MAGITA: Echoes of Philippine Mythology

MAGITA is a 2D pixel hack-and-slash action game set in a dark fantasy world inspired by Philippine mythology. Players take on the role of a lone warrior exploring the cursed island of Namalha, battling mythical creatures and uncovering the hidden stories behind them.

Built as a side-scrolling action experience, the game focuses on fast-paced combat, atmospheric environments, and exploration across different regions inspired by locations in Cebu. Each area presents unique enemies, challenges, and visual themes that reflect local folklore and mythical creatures.

Unlike traditional hack-and-slash games that focus purely on combat, MAGITA introduces an Almanac system, allowing players to learn about each defeated creature—blending gameplay with cultural storytelling.

⚔️ Features

• Fast-paced hack-and-slash combat
• Pixel art environments with dynamic lighting
• Enemies inspired by Philippine mythical creatures
• Multiple stages with distinct themes
• Almanac system for lore and creature information
• Leveling system and progression mechanics

🎨 Development

MAGITA was developed using the Unity Game Engine, with assets created in Aseprite and Adobe Photoshop. This project explores how pixel art and modern game design can be combined to present cultural narratives in an engaging interactive format.

✨ Inspiration

MAGITA draws inspiration from several action and atmospheric indie games, combining fast combat with immersive world-building:

• Dead Cells – for its responsive combat and fluid movement
• Hollow Knight – for environmental storytelling and mood
• Castlevania – for its gothic tone and enemy design approach

The game also takes strong inspiration from Philippine folklore, aiming to reinterpret mythical creatures in a darker, more atmospheric setting.

🎓 Project Context

MAGITA is a capstone project developed at University of San Jose–Recoletos by a two-person team.

Team Members:

• Levi Llenares
• Stanly Bodiongan

 My Contributions

• Game programming and core mechanics
• Combat system implementation
• Player design and animation
• Enemy design concepts
• Background art (tutorial area and forest environment)
• Integration and testing within the Unity game engine
• Lighting setup and visual effects implementation

Other environmental assets and additional elements were created by my teammate.

ArtStation: levillenares9.artstation.com