ULTRA

ULTRA - A trail runner racing game where runners compete with items, rhythm mechanics, and trail expertise to win first place in the ULTRA.

When the world fell to the flames of greed and fear, humanity fell with it.
Societal and environmental collapse, destruction, death.
But the Robot found a way out: a way to ascend the bounds the mortal coil humanity ensnared them to. The Robot built the Spires, collectively known as the Ascendancy.
Some now call them the “Creation of Adam” named after a long lost Fresco. Others call them GOD, yet others call them Fangs.
Regardless what they are called, The Ascendancy rules. The Ascendancy knows all. The Ascendancy hosts the ULTRA.

What is the ULTRA?
There are twelve Council seats. Twelve human voices permitted a place at the Ascendancy's (ASC) table; the only structural check on total ASC control.
Those seats are not given. They are earned.
Every three years, the Ascendancy hosts the ULTRA. A race across the Evergrowth. To win the ULTRA is to win a seat at the council.
TRACKS
Race around the Evergrowth, the remains of what was once the USA's Washington state or the United Cascadia Alliance (UCA), decimated by rising sea levels, bombardments, and covered by ecological reclamation. Now ruled by the various kingdoms and baronies.
Tracks presented at the 42nd ULTRA Include:
Discovery Park: forest rising above the Sound in the ruins of Seattle

Kalaloch: where land meets ocean above crumbling cliffs and driftwood

Lake Pearrygin: the ashfields and oasis.

Chuckanut: the great ridge rising above layered islands

Lake Diablo: A jade gem hidden in the North Cascades

Mount Rainier: An active, ashy, ultra volcano

Mount Saint Helens: a forgotten volcano, a crater.

Stevens Pass: where ridges cut into snowy glaciers and ancient chair lifts swing.

TRACKS^2
The ASC likes music. Especially from the first few decades of the 2000s. They play music directly into the skull of each Runner to enhance their performance.
Your speed is tied to the beat. Hit the rhythm and you find your stride with enhanced performance. Every song in the queue has different effects. Choose the track, choose the music.
RUNNERS
Choose your runner and customize them with your favorite running shoes. Runners participating in the 42nd ULTRA Include:
The Painted Knight

Great

Arno

David Goliath

Warden

The Gem

The ASC's Iron Runners

and more to be announced.

ITEMS
Win the ULTRA with ASC sponsored items!
Fly above the course with the Grappling Hook

Gain a boost with Speed Gummies

Restore your Stamina with Cyan Energy Shot or overpower your stamina with a Magenta Energy Shot

Trip up other Runners with a Sole Quake

Freeze other Runners in place for a short time with the Ice Bomb

Push other Runners away with a Bounce Spray

Turn an uphill into a downhill with Trek Poles

Drop a Briar behind you to slow runners who collide with it

Protect yourself from hostile items using the Location Scrambler

Steal all of 1st place's momentum and Track^2 multiplier with the ASC Decree

Automatically multiply your Track^2 multiplier with the Metronome

Or shrink the Track^2 beat window of other players for a short time with the AUX-Stealer

THE ART DIRECTION
Hand-painted environments combined with high octane graphic-modernism for the character design and UI. It's gorp-core meeting a painting.

PLAY WITH FRIENDS
ULTRA is designed as a multiplayer-first experience.
Online multiplayer: race other runners online in peer-to-peer servers, fill gaps with bots

Local multiplayer: Play LAN-style with friends over the same WiFi connection.

Local splitscreen