Zeta Wolf Chronicles
A downloadable game for Windows and Linux
Follow our campaign on Kickstarter! We appreciate it! Set to launch on Feb 28th, 2023, we offer exclusive, time-limited rewards for those who contribute to bringing our project to the next level!
Our demo (version 3.1) is available now (free download)! This corrects many of the glaring issues of the previous version. Simply download, unzip the file, and navigate to game.exe. Available for Windows and Linux (tested on Steam Deck).
Demo Features:
- Over 50k words and 4+ hrs of gameplay.
- A robust cast of over 10 Characters!
- 7 CGs (with variations)
- Glossary, Scene Selection, and CG Gallery
- Partial Voice Acting
Download the Press Kit!
Want to report about the game? We surely would appreciate it! Just download our press kit. This contains sprites, screenshots, key visuals, CG, and more!
Zeta Wolf Chronicles portrays the journey of one antisocial kid, Rayen Lycon, during the woes of his senior year. He has made it his ultimate mission to find a girlfriend before graduation — a more insurmountable goal than he ever realized. Influenced by his online research, he begins taking cues from an ebook he came across, which details the ins and outs of approaching girls — a key component to success with them, or so the book claimed.
Unbeknownst to him, he is eventually discovered by citizens of Lunian, a dream-like world governed by Arctia, its leader, resident she-wolf, and de facto expert regarding all love-related intricacies. Arctia sends Lyca, her subordinate, with the purpose of infiltrating Renden High to train Rayen personally. Guys like him are branded as zeta males — those who reject society, friendships, and all social attachments in the pursuit of love. Eventually, Rayen finds out that he must learn to accept help and lean on others for support.
Lyca approaches him with the plan to befriend — and only befriend — one of four girls as part of his rehabilitation. While burdened with this task, Rayen continues his initial objective set out by his guidance counselor. Enamored by her beauty and grace, he sets his eyes on Siona Rufus, with the goal to construct a love letter for her to commemorate Valentine's day. With his counselor's help, the letter is delivered — but will it reach her heart?
In this tale inspired by real-life events, Rayen is forced to change his life, and commit time and energy toward what his heart desires the most. Will desperation win out, or will knowledge, patience, and logic pave the way to success?
- Genre: Visual Novel, BxG, Romance, Slice of Life, Comedy, Psychological, Fantasy
- WARNINGS: May depict depression-prone characters, but nothing extreme.
- Rating: 13+
- Developer: AniClash Studios
Support us?
Why not consider following our Kickstarter campaign? This is the next major part of our project's cycle and I would be thankful to everyone who contributes to making this game as great as it could be.
Additionally, you can follow us on Twitter and Youtube for future announcements.
If you need any help with getting the game running, want to reach out, or for general inquiries, please contact our staff at aniclashstudios@gmail.com
Cast
- Shane Sheffey (Zanthos) - Project Lead/Programmer/Writer
- Leticia Varela Paz - Assistant Lead
- ThaiChau Studio - Lead Artist/CG/BG/Character Design
- Re.Alice Works - GUI / Interface Design
- Keiraworks - Additional Background Art
- Red Robotix - Original Music / Composer
- Rene Breitbarth - Additional Music
- Rachi Sills - Rayen Lycon
- Lauren Mayfield - Siona Rufus
- Dottovu - Lyca
- Zara Eden - Hima Crass
- Deneen Melody - Ferine
- Bryn Curry - Arctia
- Rest of Cast TBA
Purchase
In order to download this game you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $40 USD. You will get access to the following files:
Download demo
Development log
- Preorder Store Closes 9/29! Merch and Beta Info!Sep 18, 2023
- Fully Funded on Kickstarter! < 48 Hours Remain!Mar 30, 2023
- We are 77% Funded on Kickstarter! 9 Days left!Mar 22, 2023
- Our Kickstarter Campaign is live!Mar 03, 2023
- Kickstarter Launches Today! Giveaway + Livestream InfoFeb 28, 2023
- Update 3.1 - Major Bug Fixes!Feb 18, 2023
- Version 3.0 Available Now!Feb 14, 2023
- Character Spotlight on Siona and Insight on Character DesignJan 23, 2023
Comments
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This has me intrigued, the art is very nice and the premise is catchy, I am considering backing but seeing as the estimated release is march of 2025 I may as well just wait as it is fully funded now, tho I will chip in if it gets near the voice acting stretch, I dont think its neccessary but why not. Seriously tho, is it just me or does the release date seem really far for a project like this? How come?
Hey there! I have set the estimated release for around mar 2025, which could take longer or shorter. Many visual novel projects tend to take around 18 months to 2 years. There are backer pledges to fulfill, physical merch and the completion of the story, and other odds and ends. Now, the game may release sooner, but I wanted to set a more stable date to reduce any disappointment that may arise from delays!
If you to decide to support us with a $1 follower pledge that's an option as well, which will allow you to track our progress more closely (updates are planned monthly and are backer only).
Regardless, thank you for your inquiry! Hopefully this provides some clarity to the release timeframe.
