After three years of development, The Path of Motus will launch on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Steam on July 17th. The game explores the psychology behind bullying, and features a verbal combat system where words have the power to destroy.
In the game, a village of goblins has been trapped inside a mysterious forest; anyone who attempts to leave returns hopeless and defeated. Determined to break new ground, a young goblin named Motus plans to build a series of bridges through the forest. However, his perseverance will soon be tested, as he meets bullies that use their own words to stop him. “Playing as Motus requires you to have resilience, and lets players explore the deeper reasons for why people resort to aggression,” explains game designer Michael Hicks.
Hicks’ own experiences inspired his vision for Motus. “When I was younger, I was interested in what made bullies act so aggressive. As time went on I began to befriend some of them, and learned they had either been bullied themselves earlier in life, had really bad family lives, or were just simply jealous of other people; I kept all of this in mind as I designed the game. As Motus gradually grows from a child to an adult, you’ll get to explore the motivations of the characters you meet, and I expect you’ll have some surprising moments in the process! I feel the discussion around this topic often ignores the root causes of bullying, so hopefully this game lets us see how our own actions potentially contribute to this issue.”
Hicks sees the game’s release as a way to give back: “I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity to make this game. It means the world to see people play something I’ve made, and luckily this game has given me several opportunities to give back to some of you. I’ve launched a YouTube channel that shows people how to make their own games! At the end of my series, viewers will be able to make games for platforms such as PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It’s all free, and the programming skills I teach can be used in a wide variety of professions. Hopefully I can pass on the joy of game development to people who need it.”
Previous praise for The Path of Motus:
“Path of Motus is easily one of the most interesting games I saw at PAX East. The way it examines the player’s place within a gaming experience is brilliant, and it also has a meaningful message to share as well.” – PlayStation LifeStyle
“A mind-bending experience. Path of Motus will not be the game you think it is when you first approach it, but with very little investment, you’ll start to see how talented Hicks is at making a lot out of a little bit.” – Irrational Passions
“The Path of Motus really does give you a different perspective on how to play a game.” – The Disconnected Gamers
