Microsoft's Gargantia post-apocalyptic steampunk flight simulator is a blast to play!

Here's something for fans of post-apocalyptic steampunk to explore: a game based on the popular Gargantia anime franchise that can be played on Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser.

 

Microsoft and Production I.G jointly produced "Sky Courier," an action adventure game based on "Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet."

"In Sky Courier, you get to play the role of Ledo as he explores his new home from the sky while piloting a surf kite with the help of his friends and an occasional hand from his AI companion, Chamber," the site for the game said.

 

 

CLICK HERE TO PLAY SKY COURIER

 

The game can be played on browsers that support the Gamepad API, like the newly released IE Developer Channel.

 

Earlier, Microsoft said the Gamepad API allows a gamer to use an Xbox controller to play games in the browser.

 

Aside from 3D gameplay, the original adventure game story features the original voice actors from the intro series.

 

On the other hand, the developers said the game uses "cutting edge web technology such as HTML5 and WebGL to create an innovative, beautiful and touch-friendly gaming experience."

 

Justin Garrett, IE Group Product Manager, said gamers can play for free in both Japanese and English worldwide, even as Microsoft will release the source code of a packaged version of the Sky Courier game so developers can build their own version with the Turbulenz open source 3D game engine.

 

"Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet" follows Ledo, a 16-year-old soldier from space who finds himself marooned on a post-apocalyptic, watery Earth:

 

In the game, Ledo explores his new home from the sky aboard a surf kite with the help of his friends and occasional help from his AI companion, Chamber.

 

"Sky Courier has two modes: story and mission. Story mode interweaves the action with an adventure game featuring original cut scenes and voiced dialogue from Gargantia’s voice actors. If you want to get right into the high-flying action, select mission mode and start flying. There is also a third mode – free flight mode – which lets you fly around and leisurely explore the beautiful world of Gargantia," Garrett said.

 

Garrett added "Sky Courier" is perfect for touch in Internet Explorer 11 though it can also be played with mouse and keyboard.

 

"The play area scales automatically depending on your screen resolution and as part of our Rethink Initiative, Sky Courier works across all modern devices and browsers that support WebGL," he said.

 

On the other hand, Nao Hirasawa, a producer at Production I.G., said they wanted as many people as possible to experience Gargantia: Sky Courier.

 

“IE11’s WebGL technology allowed us to create a beautiful, 3D version of our Gargantia world for the web,” Hirasawa said.

 

The game was built with the Turbulenz Engine, a "highly modular JavaScript and TypeScript game engine for the creation of both 2D and 3D games." — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News