Alpha and Iota

Iota is beginning to lose their sense of who they are. Like the other members of their computer system, they have been locked away by the Corruption, a virus that spreads through subsystems, isolates the intelligent programs that operate them, and slowly erodes their memories. Though it has been years now since the system transmitted an urgent request to the Company for assistance, Iota persists in keeping an access port open, hoping in spite of all probability that help will eventually arrive.

Alpha and Iota is a puzzle platformer about repairing a damaged computer system inhabited by sentient agents, and controlled by a mysterious organization known as the Company. You operate a repair core, which can navigate the system by ejecting between a variety of different hosts, each with their own dynamics and abilities. Some hosts are fixed in place, while others jump, slide, climb walls, or follow rails. To progress, it is often necessary to utilize several hosts in combination, taking advantage of each of their unique qualities and the rich interactions between them.

Perhaps the most subtle yet versatile tool at your disposal is the ability to toggle a host to autopilot, locking in all current inputs to that host so that it will continue its present behavior, even if you eject away. In the hands of a seasoned technician, the repair core is an elegant tool, dancing fluidly between hosts to traverse damaged subsystems while gracefully evading security measures. Beginners tend to benefit from a more methodical approach to subsystem repair, first devising a strategy, and then carefully executing each step in sequence.

A majority of challenges are designed to allow multiple solutions. Players are rewarded for thinking outside the box, learning the quirks and interactions of each host type, and combining mechanics in creative ways. When the apparent solution to a puzzle seems mechanically difficult, there is often an alternative approach that dramatically reduces the need for precise inputs.

Notable Features:

Unique, nuanced movement system that is easy to learn and difficult to master

Sincere, unobtrusive story about the impact of isolation and loss