Publisher Akupara Games and developer Studio Hybrid have showcased a release date announcement for action-puzzle metroidvania title GIGASWORD. Gematsu reports that the title is set for launch on PC on October 2.

GIGASWORD is set in a world dealing with famine and disease, with its central location in the  city of Thoenhart and the ancient tower known as the Nestrium. Players will assume the role of a lone warrior known as Ezra who wields the GIGASWORD, on a journey to venture into Nestrium to retrieve the God Crystal, Gnosis.

Studderstruck interviewed solo developer on GIGASWORD Jack Breen, in which Breen revealed some of the title’s influences and mix of sword and platforming mechanics “Ezra, the main character, can’t jump very high at all. But then for these rooms where the goal is to leave the sword behind I can kind of branch out and make rooms that feel a lot more like a traditional platformer, like let’s say like Celeste or something like that there’s a more of a focus on like wall jumping and kind of chaining moves together and stuff like that So it’s cool to have those two styles and then try to blend them together, especially when it in a puzzle platforming with some action in it. It’s hard to see where the blending can happen, in this one it felt seamless.”

Players will use the GIGASWORD to unlock doors, weigh pressure plates, push blocks, with the ability to traverse by foot, and relieve themselves of the weight of the blade. Some enemies include demons, corrupted bosses, and bloodlust fiends. Common traps include death drops and invincible foes. GIGASWORD features new abilities in Thunder Bolts, Crawling Sparks, and Grappling Hooks.

Developer Akupara Games intends players to slow down and solve their Zelda-inspired puzzles given their heavy sword style mechanic. With the introduction of this fresh mechanic on a tried and true formula, perhaps Akupara Games can excite audiences this October.