TOKYO, JAPAN: May 20th, 2023 - Japanese indie developer Odencat Inc. announced today that their next game, Dream Channel Zero, will be coming to Steam in Winter 2024. This reveal comes hot off the heels of their latest release—the highly acclaimed Meg’s Monster—and was announced via a teaser trailer during today’s INDIE Live Expo showcase. The game is described by the studio as a “surreal and quirky adventure” that traps players inside the world of a mysterious video game from which they must find their way out.
About
Dream Channel Zero tells the tale of a boy named Akira, who one day gets suddenly and inexplicably sucked into the world of a mysterious video game. There, he meets Rumiko—a seemingly normal girl in a teal blue hoodie—and the two team up to conquer whatever perils this strange virtual world might throw at them, and hopefully find a way out. Thus begins an all-new and truly original adventure full of laughter, tears, and fears by Zelle creator Fuming and award-winning Bear’s Restaurant and Meg’s Monster developer Odencat.
Explore a charming world map full of endless surprises
The game’s stages are laid out in a lovingly retro manner that’ll have you traveling around an animated world map as you explore striking locales in order to hunt down the “boss” characters of each stage in order to clear their respective channels. Along the way, you’ll trigger enemy encounters, visit shops, and discover optional events littered across the map. Players will also have some amount of freedom to clear levels in whatever order they like—just turn the dial, and you can instantly change the channel and hop over to a different stage.
Punch out freaky phantoms in exhilarating battles
The game’s world is filled to the brim with fearsome, ghostly inhabitants—and every single one of them is determined to stand in the player’s way. But in many cases, a single well-timed punch to the face will be enough to send them to their graves (Or get them to behave at least)! Each battle has its own unique trick to beating it, and there are no repeat encounters, ensuring players will always be kept on their toes. And of course, a gripping, dramatic boss battle awaits at the end of every stage.
Embark on a bizarre journey that’s both endearingly quirky and eerily disturbing
The world of Dream Channel Zero features a uniquely surreal aesthetic, and though it may seem crazy and cryptic at times, the game itself has been designed so that it can be fully enjoyed by players of all skill levels and comedic sensibilities. While there are many zany and unhinged characters among its cast, and hilariously absurd optional events to uncover, the central plot is one that’s both heartfelt and elegantly simple, and is sure to deeply resonate with players no matter where they come from.
Meet a whole host of crazy characters in hilariously surreal side content
In Dream Channel Zero, even minor characters feel major. The game features a wide variety of eccentric and memorable NPCs, as well as optional scenes in which they all get their time in the limelight. Throughout your journey, you’ll meet:
- A middle-aged cactus who insists there’s nothing wrong with selling trading cards featuring candid photos of random people taken without their knowledge
- A punkish merman running an aquarium without a single fish
- A pompous lemonhead who loves to stare at you obnoxiously from afar
- A group of dancing starfish who will NOT stop until they get an apology
- An exploding toy poodle
- A god-slaying hero
- A mysterious moon-faced man
- And many more…
Discovering a fresh new sound in game music
Director Fuming chose Minneapolis-based electronic producer and DJ Xavier LeBlanc to create the soundtrack for the game Dream Channel Zero. LeBlanc's unique sound draws from various genres like hip-hop, Latin jazz, IDM, drum and bass, and R&B. Instead of replicating the retro 16-bit sound, LeBlanc aimed for a new and challenging sonic experience. His diverse musical background and expertise outside of video game music played a crucial role in shaping the game's distinctive sound design. LeBlanc's ability to seamlessly switch between different variations of a theme mirrored the game's channel-surfing mechanics, enhancing the natural and satisfying transitions for players.
Product Specifications
Title: Dream Channel Zero
Genre: Adventure
Publisher: Odencat Inc.
Platform: Steam (PC, Mac, Linux)
Release Window: Winter 2024
Price: TBD
Target Demographic: Ages 12 & Up
Press Kit: https://odencat.com/press/20230520_dreamchannelzero/presskit_en.zip
Official Website: https://odencat.com/dreamchannelzero/
Trailer: https://youtu.be/Jy6kg8BZoNU
Languages Supported: Japanese, English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese (+ more TBA)
Steam Store URL: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2382810/
Publisher Website: https://odencat.com/
Publisher Twitter: https://twitter.com/OdencatGames
Developer Twitter: https://twitter.com/fumifumi0698
Contact Email: contact@odencat.com (cc: Elisha elisha@odencat.com)