Axis Descending

The demo for a cancelled Metroidvania project that won the Taco Bell Feed the Beta award and was exhibited throughout the states during 2015-2017. It is the subject of a talk by its creator, Mars Ashton, regarding the development of a project in an abandoned game engine that defined independent game development as we know it today.

This is a personal story. A story about my Grandfather’s death, my overworked Father and a world that expects so much of you after it all comes crumbling down. A story that has taken 10 years to reach a point where it has manifested as a game about exploring, finding new abilities and items, and then using those discoveries to explore deeper. In a game world full of brilliant blues, vibrant purples, even more colorful characters and tons of cosmetic options to personalize your character, Axis Descending offers the opportunity for players to experience a very personal story in a way that they can make their own.

The demo includes several areas to explore, numerous unlocked upgrades and cosmetics to use, and has been built to represent various facets of its own development as a form of "last respects" for a dying project.

This project wouldn't have been possible, even up to this point, without the help of numerous people. While the core demo was built by one person, game creation is truly a collaborative effort and "gamedev" extends beyond the core team. I want to thank the following people for helping to make this personal project a beautiful demo, even if it didn't reach the ideal outcome.

Kim Ashton

Dylan Packard

Alex Lanzetta