It has been eight years since Thomas Brush created the fan favorite flash game Coma. In that time he has grown a lot, forming his own studio (Atmos Games) and releasing a critically acclaimed indie game, Pinstripe. Now it looks like he is putting that experience to good use with his next title, the long-awaited sequel to Coma, titled Once Upon a Coma.
Once Upon a Coma will see the return of Pete, who we followed in the original through a mysterious and subconscious world. After waking from a coma, Pete finds his hometown of Reddington is overrun with strange creatures, violent children, and no grown-ups in sight. To get things back to normal, he must leave the safety of his hometown and fight his way through insect-ridden childhood forts, like The Spiderian Well, Bloodwick Hollow, Ashcliff, Fluffbucket Deep, and Blackfork Hospital. Pete won’t be alone though, as he will have the help of his childhood pals, pet bird, and his father’s trusty razor blade.
Playstyle wise, Brush stated that the game is an “old-school, simplistic Zelda-inspired adventure featuring hack-and-slash mechanics, monsters, and collectibles.” He also revealed on the games Kickstarter website that, while the game is a direct sequel, it is not necessary to play the original to enjoy the sequel.
Alongside the main adventure, players will also be able to complete a number of different side quests. Find Pete’s best friend Preston’s home-made Coma Cards, a card game that reveals secrets about the world, creatures, bosses, and characters, and is rumored to give you magical abilities. And don’t forget to discover the secret of your missing sister either, finding various pieces of music she has written scattered about the world.
Once Upon a Coma has already hit its funding goal of $28,000, doing so on the first day. The game currently sits at $34,986 off of 1,232 backers as of writing this article. The complete list of tier goals is listed below.
- Initial Funding – Base game (Complete)
- Adventure Plus – Adds secret rooms, collectibles, and outfits upon the second playthrough
- Nintendo Switch – Released during or after steam
- More Coming Soon – Xbox and PS4 stretch goals and more
For more information on the rewards and how you can help contribute to the next installment in the Thomas Brush series, head over to the Kickstarter page.
Chapter one of Once Upon a Coma is available to play for free on newgrounds.com – yes that is still a website. While you are there, don’t forget to play the original, which is also still up for free, in its entirety.