How free Helltaker has become a cult sensation?
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Steam Often scold for light access. On the site, not a day passes without the release of games, which, according to merits, can be called crafts – without original ideas and even asseses. But it would be unfair because of this to call the whole store "garbage". It is rather a sump: from a stormy gray stream, real pearls come up now and then.

We remember how before our eyes a free visual novel Doki Doki Literature Club! won the minds and hearts. And now her success is repeated by the same free puzzle Helltaker. It will be discussed. About her and her creator, the Polish artist Lukasha Pisisco, better known as Vanripper.

Long road to hell

Twelve years ago Deviantart The page of an unknown novice artist under the nickname Vanripper appeared. The newcomer did not post anything particularly outstanding, so from time to time he was on duty to success in the field of illustrations and animation. But he did not give up.

One of Vanripper's early sketches: nothing special, but the corporate identity is already starting to guess

For the first time, Lukash Piskozhi experienced his hand at the gaming industry in 2015. Polish independent developer Thomas Vaclavek Devolver Digital released a step-by-step stealth-beer in Steam Ronin, where the design and animation of Vanripper are used. The game clearly turned out to be raw, but it was appreciated positively, so Vaclavek also decided to work further.

Two years later, in 2017, the game designer released his next game, this time published independently under the brand TEEDOBLEGAMES. Hardcore role -player Immortal Planet collected even more positive reviews. The style of the cigarette in it can be seen quite vividly: the exaggerated displacement of proportions, the emphasis on simple forms and a meager set of colors, an aggressive contour, because of which the figures sometimes look like a mosaic.

Screenshots and copyright sketches Ronin And Immortal Planet

In 2018, Vanripper took up “something new”: his own animated series Daystone, whose main character was a kitty. A self -confident cat, which gets involved in a variety of adventures for the sake of saving the world and the victory of good over evil. To work on the cartoon, the artist resorted to help Patreon: He shared with art subscribers and conducted direct broadcasts, where he showed the process of working on sketches.

The public support not only helped to release three episodes of Daystone: with its help, Lukash Piskozho created his first game.

The pisca depicted himself surrounded by textbooks on C# and Unity, as well as “gifts” from Russia

Demons, skeletons and pancakes

For those who are categorically configured against any spoilers: Helltaker is completely free, and you can go in half an hour; Moreover, most levels, except for the battle with the final boss, allow you to miss. To get acquainted with her personally in any case, because the game is really good.

In Lukash arts made Persona 5 It is easy to see the characteristic techniques that make his demons with such charming. But one cannot help but recall another … keyword – Pancakes

The basis of Helltaker is puzzles in the spirit of "Sokoban". The main character, the conqueror of hell, or, as he is sometimes called, the Adbrainor wakes up with a strange idea: he wants to collect a harem of demon girls. Search them, of course, is most logical in hell, where he goes. There are only nine levels in the underworld, and all of them are arranged the same. Between the Adbrainis and the next demoness – rocks, skeletons and insidious traps. To get to the girl, a certain number of moves are allocated: they did not meet – death. At some stages, secrets and fragments of parchment are hidden, and in a pair of cases even give out “Achivka” for special actions.

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The best of the surprises: charming triplets act here as a three -headed Cerberus here

Since the puzzles can be calmly ignored, Vanripper's salt sees in the devils themselves, the meeting with which awaits at the end of the level: each of the girls turned out with character, although they have only a few replicas are allocated. During the dialogue, you can also easily die by choosing an inappropriate answer option – to understand which one is correct, it is possible only thanks to intuition.

Lukash “sketched” his hero with Larry Luffer, hero Leisure Suit Larry. And a characteristic polyester costume is clearly visible on the excellent fan of Khajiit_123

And after the demoness from the ninth level falls in the harem, the most interesting. Justice, the highest prosecutor of Hell, does not allow the Adbrain to leave his prey, and we have to enter into battle. Moreover, this battle, based on a https://seven-gb-casino.co.uk/ sense of rhythm and absolute reaction, can deprive a ton of nerve cells.

Those who tuned in erotic games with charming demonic beauties, another surprise awaits in the final. No vulgarity: the Adbir simply treats the girls with pancakes, and those of them burst with pleasure. For the most inquisitive there is also a secret ending: the code for it appears on the menu if you collect all three parchments at levels. We will not spoil – just say that Velzevul is involved in it.

Everything is fine that ends well: the Adburator, his harem, pancakes and police behind the door

Sweet and nutritious

Helltaker went to Steam on May 11 and very quickly got into the top of the most popular projects. As usual, streamers played a significant role in this: the game is as if on purpose was created for direct broadcasts. It passes for one session, but the sudden changes in gameplay and a difficult battle with the boss give a lot of emotions.

Any mistake in Helltaker is punishable by death, but this is not scary, because you can always try again

Following the streamers, the Fanart masters went on the stage. The idea to represent terrible and powerful demons in the form of dangerous, but incredibly cute girls, turned out to be truly fresh and promising. And artists of all countries of the world willingly joined the drawing of their own versions Azazel, Lucifer, Cerberus, Health and other harem inhabitants. This topic turned out to be fertile and because every demoness the author came up with his own “chip” like love for coffee or step -by -step strategies.

Lukash Piskozho released his game in English, but made a simple and convenient tool for localizers. As a result, in the Steam workshop you can find more than a dozen of Russian translation options, so that the mod builders also do not feel deprived.

If the game is well sold, it is popular, but if memes are made on it, it already smacks of cult status

What is from this falling the author himself? We have already mentioned that Helltaker is a free game. But those who want to support the Creator can buy an addition for 260 rubles. It includes an artbook with many sketches, notes of the artist (“for the most part all nonsense”) and a sign for fans a recipe for those very pancakes who are eating demonic girls with such pleasure!

The author’s recipe for demonically delicious pancakes quickly ended up on the network, but this did not affect the sale of bonuses

No one forces you to buy a paid set Helltaker. Moreover, access to artbook is unlocked as a result of passage. Nevertheless, many many people decided to express their gratitude to. And thanks to this, Piskozh is even going to close his Patreon: he feels that it is wrong to accept money when he can now finance all his projects on his own.

HellTaker pancakes are well sold on Steam. If everything goes well, I will soon try the model “pay as much as you want” on itch.Io. And I'm not going to dwell on what has been achieved. I will soon reach the state of affairs in which I can draw all day, without worrying about money, hire assistants, and at the same time release everything for free, without any restrictions. The expression “it's time to buy a private helicopter is approaching my current situation!".

Vanripper

Cosplayers never take up unpopular images, even if the costume is not particularly complicated

It is not known what will still come up with Vanripper and what will surprise the assembled army of fans. Now that he has enough money, he may well establish a studio and announce something ambitious. Or, through a year or two, he suddenly suddenly announces: “Hello, I released a free game, it is short and stupid, but I will be glad if you pass it! ".

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