Enjoying the demo so far and looking to play more off screen in the future! ^o^ The premise of Zeta Wolf Chronicles is really interesting along with all of the wolf related features, such as the end of text symbol having a red wolf head, the transitions between some of the scenes having a wolf shape shadow. There are some things I've encountered that are some technical issues from highest priority to lowest.
1. The game abruptly stops progressing after the scene in the school corridor/lockers when you encounter it and progress back to Rayen's bedroom. Just the background and nothing else loads up.
2. The Save function doesn't work when looking to save the game outside of Quick Save, for example saving in Slot 2 doesn't create a Save within that slot and etchera for the other Save slots.
3. There are a few words that have a letter missing throughout the first hour of the demo, unlike the other two issues, this is really minor.
Rooting for Rayen in his pursuit for finding an individual in the future to call his girlfriend, partner, companion, friend etc. :) Thank you AniClashStudios!
Thank you so much for your feedback! I will definitely look into these issues.
1) It sounds like the game freezes at the point you described, if you could be more specific about the scene in question, I will pinpoint it. Perhaps you can tell me the day and scene name from scene selection?
2) I'll have to tighten the coding of the save system which has been giving me trouble. For now it seems best to use quick save.
3) Understandable, this sounds like typos right? I'll look into it. (Really strange because I figured the beginning of the game from v2.0 and earlier was pretty throughly checked, but I'll do another pass).
I'll mention this on our Kickstarter page as well. Thanks again.
The point in time where the game no longer continues through the demo is near the end of the video I posted up. For multiple playthroughs, the functionality of the save system is best if a fix can be found so that more than just the Quick Save can be used. :)
This game is interesting. Making it available for android would be a huge help for those who dont have much time on their pc.
Good news is that an Android version is planned for the future! This will likely roll around late next year or so. Testing on mobile has been ongoing, but not quite polished enough to release at the moment.
I have decided to start writing a comment before actually playing the game but I can say that I love that there is a tutorial :D even if it is not the first game I play like this and I loved the graphic which is one of the reasons that attracted me to the game. And I love wolves too so :D.
But even the game description is interesting :D so time to play it. :D
Oh, the little prompt of the game seems interesting :D
Edit start game one do anything...
Maybe the problem is the 32-bit version...
and I have no new game option.
Unable to even start a session...
compatibility problems :'( I'm on Windows 10 by the way.
trying to open is as admin...
Sadly I can't play it at all... Doesn't seem to work for Windows 10.
Hello, thanks so much for your comment! It's unfortunate that the game could not start for you. This may be due to the method in which we used to package the game.
We'll look into alternative means such as a raw .zip file and hopefully this will remedy issues for some players. This will be distributed once our 2.0 build goes live, so please be patient (scheduled to release this spring)!
thank you for the reply and actually all of the game one zip works for me. At least of those I have tried :D
and?
Hello again! Don't worry, development is still ongoing. I've been in the middle of a personal ordeal (buying first home), so that's the cause of some delays at the moment. This game means a lot to me on a personal level, so it is definitely my goal to eventually release it. The 2.0 update is super close, just have to polish up a few kinks here and there. Likely I'll have to make an official announcement about the delay, but I'll say fall 2021 as a definite. It'll give me time to get firmly settled in the new home and work life as well.
Interesting concepts consider me intrigued. Any bugs I saw have already been mentioned so I don't really have much to say besides: I'll be watching this product very closely. Loved Miss Crass's design and VA btw
Hello! Thanks for your kind words, we certainly appreciate it. It's been sort of quiet on the development front lately (since the demo's initial debut), but we're planning to post an update soon.
Hello! I stumbled upon your raffle on Twitter and after I look at the art, I simply interested and decided to give it a try immediately!
I like playing this game soo much, not only because the art of the characters and backgrounds are superb, but also those BGM and SFX are perfectly match. Personally I like that ting-ling sfx when I hover over a button. That was cute and I hover to any button several times to hear the sfx again heheh. The UI and Graphics are gorgeous too, although I believe some font size could be bigger, like in the Save Game Pages. I also like the Voice Actor, like ghosh! They did a pretty good job! (especially Ms. Crass huehue) and those "Insight" concept. That was brilliant and it was my first time encounter a Visual Novel with such a concept. Totally love it! That's what makes your works original and unique, different than anyone. Oh, and moving sprites for blinking and breathing? Plus point added. Last, appreciating the Tutorials! It was super kind of you to give tutorials for those new player.
However, I noticed some bugs here and there. First, the text names came out and disapper later than the box name. I found it quite odd because usually the box and the name came out in the same time. Some names also didn't appeared in the later scenes, especially when Rayen already meet Ms. Crass to consult about his love-life. I also noticed when Rayen do a narration (and it's voiced, gosh! You guys rock!), the background turn into a sad evening cloud and the narration text supposed to appear there. But for some narrations, the text isn't appear at all. I still can hear Rayen well enough tho, but I guess you need to look that out. Oh, and when I chose "Game my time" instead of "reading e-book" (I must say, the e-book is hillarious LMAO) in one of the Rayen's choice to spend his free-time, nothing happened. No dialogue box at all, but the BGM is still playing. I got stuck on the bedroom background hoho, please look that out.
