The year is 3232 CE, a “self-replicating megastructure” named MOTHER is launched into the centre of space. Fast forward to the year 4,199,245,344,263,242,348,389,893,582,349,373 CE (no I’m not joking), and MOTHER has “consumed 99.99999997% of the Observable Universe.” What’s left of humanity hangs on in that tiny percentage that hasn’t be consumed, which is where you, a Reaper, a creation of MOTHER’s, steps in as part of AlteredBlood+, a movement-FPS platformer where the blood of your enemies is your strength. Also you’re a furry!

Right, quite the setup there for this one. As big and bold as its concept is, a movement shooter lives by the finesse of its, ya know, movement. Quite convenient then that there’s a demo to try out. AlteredBlood+ is a game that from its narrative to how it plays you can easily describe it as “a lot.” You are constantly on the move so as to avoid incoming enemy attacks, with a pretty swish little arsenal to defend yourself with.

At its base you have a knife that can do a few things. The first is, you guessed it, a slicing attack that’ll take out an enemy lickety split, sort of dashing you towards them if you’re close enough. If you’ve got enough charge, a slice will send out a wave of energy that’ll kill your enemies too. Time it just right, charge or not, your knife can also reflect your enemies’ attacks. Somewhere along the way you’ll pick up some guns, each appropriately chunky and boofy.

Let’s touch base back on the blood. Oddly, blood in this game is more like sap, black, tar-like goo that brings out your best side. Your weapons gain special effects while standing, soaking in the sap, and your movement abilities are stronger too, allowing you to jump to much higher heights. It’s a strong incentive to kill as many enemies as you can as quickly as you can, and to throw yourself head-first into danger; risk (dying), and reward (surviving, progressing).

I quite like what AlteredBlood+ is putting down, and I’m keen to see more of what its out there story is offering up too. You can wishlist it and try the demo out on Steam right now.