A point-and-click visual novel set in U7.
Minotaur was successfully crowdfunded and is currently in Early Access. Check out our Kickstarter and Steam pages for the latest news!
The Early Access trailer:
Gameplay
Minotaur is a hybrid of a mystery visual novel and a point-and-click adventure game which takes place in U7’s science fantasy world.
Main gameplay features:
- Point-and-click exploration and widely varied puzzles.
- Visual novel-style fully voiced narrative.
- Unique character skills which enhance gameplay.
- Rich and detailed setting with hundreds of scenes across multiple locations.
- Progression and endings heavily influenced by player choices.
Find what Minotaur is like by playing its demo! Download it here or from one of the stores:
To play the direct download, simply extract the archive, launch the .exe (PC) or .app (Mac) file and voilà — you’re in Royce apartments, trapped in your room.
Graphics
Minotaur uses 2.5D graphics with animated backgrounds… And there are a lot of them. One notable aspect of the game is that locations are almost never reused, which, as of the latest version, results in nearly 200 (!) unique scenes. Same with character art done by the amazingly talented Demi Wang, who has accomplished an immense amount of work by creating dozens of CGs and countless more smaller character sprites for in-game sequences, animated cutscenes (yep, there are those too) and more.
Get a glimpse into the world of Minotaur with a selection of in-game screenshots!
Music
…plays such an important part in Minotaur that it even got its own page. Not only is the soundtrack already (as of v. 0.7.5) 3+ hours long, but several main characters also have a deep connection to music, and there are musical puzzles and numbers in the game.
Visit The Spire, an exclusive Novian club for discerning clientele, to discover why the Minotaur OST is well-loved by its players!
Characters
Characters are the heart of Minotaur. Coming from all walks of life, yet still tied together by past and circumstance, they all pursue their own goals in the situation they found themselves in. The game features nine primary characters (nine persons, you could say), though you’ll also meet other colorful denizens of Kyos and perhaps even Ilyon along the way — all brought to life by a fantastic voice over cast. Five of the main characters are playable, with each having a unique race, class or job skill that helps them progress.
Let us introduce you to the motley crew.
Nod Pikes
Playable? Yes
Race: synthet (27% IR (implant rate))
Age: 31 years
Blood type: A
Job // kit: mechanical engineer // outfitter (unlicensed)
Job skill: Axis vision — see Axis currents and concentrations in the environment
Meshnet status: it’s complicated
Relationships (in alphabetical order): Irene (ex-girlfriend), Ollie (personal AI assistant)
About: Nod is smart enough to know he could do better, but he’s never made much effort to seize his chances. He spent most of his life in Nova, a truly cosmopolitan DC, working odd jobs and meeting all kinds of Kyosian folk — experiences that made him a people person. Though for the last few years, his easygoing attitude has been tested by a painful breakup he still hasn’t recovered from, so it’s a good thing his trusted personal assistant is always there to cheer him up.
Voiced by: Chris Niosi
PA-7s/345 “Ollie”
Playable? No
Race: n/a (AI)
Age: n/a
Blood type: n/a
Job: personal assistant (PA)
Job skill: good intentions
Meshnet status: Ollie would like to use this opportunity to state that Nod Pikes’s status is complete bs
Relationships: Nod (owner)
About: Mister Pikes… it’s time for your night shift. Wake up, Mister Pikes! Oh, for Syl’s sake. (Plays recording of Irene’s voice.) Hon, get up. Noddy, bring me a towel! (Changes back to her own voice.) That’s my boy! Come on, Mister Pikes, why the angry face? I’m just doing my job. I have other recordings I can play if you’d like, something to help you, erm, perk up. Wait, don’t shut m
Voiced by: Brittany Lauda
Irene “Key” Kelly
Playable? No
Race: synthet (18% IR)
Age: 27 years
Blood type: AB
Job // kit: bard // singer
Kit skill: tugging at heartstrings with songs
Meshnet status: married
Relationships: Arthur (husband), Nod (ex-boyfriend), Thea (stepdaughter), Unter (ex-band member)
About: Irene came to Nova from her native Tali in search of stardom, but the path to it proved to be thorny, and she met Nod just when she was starting to get tired of walking it. Things picked up after that, and soon Irene moved from performing on the street to getting reliable gigs in Second Rim’s clubs. And then she moved from Nod, too, leaving him for the owner of a makeshift penthouse above Nod’s apartment. A talented songstress no doubt, she eventually became one of the most recognizable voices of Kyos.
Voiced by: Jill Harris
Thea Hopton
Playable? Yes
Race: pure human (under 1% IR)
Age: 12 years
Blood type: O
Class // kit: Aspect // Null Weaver
Kit skill: Void Mirror — under certain conditions, enter an out-of-body state
Meshnet status: n/a
Relationships: Arthur (father), Irene (stepmother), Mentor-15 (music teacher), Unter (friend)
About: Thea’s mother died during childbirth, and Arthur, Thea’s father, had distanced himself from his newborn daughter and threw himself into work. As Thea grew, so did the rift between the two, and Arthur’s recent efforts at closing it have shown just how wide it has become. He seemed to have some success, at least, in putting an end to an endless string of nannies and tutors with Mentor-15, Thea’s latest music teacher and personal guardian, who played a big part in helping the reserved girl open up. Her new stepmother, too, warmed up to Thea quickly, and in addition to encouraging Thea’s musical studies, Irene proved to be invaluable in smoothing things over. She also introduced Thea to her ex-guitarist, Unter, in whom Thea found a rare friend.
