Oct 23
2024
Out now! “Heavens’ Revolution: A Lion Among the Cypress”—Overthrow a Persian steampunk empire!
Posted by: Mary Duffy | Comments (57)
We’re proud to announce that Heavens’ Revolution: A Lion Among the Cypress, the latest in our popular “Choice of Games” line of multiple-choice interactive-fiction games, is now available for Steam, Android, and on iOS in the “Choice of Games” app.
It’s 30% off until October 31st!
In a Persian steampunk empire, will you use your arcane alchemy to repair a spaceship, or pilot a mech? Ignite a revolution, snuff it out, or play both sides against each other?
Heavens’ Revolution: A Lion Among the Cypress is an interactive retrofuturistic fantasy novel by Peter Adrian Behravesh, inspired by eighteenth-century Iran, where your choices control the story. It’s entirely text-based—275,000 words and hundreds of choices, without graphics or sound effects—and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.
Your training in alchemy puts you at the cutting edge of magic and technology, learning the science that governs the material world and the heavens alike. You can already create gunpowder, design intricate machines, brew potions that can ease the most terrible diseases, and distill fragrant perfumes. Much knowledge of astralchemy has been lost, but you could even learn to repair a khalicraft spaceship to escape to another world, or a giant mech that you can pilot into battle.
Seyj is an ancient city on the brink of revolution. Half a century ago, the She’ri Empire invaded, overthrowing the old ruler and occupying your planet. You are descended from both She’ri colonists and ancient Seyj families, and your loyalties are torn.
Like all citizens, you must serve in the Royalists’ army and defend the satrap governor—and yet you can see the Revolutionists’ protests escalating every day, agitating to overthrow the satrap and restore the old regime.
When the Revolutionists try to recruit you to their cause, will you share their view that they fight for justice? Or will you remain loyal to the satrap, upholding your duty as a soldier? Or will you play a game more dangerous than your fiercest alchemical flame, feeding information from one faction to another as a spy?
You had best hope that you don’t end up on the wrong side of a shamshir’s blade.
• Play as male, female, or nonbinary; gay, straight, bi, or asexual.
• Master arcane astralchemy to craft powerful weapons, open your own workshop, or secure a professorship at the University
• Rise within the ranks of the military and command an army to defend the satrap
• Or, join the revolution, overthrow the usurper, and restore the old ruler to her throne
• Find love with a fellow soldier, a blacksmith-turned-rebel, or a princess
Is gaining the world worth losing your soul?
We hope you enjoy playing Heavens’ Revolution: A Lion Among the Cypress. We encourage you to tell your friends about it, and recommend the game on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and other sites. Don’t forget: our initial download rate determines our ranking on the App Store. The more times you download in the first week, the better our games will rank.
Yep, it’s out a day early! Just for fun, nbd
Congratulations @behravesh! I’m looking forward to returning to this fascinating setting and exploring further. Hope you get to do something nice to celebrate!
Massive congrats on the new game!
Well, this is an exciting surprise!
I’m so excited for everyone to get to experience this wonderful game in its entirety. Behravesh has composed a thrilling drama about a character caught up in the sweep of history. You can throw in your lot with the rebels, or take a stand for the status quo (things aren’t perfect, after all, but they could certainly be worse). Maybe you’d rather just live your life as quietly as you can and focus on your future career, even as you find yourself with a front-row seat to watch history unfold.
This is an engaging story with a deliciously colorful setting and complex characters. I hope you all enjoy it!
Yeah, uh, I too was so excited that I woke up early thinking it was Thursday and released it.
Whelp, once you release on Steam, you can’t take it back, so here we are.