium (now Shadows of Elysium: Darkbound). As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions for future updates.

Conclusion

With v.5.0.0 – “Towering Ambitions”, the world of Fallen Elysium (now Shadows of Elysium: Darkbound) grows richer and more immersive. Whether you’re battling Legendary Knight Michael, unearthing treasures in the castle, or challenging Zetharos atop the tower, this update promises epic moments and unforgettable challenges.

I hope you enjoy exploring everything this update has to offer. See you in the world of Fallen Elysium (now Shadows of Elysium: Darkbound)!

Happy adventuring!
Love, Ethyrya~