MerFight: Curse of the Arctic Prince

What is MerFight?

About

MerFight is a fast-paced fighting game that provides a wide variety of tools for player expression. Currently being developed by one of the leads behind Battle High, MerFight is in open alpha and can be downloaded for free through itch.io and GameJolt. There are plans to release through Steam Early Access some time in 2021. Features include...

12 playable characters inspired by various sea life
Challenge combos and defense modes
Online multiplayer and 8 player lobbies
A "flexible" input system that works with simplified inputs while rewarding those who can perform more standard ones

Note, MerFight is still in development; many aspects are still unfinished.

You can find out more through the Mattrified Games discord.

Play the open alpha on itch.io or GameJolt now for free!

Dive In!

7/14/2021 Update

Version 0.24.1 Out Now!

Version 0.24.1 of MerFight is live. Changes include...

Updates to Odon's SFX and VFX and his tutorial.
Some of Strike's and Octonia's special throws now result in hard knockdown.
New training mode tools: reversals and hitsphere display.
Pop cancels cannot be canceled immediately upon enteirng an attack state.
And more! Check out "info" from the main menu for more.

Rewarding skilled players without impeding newcomers

Input Leniency

In most fighting games, inputs such as quarter-circles are required to perform special and super attacks; however, MerFight allows simpler inputs such as forward + attack to work. However, performing the more traditional input properly will reward players with a slight meter boost. The goal with this mechanics is to allow players who may struggle with these types of input, still have a level of success when playing MerFight and help them get into the game more quickly!

.gif of meter building when performing a move properly.

Spending meter to earn canceling

Unique Meter Management

In MerFight there are two types of energy that can be spent. The main energy meter allows players to perform super moves. When one bar of that meter is filled, players earn a pop cancel bubble. If the player has all 3 energy meters full, they cannot earn anymore pop cancels, so they will need to spend meter if they want to earn more pop cancel bubbles.

.gif of focused on meter and bubbles filling as one level of the bar does.

Cancel attacks for more damage or safety

Pop Cancels

With Pop Canceling, players can double-tapping in any direction during an attack to cancel it, allowing them to extend combos or make unsafe moves a bit safer.

.gif of Gigi performing a combo where she uses a pop cancel to extend said combo.

The Fleding Adventurer

Gigi

Species: Betta/Angler
Occupation: Adventurer
Favorite Color: Magenta
Favorite Food: Whalencia Oranges
Hobbies: Exercise and mask making
Likes: Travel
Dislikes: Failure, disappointing others

Wanting to maker her mother proud, Gigi embarks on her first adventure. She meets Atlas and decides to help him find the next Arctic King.

.gif of Gigi performing a combo.

The Devout Sharkolyte

Atlas

Species: Blue Shark
Occupation: Sharkolyte
Favorite Color: Sapphire
Favorite Food: Sea Buckthorn Juice
Hobbies: Reading and translating ancient Sharkolyte text
Likes: Helping others
Dislikes: His name, filing his teeth

Atlas has been tasked with finding the next Arctic King. Equipped with the elusive Arctic Amulet, he travels with Gigi to complete his mission.

.gif of Atlas performing a combo.

The Arctic Prince

Odon

Species: Mantis Shrimp
Occupation: Sculptor
Favorite Color: Gray
Favorite Food: Walnuts
Hobbies: Kickboxing
Likes: High quality marble, his goggles
Dislikes: Migraines, sleeping

Suffering from nightmares of a melting world, Odon tries to continue his scultping, unbothered, but how many more sleepless nights can he take?

.gif of Odon performing a combo.

The Poisonous Performer

Naeco

Species: Yellowtail Fang Blenny
Occupation: Retired Street Performer
Favorite Color: Teal
Favorite Food: Sea Buckthorn Martini
Hobbies: Dancing
Likes: Rings
Dislikes: Sharkolytes, barnacles, clowns, and doctors

Inflicted with cursed barnacles, Naeco makes a deal with the current Arctic King to find the Arctic Amulet, unaware of the risk involved.

.gif of Naeco performing a combo.

