Foam Sword has finally announced the release date for its upcoming indie co-op adventure title, Knights and Bikes. It will launch on the PlayStation 4 and Steam on August 27, over two years after the game’s previously expected April 2017 release. Foam Sword tweeted the news earlier today with a brief animation—a sneak peek at the game’s “hand-painted” art style.
Going “GOLD” means Knights and Bikes has passed different forms of certification that will allow it to officially be distributed. Knights and Bikes originated as a Kickstarter-funded project back in 2016. Foam Sword’s campaign surpassed $180,000 before it closed, blowing its $142,577 goal out of the water.
Described as a coming-of-age “Goonies-style adventure”, Knights and Bikes takes place on the British island of Penfurzy during the 1980s and follows Nessa and Demelza, two “tough imaginative girls” on their adventure to find treasure and solve ancient mysteries. Judging by the trailer, it appears Demelza hopes to use the treasure she finds to help her dad get out of a financial crisis.
The story mode can be played in single player or (either local or online) co-op mode, as it was originally developed with “co-op in mind” according to Foam Sword. Single player mode features “some clever AI” that will control whichever character the player isn’t using. Additionally, the player can easily switch between the two characters by pushing the shoulder-buttons on their controller. Throughout the story players can do a number of things, such as solving puzzles, fighting enemies, exploring the island, finding treasure, upgrading their bikes, and tending to Captain Honkers, the girls’ pet goose.
The game will be published by Double Fine Productions, which was just acquired by Microsoft earlier this summer. Foam Sword is a U.K.-based studio originally started by LittleBigPlanet programmer Moo Yu and Tearaway creative chief Rex Crowle, both former employees of development company Media Molecule.
Knights and Bikes will be available on PS4, PC, Mac, and Linux on August 27.