DekaDuck – Half-Duck, Half-Robot – ALL HERO

Indie developer and publisher Asteristic Game Studio has announced DekaDuck, a retro-inspired 2D action platformer heading to PC via Steam. Still in active development, the game blends fast-paced platforming with a sci-fi setting full of conspiracies, hand-drawn art, and a protagonist that is, quite literally, half duck and half robot. A fully playable demo is already live on Steam, and a Kickstarter campaign is currently running to help expand and refine the final game.

The story centres on Dr. Less, a wanted man who finds himself stranded on an uncharted planet after his ship crashes during a chase with the Intergalactic Police. Using his scientific know-how and his daughter’s pet duck, he constructs DekaDuck, the robotic waterfowl players will control throughout the game. The central mechanic revolves around DekaDuck’s detachable mechanical arm, which can grab enemies, objects, and elements of the environment itself. It sounds like the kind of system that rewards creativity, with the developers describing the gameplay as built around agility, speed, momentum, and experimentation rather than straightforward shooting.

DekaDuck features six stages, each accessed by flying to different regions aboard Dr. Less’s ship. The levels are packed with secret areas, distinct enemy types, and giant boss encounters, all rendered in hand-drawn digital art. Players will also meet a colourful supporting cast along the way, including Aiko, an Intergalactic Police Captain with a somewhat inconvenient crush on Dr. Less, and Ekos, an arms dealer who happens to be quite literal about the job title. A newly released trailer offers a proper look at how movement and combat flow together, highlighting quick traversal and encounters that appear to reward improvisation.

Fans of classic action platformers will likely clock the inspirations here. Asteristic Game Studio has cited MegaMan and Alien Soldier as key influences, and the emphasis on momentum-based play and expressive movement certainly fits that lineage. The game also features an original soundtrack composed by Dominic Ninmark, which should add to the overall atmosphere the developers are clearly aiming for.

DekaDuck does not yet have a confirmed release date, but the Kickstarter campaign is live now and backers can get involved to help shape the scope of the final product. A free demo is available on Steam for anyone who wants to get a feel for the game before committing, and the Steam page is open for wishlisting. More information, including a full press kit, can be found via the links below.

• Wishlist or download the demo on Steam
• Support the Kickstarter campaign