The Monster Architect

Drargos

Species: Isopod-Infected Lionfish
Occupation: Monster Creator
Favorite Color: Gold
Favorite Food: Tongues
Hobbies: Designing and planning new creations
Likes: The chaos his creations cause
Dislikes: Seeing his creations slain, his decaying host body

One of the few remaining Monster Architects from The Abyss, Drargos searches for a new host so he can continue creating monsters.

.gif of Drargos performing a combo.

The Gelatin Librarian

Enjellique

Species: Jellyfish
Occupation: Librarian
Favorite Color: Fuschia
Favorite Food: Phytoplankton Soup
Hobbies: Practicing elemental magic
Likes: Having the library to herself
Dislikes: Books being mistreated, The Aquatic, Drargos

Trapped in a library by Drargos many years ago, Enjellique endlessly researches to try and find a way to break the spell so she can master the ninth elemental and become a god.

.gif of Enjellique performing a combo.

The Electric Runaway

Bolt

Species: Electric Eel
Occupation: Unemployed
Favorite Color: Neon Yellow
Favorite Food: Sour Candy
Hobbies: Fighting
Likes: Thunderstorms
Dislikes: Boring work

Wanting an exciting life of adventure, Bolt runs away from, joining up with a rather cunning shark named Strike, who promises him plenty of it.

.gif of Bolt performing a combo.

The Ostracized Sharkolyte

Strike

Species: Bull Shark
Occupation: Brawler
Favorite Color: Gold
Favorite Food: Jackfruit
Hobbies: Gambling
Likes: Finding and selling treasure, the Crown of Atlas
Dislikes: Sharkolytes, being poor

A former Sharkolyte, Strike makes money anyway he can from underground fighting to theft. He meets an electric eel named Bolt, who he suspects could help him with his next big payday.

.gif of Strike performing a combo.

The Crustacean Mercenary

Gamma

Species: Blue Crab
Occupation: Mercenary For Hire
Favorite Color: Orange
Favorite Food: Sea Pork
Hobbies: Meditating
Likes: Privacy, working alone
Dislikes: Wearing their armor for too long

A quiet Crustacean Mercenary and loner tasked with finding a runaway eel.

.gif of Gamma performing a combo.

The Octopus Wrestler

Octonia

Species: Octopus
Occupation: Wrestler
Favorite Color: Mauve
Favorite Food: Sea Pork
Hobbies: Bodybuilding, designing costumes
Likes: Competition, strong opponents
Dislikes: Being told what she should be doing, practicing medicine

A quiet Crustacean Mercenary and loner tasked with finding a runaway eel.

.gif of Octonia performing a combo.

The Arctic Herald

Arctina

Species: Stingray
Occupation: Messenger
Favorite Color: Sapphire
Favorite Food: Doesn't require nourishment
Hobbies: Nothing
Likes: Sleeping
Dislikes: Burden of carrying The Glacial Lance

As Rho's stoic servent, Arctina secretly learns of his dangerous plans, unsure how to stop him but knows she must.

.gif of Arctina performing a combo.

The Arctic King

King Rho

Species: Manta Ray
Occupation: Arctic King
Favorite Color: Black
Favorite Food: Doesn't require nourishment
Hobbies: Planning his escape from his Arcitc Prison
Likes: Feeling superior
Dislikes: The Aquatic and the Elemental Deities, being imprisoned, thinking about his own death

Rho, the current Arctic King, imprisoned to his domain and nearing the end of his life, discovers a way to escape once and for all despite the consequences.

.gif of King Rho performing a combo.

Are you interested in helping with MerFight?

In Search Of

The following are areas that could use some assistance in completing MerFight's development. If interested in learning more about any of these, please send an email to gigs@mattrifiedgames.com with your portfolio and rates.

2D Illustrators

Are you a digital illustrator? I'm looking to fill a gallery of art for MerFight, so if interested in doing a piece or two -- paid of course -- feel free to reach out with your rates and portfolio.

VO

The need for voiceover work is nearing; if interested, feel free to send your information, and when the need arises, you will be contacted later.

Disclaimer: the previously mentioned are short-term contract/gigs. They are not and will not lead to full time employment.