French indie studio The Game Atelier has pulled back the curtain on Flying Hamster 2, a side-scrolling action-RPG that bills itself as a spiritual successor to Sega's Monster World series.

Modeled specifically after the 8-bit Monster World series entry Wonder Boy 3: The Dragon's Trap, Flying Hamster 2 allows players to transform into animals that each boast their own unique powers and abilities. The Dragon's Trap was a progenitor of the exploration-based gameplay style that would later define Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, challenging players to discover new traversal abilities before they could progress through its storyline. Flying Hamster 2 will follow a similar structure.

The Game Atelier seeks $150,000 to fund a PC version of Flying Hamster 2. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions will be developed if the team's Kickstarter project meets its stretch goal of $350,000.

[Video: The Game Atelier]