Overall, Zeta Wolf Chronicles is a great work and I would definitely waiting for the full-released version! Good luck team!
And this is a few suggestions to add, hope they will be considered in newer version!
1. Log features for both text and audio log. I found it somehow necessary, mainly because I press my "Enter" button too fast and I missed out some dialogues from Ms. Crass ;w;
2. Save Game Menu suggestions are as follows :
- date information for each saved file, for people who play it in a super casual way or when their friends come over to play the games in their PC, they tend to leave so many saved games and it would be helpful to add the date information when they saved it.
- or, you may give the players some options to rename their saved files instead!
- sometimes, some people accidentally save their progress in wrong slot, so I think, adding the delete option for saved files also necessary!
- Lastly, please give some confirmation prompt before deleting and overwrite files ;w; something like "are you sure you want to delete/overwrite this saved files" or etc.
3. Setting page. Have I mentioned that I totally like the cute UI? I would appreciate it if you guys considering to add the button for the slide bar. Maybe like this or this.
4. PLEASE GIVE SOME CONFIRMATION PROMPT BEFORE THE PLAYER QUIT THE GAME, especially with that 'Esc' button ;w; I noticed someone already commented about this before but I will add this here just because..
5. I noticed the transtition is a wolf-head shape. I found it fascinating but somehow it's quite taking time to wait them fully transitioned to the next scene? I suggest you to faster the transition a little bit to make it more smoother.
6. I was surprised when I want to save the choice moment for Siona (I usually did that in VN so I can comeback in that choice again) and the page says something like "The Time is Up" like????? I would appreciate it if you guys add the ticking-time somewhere to remind us that we have to choose it fast. Oh, and please put the timer information in the tutorial too, so the players can anticipate to think fast when they meet the choice.
7. Shortcut for quick save and quick load. Or for the better, everything for accessing menu! Heheh.
I think that's all of it. Good luck AniClashStudios!
Sorry for the late reply. I just noticed that this feedback is supremely awesome. I can address a few of the things you wish to have added to the game.
1) Log will be present in version 1.5 (our next build) so you're in luck!
2) Save and load screens will be updated with the information you requested (date/time and such) in the next build =) We're looking into the each of the additions you mentioned to polish it up a bit, but I cannot promise that everything will be updated immediately.
3) Woohoo! Work on a slider bar button for the options page is already in progress!
4) Yes, confirmation prompt on quit will be added in the next version.
5) Thanks for your comment on the wolf transitions, several players have wished to have the transition sped up. We'll adjust this in the next version.
6) This particular segment of the game with Siona and her timed choice is a little buggy, you are correct. I'm hoping we can refine this so it is not a frustration for players. Currently a WIP.
7) Shortcut, like a keybind? Hmm... it's possible. We'll look into this one.
Thanks again for all of your great feedback. We would like to highlight you in our next devlog!
I like playing this game. It was a unique and basic experience of of going through it. For the demo, it had its ups and downs.
Let's start with the ups.
I like the character designs of Rayen, Siona, Lyca, Crass and the mystery girl. Good colour designs and personalities.
The talk between Rayen and Crass was interesting to listen to of of his struggles and don't know how to talk to girls right.
Plus, the ending with Lyca and Crass was nice and a bit humorous.
Let's start with the Downs.
I wished there was actually a timer or a ticking countdown doing where you can first encountered Siona. I failed the first time playing it, but not that much of an issue.
Maybe a skip button on to be dark cloud moments where Rayen talks to himself, as I play the demo over again. Those lasted around 30 seconds (or feels like it to me on my PC).
Maybe it's me or I didn't listen correctly, but Ms. Crass said that Lyca was in demo but I need to listened and unlocked everything or something. Well, I did (Hopefully by click on almost every chioces and click on almost insight points) but nothing happens.
I noticed some errors and bugs from playing it over and over again where character names are missing and no texts in the dark clouds moments.
I'll make a bug report with some screenshots later in the day.
But overall, Zeta Wolf Chronicles demo version is a good visual novel is play when you have some spare time, the characters are unique to get to know, the background art, music and GUI are nice to noticed.
Can't wait for more from this team. :)
My Twitter:
Take a look at Bus Arrows Studio (@Busarrows1): https://twitter.com/Busarrows1?s=09
Pushing Esc just shut down game without any warning. I did't even got a chance to save. You should probably fix it. Also, game effects feels sluggish since I couldn't find anything to make it briefly. For example, sentence from prologue have slow-fading effect without any means to get through it like pressing the spacebar
Thank you for your feedback. We'll make these adjustments in the next build! Also, it's worth noting that lightly tapping the CTRL key activates the skip function at any point of the game. Not ideal for the prologue, but it's possible to remove the fading later if its a cumbersome design choice.
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