GCORES Publishing is excited to announce that S4U: CITYPUNK 2011 AND LOVE PUNCH, a visual novel from U0U Games, will be featured in Steam Next Fest starting October 14, 2024. This narrative-driven game transports players back to an alternate 2011 in Castor Yard. Navigate the intricate challenges of young adulthood, and make meaningful decisions that affect both you and your clients. We got to play the demo, which gives you two days in the life.

Hustle and Grind

In S4U: CITYPUNK 2011 AND LOVE PUNCH, you take on the role of Miki. Architect by day and online mouthpiece in the evenings, Miki strives to balance relationships, work, and personal growth. The game largely takes place at Miki’s home PC, through multiple chat windows. Clients ask you to confront their bosses, wives, boyfriends, etcetera, where they cannot. While you’re dealing with that, messages from personal friends and family flood your inbox as well. And don’t forget your design projects! Miki enters a competition that could change their career, and if you forget to play the minigame each day you might not be ready in time.

Miki Has Entered the Chat

While this is a chatbox game, you can’t just say anything you want. There are messages that get typed out no matter what keys you press. However, you do have the option of hitting backspace and typing in different dialogue options, usually with up to three choices. These choices are critical, as they affect the outcome of your jobs and your relationships. The full release will feature over 20 unique characters, all with their own agendas and desires.

To cap off the day, Miki goes out to have a smoke and grab something from the vending machine. Occasionally, you’ll even run into your clients or people related to them, letting you see the outcomes of your decisions. You can make new friends and rivals by interacting with the people on the street, or ignore them if you wish.

The retro pixel art aesthetic of S4U evokes a nostalgia reminiscent of the 2010s, enhanced by a distinct cyberpunk flair. In this world, robotics and AI have advanced past even the present day. Artificial beings called Cyber Life have had their ability to engage with society restricted, only able to work through the internet. Anyone you interact with online could be a Cyber Life, and while that is only a subplot of the demo you can expect U0U Games to expand on that concept in the full game.

While a release date has yet to be announced, you can download and play S4U: CITYPUNK 2011 AND LOVE PUNCH‘s demo from Steam. Look forward to this and more from Steam Next Fest!