Update [Mon 7th Nov, 2022 15:00 GMT]: With over 20 days still remaining in its Kickstarter campaign, the Paper Mario-inspired ‘2D’ RPG Flynt Buckler Wakes the Sleepy Castle has smashed its goal for funding and has now been confirmed for a Switch release in 2024.
At the time of writing, the amount raised stands at £30,901 (a substantial increase from the original goal of £26,099) and the first of a series of stretch goals has been achieved, adding a new ‘Gladiator Mode’.
There is still a good amount of time left to support the campaign and any further donations will only serve to add more to the finished product (another two stretch goals have already been laid out). A pledge of CA$25 (around £17) or more secures you a digital copy of the game and the bonuses only get greater from there.
The game is currently slated for a Switch release in early 2024, leaving Sleepy Castle Studio plenty of time to ensure that Flynt Buckler is in tip-top condition for his journey onto the Switch
Original article [Thu 11th Aug, 2022 09:15 GMT]: If there’s one thing that Switch fans crave (other than Breath of the Wild 2 news), it’s a new addition to the classic Paper Mario series. While we cannot offer you that as such today, Flynt Buckler Wakes the Sleepy Castle is certainly a move in the right direction.
Combining turn-based combat with a story book-inspired RPG adventure, the game looks set to fill a particularly Paper Mario-y shaped hole in our Switch catalogue. Developer Sleepy Castle Studio has announced that a Kickstarter campaign will be launching this Fall for a Switch release (which feels like the game’s obvious home), and are predicting a launch date of Q4 2023.
You will play as Flynt, a hero tasked with protecting his kingdom after a curse brings a host of story book characters to life. The game is set across several of these fictional worlds, meaning that the genre is always ready to change.
With angry mushrooms, coin collecting, and an enlarged clown that looks like a beefed-up Shy Guy (does that make him Shy Man?) it is clear that Flynt Buckler will wear its inspirations on its sleeve. However, with the turn-based combat and cartoonish mechanics, there is enough originality here to ensure that the game is not a paper-trace copy of its predecessor.
Want to know what the game has in store? Check out a full list of its features below:
6 vast storybook worlds brimming with quests, treasures, and secrets
A fun, fast-paced turn-based battle system that rewards experimentation and strategy
A colorful cast of memorable characters that will help (and sometimes hinder) Flynt on his adventure
Stories within stories: experience a charming and lively narrative where the rules are constantly changing
A jazzy, big-band soundtrack that keeps the energy pumping throughout
For more information about the Kickstarter launch, be sure to keep an eye on the campaign’s page here.
What do you make of this Paper Mario-inspired RPG? Let us know in the comments below!