The Haunting Success Story of Hauntii in the Twin-Stick Shooter World

Moonloop Games' Hauntii has captured the attention of gamers over the past year, thanks in part to its standout appearance and captivating soundtrack. During this year's Summer Game Fest's Day of the Devs, the indie title was featured in depth, leaving a lasting impression on players. But what truly sets Hauntii apart is its innovative twist on the classic twin-stick shooter mechanic. Founder and game designer Leo Dasso spoke with Game Rant about his affinity for this genre and how it influenced the game's combat and world design. Excited players can already add Hauntii to their Steam wishlists.

Hauntii Is a New Take on the Classic Twin Stick Shooter

Hauntii, an upcoming game from Moonloop Games, combines puzzle-solving with shooting mechanics to create a unique gaming experience. The game's art style is characterized by clean lines and a monochromatic color scheme, while the soundtrack, composed by LightReturn, sets a chill tone. Players will face a variety of challenges, from using ghostly powers to manipulate the environment to uncovering the backstory of the game's titular character. One standout feature of Hauntii is its use of twin-stick shooting, which adds a fresh twist to the classic gameplay mechanic.

Dasso's inspiration for the twin-stick shooter mechanics in Hauntii was simple: his love for the genre. He cites Geometry Wars as one of his favorite twin-stick shooters and a major influence in the design of Hauntii's shooting mechanics. However, he also acknowledges that the fast-paced and intense gameplay of Geometry Wars did not quite fit the mood and subject matter of Hauntii.

Dasso prefers the twin-stick design for its intuitive feel, as opposed to the contemporary trigger and button mapping commonly used for shooting. With twin sticks, players use one joystick to control character movement and the other to shoot in the desired direction. However, he notes that Hauntii incorporates both shooting mechanics depending on the context. While the game's main skill involves using the twin-stick mechanic to fill objects with essence and possess them, certain enemies require the modern trigger and button functionality, which Dasso compares to firing a revolver.

The weighty sensation of pulling the trigger is a unique aspect of certain creatures in Hauntii that the developer wanted to replicate in the game. Despite incorporating the twin-stick mechanic, Hauntii stands out from other games in the genre due to its slower pace and lack of constant action. The development team faced the challenge of managing players' expectations, as the game deviates from the typical fast-paced, shooting-focused gameplay associated with twin-stick games.

The slow-burn character backstory, combined with the casual exploration and creative puzzle-solving mechanics, makes Hauntii stand out from other twin-stick shooters. This unique approach to gameplay sets it apart and makes it a game worth experiencing. Keep an eye out for Hauntii's release on console and PC in 2024, and consider adding it to your Steam wishlist.