''Teslagrad'' is a 2013

side-scrolling A side-scrolling video game (alternatively side-scroller) is a video game viewed from a side-view camera angle where the screen follows the player as they move left or right. The jump from single-screen or flip-screen graphics to scrolling grap ...

puzzle-platform game A platformer (also called a platform game, and sometimes a jump 'n' run game) is a subgenre of action game in which the core objective is to move the player character between points in an environment. Platform games are characterized by levels wi ...

developed and published by Rain Games. The game revolves around magnetism and electromagenic powers to solve puzzles while uncovering a conspiracy involving a despotic king. It received generally positive reviews. A sequel, '' Teslagrad 2'', was released in 2023.

Gameplay

''Teslagrad'' is a 2.5D puzzle-platformer with

action Action may refer to: * Action (philosophy), something which is done by a person * Action principles the heart of fundamental physics * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video gam ...

elements, where

magnetism Magnetism is the class of physical attributes that occur through a magnetic field, which allows objects to attract or repel each other. Because both electric currents and magnetic moments of elementary particles give rise to a magnetic field, ...

and other

electromagnetic In physics, electromagnetism is an interaction that occurs between particles with electric charge via electromagnetic fields. The electromagnetic force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. It is the dominant force in the interacti ...

powers are the key to go throughout the game, and thereby discover the secrets kept in the long abandoned Tesla Tower. The game features minimal combat segments coupled with electric-based puzzle sections and precise platforming. ''Teslagrad'' is set in a

steampunk Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction that incorporates retrofuturistic technology and Applied arts, aesthetics inspired by, but not limited to, 19th-century Industrial Revolution, industrial steam engine, steam-powered machinery. Steampun ...

-inspired version of old Europe, in a

non-linear In mathematics and science, a nonlinear system (or a non-linear system) is a system in which the change of the output is not proportional to the change of the input. Nonlinear problems are of interest to engineers, biologists, physicists, mathe ...

world with more than a hundred hand-drawn environments. The player controls a young boy, who suddenly finds himself embroiled in a long-forgotten conspiracy involving the despotic king who has ruled the nation with an iron fist for several years. The game offers various upgrades and items as the game progresses.

Plot

In the Kingdom of Elektropia, a king rules with an iron fist, combating and destroying a sect of technological wizards who have a massive tower in the middle of the city named Teslagrad. The name Teslagrad is built from a name and a word, the inventor '' Tesla'' and the Slavic word ''Grad'' for City. One day, a young orphaned boy finds himself hounded by the King's guards, fleeing into the deserted tower and uncovering the history of the conflict.

Production

''Teslagrad'' was originally conceived as the world of Chroma evolved, derived from a casual-focused multiplayer game called ''Minute Mayhem''. Rain Games stopped the development of the first game that the team was working on in order to focus on ''Teslagrad''.

Wii U The Wii U ( ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4. The W ...

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, and

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versions of the game were announced in June 2013, July 2013, and August 2014, respectively. The game saw the launch of its first playable demo for the PC which was released in August 2013. Later that year, developers Rain Game showcased ''Teslagrad'' at various indie game events such as

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2013 and Eurogamer Expo 2013, gathering invaluable feedback and being warmly received by players and press. The game uses the

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, making it easier for developers to reach cross platforms.

Release

The game was released on

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on 13 December 2013, on

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for the

on 11 September 2014, and on

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for the

and

on 3 December 2014 in Europe. The North American PSN Store release date for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 was scheduled on 27 January 2015, but was postponed on the day of the release. The retail version, published by

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, was released in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain on 3 December 2014, and in UK on 30 January 2015. The

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version was announced on 27 February 2014, but since then no exact date was given. The game was also released digitally in Japan on 18 February 2015, with an update to the Steam version that added Japanese language. An

Xbox One The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was first released in North America, parts of Europe, Austra ...

version was announced at the end of February 2016 with the release date of 9 March 2016. A version for Android and

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has been released on 8 November 2018.

Sequel

A sequel, '' Teslagrad 2'', was announced in September 2020. In addition to a remastered version of the 2013 original game, the sequel was released in April 2023 for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

Reception

''Teslagrad'' received generally positive reviews.

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website

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gave the Wii U version 79/100 based on 15 reviews, the Microsoft Windows version 77/100 based on 15 reviews, and the PlayStation 4 version 78/100 based on 14 reviews. ''

Nintendo Life Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British digital media company based in London. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and ot ...

'' praised the game for its nostalgic music, hand drawn artwork and brain bending puzzles. ''Nintendo World Report'' also praised the game for its art style, though they criticized the game for its steep difficulty and minimal

Wii U GamePad The Wii U GamePad is the standard game controller for Nintendo's Wii U home video game console. Incorporating features from tablet computers, the GamePad has traditional input methods (such as buttons, dual analog sticks, and a D-pad), touchscre ...

usage. ''

IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...

'' reported in March 2016 that 1.6 million copies of the game had been sold.

References

External links

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