THUMPER follow-up THRASHER gets first Steam demo ahead of launch

[IBJamon]

THUMPER follow-up THRASHER gets first Steam demo ahead of launch

As part of the VR Forever Steam event, Puddle (Brian Gibson, composer and artist for THUMPER, and Mike Mandel, Rock Band VR) today released the first Steam demo of their game THRASHER. The game was previously only available for Meta Quest & Apple Vision Pro, winning numerous industry awards.

The Steam version, full of space eels and mysterious monoliths, is playable for the first time in non-VR (flatscreen) and optimised for PC, SteamDeck and SteamVR. The demo will remain online until the end of Steam Next Fest coming up next month.

THRASHER's 2D & PCVR Steam release is planned for later in the year.



About the game

Winner of Apple’s 2024 Vision Pro Game of the Year and released on Quest in 2024, THRASHER is an arcade odyssey and audiovisual experience. Guide a magnificent space eel, elegantly swooping and thrashing it through mesmerizing alien worlds in the ultimate race for survival. Dive into the game's deep combo system to top the leaderboards or simply vibe inside the breathtaking landscapes. The 2D version has been reworked to capture the magic of the VR version but shine on traditional platforms.

Today, Puddle (Brian Gibson, composer and artist for THUMPER and Mike Mandel, Rock Band VR) dropped a new, exclusive Steam demo for their award-winning VR game, THRASHER. Space eels and mysterious monoliths await you in a 2D preview (SteamDeck optimised) and a first-time PCVR demo.

Adapted from the Meta & Apple Vision Pro VR release, the game won Apple’s 2024 Vision Pro Game of the Year. It has been reworked to capture the magic of the VR version but shine on traditional platforms. Swoop around the space eel with a thumbstick or your mouse and thrash through the chaos with the help of a new dash ability. The visuals have also been upgraded, taking advantage of the power of PCs, including:

Game modes: Main Campaign (27 stages across nine worlds), Play+ mode (new!) and Time Trials (new!).
Steam Deck optimised: solid 90fps with gamepad AND touchpad controls.
2D: Gamepad and mouse controls.
2D: Improved visuals over the VR version.
PCVR: improved visuals over standalone platforms.
PCVR: controllers AND hand tracking support.
PCVR: new more responsive controls.
Leaderboards and Steam Achievements.
Master a unique comboing mechanic centered around creating circles with your space eel

About the Game

From the artist and composer behind the cult hit THUMPER comes THRASHER, a mind-melting arcade odyssey and audiovisual experience. Guide a magnificent space eel, elegantly swooping and thrashing it through mesmerizing alien worlds. Race to evolve the space eel from a tiny worm into a mega beast, taking on wild bosses through nine psychedelic realms.

TRANSCEND SPACETIME

Immerse yourself in a dazzling odyssey where music, visuals, and gameplay mesh into one transcendent experience. Journey from the depths of primordial gloom to the heights of celestial bliss, culminating in a heart-pounding reckoning with a cosmic baby god.

YOU VERSUS THE UNIVERSE

Swoop, dash and thrash at breakneck speed, busting through obstacles and stacking up combos, leading to nine jaw dropping encounters with mysterious leviathans that will challenge your skills, and your sanity.

POWER UP

Deploy power-ups to supercharge your space eel and max out your combos. Create a destructive rainbow spray of bullets, bulldoze everything in a blaze of colour and light, or slow things down to create a perfect path through the chaos.

SOUND AND FURY

Lose yourself in the enthralling soundtrack created by designer Brian Gibson, bassist for the band Lightning Bolt. THRASHER is a spatial audio showcase, creating a stunning sensory experience.

CHILL OR CHALLENGE

Vibe out and enjoy the wild journey, or push yourself to the limit by chaining together massive combos to worm your way up the rankings.

About Puddle

Puddle is Brian Gibson (Art, Music, Design) and Mike Mandel (Code, Design, R&D). Brian is the bassist for the band Lightning Bolt and the artist and composer behind the critically acclaimed 2016 hit THUMPER, while Mike has worked across countless projects including Rock Band VR, Fuser, and Fantasia: Music Evolved. The duo has brought their game THRASHER to Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro, and is now bringing it to PC as a flatscreen version.

About Creature

Founded in 2023, Creature is a VR-focused video game studio and label committed to revolutionizing the gaming industry through innovation and creativity. With a talented team of industry veterans and a portfolio of groundbreaking projects (THRASHER, Laser Dance, Cubism, Budget Cuts and The Light Brigade), Creature aims to build the future of play. In addition to developing its own games, Creature offers business development services to independent studios, empowering them to succeed in a competitive market.