Something cool is happening in Montreal’s indie game scene. A small team of veteran developers, fresh from years of crafting blockbuster franchises at Ubisoft, has taken their first step into independence. Their debut game, Battle Shapers, arrived on Steam Early Access in October 2023 with a clear vision and solid foundation.
The story behind Battle Shapers is a tad different from the typical indie game. Studio founders Nicholas Routhier and Pier-Luc Papineau spent years as design directors at Ubisoft, steering massive franchises like Prince of Persia, Assassin’s Creed, and Far Cry. Now they’re leading a team of 25 at Metric Empire, bringing that high-end expertise to something more personal. But this isn’t a case of AAA developers trying to make another AAA game on an indie budget. Instead, they’re doing something far more focused.
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A Mechanical Paradise Lost
Battle Shapers takes place in New Elysium, a robot city fallen into chaos. The game follows Ada, an android reactivated for a final mission to reclaim this corrupted utopia. Her journey through the city’s trap-filled towers pits her against waves of mechanical enemies and powerful Overlords who control the ruins.
The combat system blends ranged and close-quarters attacks with a power meter that builds through successful combinations. Special abilities demand precise timing and smart positioning. The system rewards aggressive play while punishing careless attacks, creating a balance between bold action and tactical thinking.
Another thing I found interesting about the game is that the boss encounters adapt to different strategies, forcing constant adjustment as the fights evolve. Each victory grants Ada access to the defeated Overlord’s core, expanding her arsenal with new abilities and changing her appearance. The cores also offer distinct combat approaches, from close-range specialists to long-range tactical options.
Strategic Depth
The Shaper Hacks system adds layers of strategy to each run through New Elysium. This mechanic allows manipulation of environmental challenges, reward systems, and power-up combinations. These tools create meaningful choices about approaching each section of the game, with multiple options for tackling obstacles. The Early Access roadmap spans six to twelve months of development.
Metric Empire has outlined clear plans for new areas, weapons, enemies, and a final boss encounter. The game also has cloud save support which makes sure that the players’ progress carries through the updates. Additionally, the development team maintains active dialogue with players across multiple channels, such as their newsletter, Discord, and Steam forums, while focusing on achievable goals.
Drawing inspiration from games like Doom Eternal, Hades, and Mega Man X, Battle Shsapers builds upon proven concepts while forging its own identity. In a market filled with roguelites, the game stands apart through mechanical depth and coherent design. This mechanical paradise gone wrong carries the polish of AAA development with the focus of a smaller, more personal project.
It’s Apocalypse Time
Battle Shapers is an action-packed, sci-fi FPS roguelite in which you shoot and smash your way through swarms of corrupt robots. Wield powerful weapons, abilities, and game-changing new powers stolen from ruthless Overlords.
- Developer(s)
- Metric Empire
- Publisher(s)
- Metric Empire , Kepler Ghost
- Engine
- Unity
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Early Access Release
- October 3, 2023