It all seems like progress, but it’s worth keeping in mind that, when trying to care for something fragile, it only takes one misstep for all efforts to crumble.
Voiced by: Brittney Karbowski
Arthur Hopton
Playable? No
Race: synthet (35% IR)
Age: 44 years
Blood type: B
Job: scientist
Job skill: playing Syl
Meshnet status: married
Relationships: Irene (wife), Mentor-15 (android), Thea (daughter)
About: Nod has his own reasons to call Arthur a “condescending jerk”, but many would agree. A brilliant mind? Yes. Overflowing with arrogance? Syl yes. He does boast an impressive résumé, with several prestigious awards to his name and a spotless track record from his time at TFX, a Mirian-based tech powerhouse, so he had no shortage of offers when he decided to leave the corporation.
His choice ultimately fell on AmpArms, and after an eccentric purchase of half of a rundown apartment building in Nova’s Second Rim district, he moved domes and relocated to a makeshift penthouse with his only child, Thea. His personal life seemed to take a turn as well: in Nova, he met and married his second wife, Irene, and began making attempts at connecting with his estranged daughter.
Voiced by: Lucas Schuneman
Mentor-1578-9
Playable? Yes
Race: android
Race skill: Almost Human — assume control of equipment that supports DI (direct input) interface on a software level
Age: 1 year and 2 months (3.5-year grasp)
Blood type: n/a
Job // kit: mentor // music teacher
Meshnet status: n/a
Relationships: Arthur (owner), Thea (student)
About: Arthur worked at TFX for most of his life, and his contributions to the corporation were substantial enough to warrant a favor even as he was leaving it. Mentor-15 was that favor — a highly customized android based on a mentor model, made to order for his daughter Thea.
Arthur oversaw the production personally, and while his relationship with his daughter had always been strained at best, it’s hard to deny the results of his efforts. Perhaps he had learned from experience — Fifteen, as Thea calls her teacher, had many predecessors, both humans and androids, but it was in her that Thea finally found a companion. In just a few months, the two became inseparable… at least until it’s time for Fifteen’s deactivation.
Per Arthur’s directive, Fifteen speaks in Narian to both him and Thea, so that they could learn the language of the northern continent.
Voiced by: Rina Hoshino
Unter
Playable? Yes
Race: penguin (pin)
Age: 12 years (≈24 in human equivalent)
Blood type: n/a
Job // kit: bard // guitarist
Job skill: perfect pitch — hear things others cannot
Meshnet status: in a relationship (but that’s a lie to avoid attention from fans)
Relationships: Irene (ex-band member), Thea (friend)
About: when pinz come of age, they leave their home continent of Ilyon for a pilgrimage to Kyos. Unter never came back; he doesn’t talk about it much, but the reason seems obvious to most — Kyos is a much bigger stage, and whatever one enjoys doing, it’s easier to find like-minded people here. When Unter met Irene, they hit it off almost immediately and formed a band together, with her on vocals and him on guitar.
The artistic union didn’t last, though, and they parted ways as Irene’s career started to take off, with many fans of both musicians insisting to this day that their time together produced their best work. Unter, however, doesn’t seem to be bothered by not being in the spotlight, and enjoys a modest living in Royce as its semi-official janitor, while continuing to perform in local clubs.
Voiced by: Clifford Chapin
Richie Donovan
Playable? Yes
Race: synthet (46% IR)
Age: 35 years
Blood type: AB
Class: Officer
Job: detective (Nova Corps affiliation)
Job skill: law enforcement — grants permission to carry and use a firearm within the affiliated agency’s jurisdiction
Meshnet status: single
Relationships: n/a
About: a native of Ares DC, Richie served in several of its PSFs, participating in active combat all across the continent. After suffering a major injury on one of his missions, he decided to settle down and applied for a job in Nova Corps, an organization which primarily handles police work in Nova DC. He soon established himself as a talented detective, and gained a good reputation among his colleagues — not least for his ability to retain composure even in volatile situations.
One case, however, would leave even him forever rattled.
Voiced by: stay tuned!
FAQ
Fun facts about Minotaur!
Developers: the game is being developed by U7 committee, a group of people from all over the world who got together to create U7 things. You can read (a little) more about us here.
Platforms: we’re making Minotaur for PC and Mac, and it’s currently available in a number of digital stores. We do hope to release on consoles in the future, especially since…
Controller support: as of v. 0.7.5, Minotaur has full controller support, and since it’s a point-and-click game, we made every effort to ensure that it plays well with a gamepad.
Languages: we are translating Minotaur into Russian and Chinese; other languages are being considered. The English version of the game has complete voice over.
Release date: when will Minotaur come out of Early Access? We’re working on it!
