Canadian indie studio HeartLoop Games announced that its debut title, "Shapeshifting Fighters," is now available in Early Access on Steam. The game incorporates random progression and build customization into fast-paced one-on-one combat, allowing players to acquire moves by defeating opponents.
Players will face off against opponents in underground leagues. Upon victory, they can steal their opponents' moves and recombine the acquired abilities, ensuring different fighters and combos in each match. The game draws inspiration from classic fighting and arcade games.
The currently introduced build directions include a tanky playstyle that withstands attacks, an aggressive playstyle that continuously closes in on opponents, a ranged playstyle that controls the battlefield, and a playstyle that heavily utilizes projectiles. In terms of controls, the game offers both modern controls that are easy to pick up and classic command inputs.
Creative Director Osama Dorias stated that the team hopes to pay homage to the classic fighting and arcade games that accompanied them growing up, while also allowing players to experiment with different builds. The team will also monitor actual player feedback during Early Access; no release date for the full version has been announced yet.