Stellar Blade is out this week and our evaluation, which you’ll learn proper right here, is constructive. We appreciated the sport and have been impressed by the depth of its motion and world-building. Forward of its launch, however after spending a while with the sport, we had an opportunity to reconnect with Shift Up CEO and Stellar Blade director Hyung-Tae Kim after talking with him earlier this yr. This time we spoke to him (by way of a translator) about inspirations for the sport past Nier Automata (just like the Bible and The Matrix), the strategy to costumes and the way they match within the lore, and why having no minimaps within the sport was a purposeful resolution.
Recreation Informer: There are a number of endings?
Hyung-Tae Kim: There are a number of endings and really, for those who full sure quests, there’s a post-credits clip, as properly.
Is there an ending you favor?
This all is dependent upon what decisions and selections the participant makes all through the sport. There isn’t any explicit ending that I want. However then there’s this hidden stage so I hope that gamers uncover this and play that. If you would like, I assume, slightly happier ending then you’ll have to uncover that post-credits clip.
There is no gameplay reward for unlocking costumes, however they’re an essential incentive for the participant. Why are the costumes so essential?
I do undoubtedly consider that it is extremely charming for an iconic character to have this one iconic costume. However my energy is in character idea design. There was a lot that I wished to point out to the world and to have the ability to convey that to the gamers. I made a decision that it might be a good suggestion to incorporate totally different costumes, that was a great way to point out what I wished to point out. And I additionally wished the gamers to have the ability to go on a journey with the character in a method that they like. That is why.
What’s the course of of selecting and creating a dressing up?
It isn’t one methodology that’s determined when creating the costumes. For instance, the physique go well with – I designed it myself after which the 3D modeler; when they’re accomplished with the modeling of the costume, I’ll come again to it after which add extra particulars and texture and typography and end it for the sport. Or for different costumes, we purchase the precise garments in actual life, after which scan them, take the scan knowledge, modify it so it seems extra futuristic, after which full it that approach. So, it’s totally totally different. This manner, you get to satisfy very numerous costumes within the sport.
And on high of that, typically, whenever you play the sport, you will note some costumes that appear like swimming fits. And for these costumes, it is essential to depict the pores and skin texture like the way it modifications due to stress and the way it’s pushed up, or the way it folds, the way it bends just like the physique and the flesh and the pores and skin. That is essential after we’re attempting to element. So, for this, we truly solid a real-life mannequin after which had the mannequin put on the costumes and scan the mannequin to make use of the information.
Is there a lore purpose why Eve wears so many costumes? Is she keen on style?
There was some form of lore behind Eve displaying loads of curiosity within the costumes that have been left behind on the floor of Earth. We did have that idea, and it was a part of her character, however then we later determined that this does not actually must be proven within the sport. We do not have to actually make it recognized within the sport, in order that obtained taken out, however that lore nonetheless exists.
Did you ever think about tying costumes to character upgrades?
When making video games prior to now, I took it very critically that I did not join the stats of the character and the costumes. It was essential to me to not make it like that as a result of if that occurs, then solely sure costumes can be picked by the customers as a result of they’ve higher stats than the opposite outfits. I did not need that to occur. I simply wished everybody to take pleasure in all types of various costumes which can be offered within the sport, whatever the stats.
However after all, for those who do not put on something in any respect, then it might be harmful on the floor of a desolate Earth. So we did put slightly little bit of a drawback there for those who’re not sporting something.
Does the group see Eve as a Bayonetta-type determine who embraces her sexuality and makes use of it as a weapon?
I do not suppose Eve is conscious of these charms that she possesses, so she’s not that form of character. So, she will not be capable to mix that central attractiveness that the Bayonetta character has and to have the ability to mix that with their battles. However then it is not absolutely determined how Eve will evolve sooner or later, and what sort of realization she’ll be met with sooner or later, so I assume it might rely on the customers and what they like and what sort of curiosity they present in direction of the sport. Possibly Eve will undergo some form of… being extra socialized and adjusted, and perhaps she is going to get to have new realizations and develop into somebody totally different.
Cans are an essential collectible. Why cans?
That could be a private style. I personally like totally different can designs. And in addition, I assumed it might be extra lifelike to make use of cans the place the Earth is ruined. As one of many preserved items, cans would make extra sense than different components.
Are they primarily based on actual Korean manufacturers?
We tried to, however no can manufacturers would associate with us to have a collaboration, so we needed to create all of them initially in-house. We additionally consulted somebody who’s an knowledgeable in designing can packaging. We employed that individual to give you designs that will make them look actual. Sooner or later, hopefully we’ll be capable to have a collaboration with a real-life model. Particularly Pepsi, which we’re very keen on.
Was a minimap ever thought of? I would love one in Xion.
Should you slide up on the touchpad, you may have entry to the map in Xion.
Oh, however I need slightly map that’s all the time obtainable on the underside nook of the display screen.
I wished to point out as little UI design on the display screen as doable. That is why I did not embrace the minimap on the display screen. However then sure, it’s fairly obligatory in an open-world space. When it is a linear space, after all, there are different hidden paths, however for those who use the map, then perhaps it’s going to develop into too simple on this linear a part of the sport. That is why I wished to keep away from having the map there for the gamers to always use. However then sure, after all, in Xion, it would be best to seek the advice of the map extra as a result of as issues always change, you will be given new quests always, so the map does develop into useful. I do truly advocate utilizing the map there.
Within the film The Matrix, there’s the haven metropolis of Zion. In Stellar Blade there’s the haven metropolis of Xion. In Stellar Blade there’s a location known as Matrix 11. The Matrix was co-directed by Lilly Wachowski. In Stellar Blade there’s a character named Lily. Are these all coincidences, or is The Matrix a giant inspiration for Stellar Blade?
The Matrix is, after all, one of many films that I really like, however then fairly than any direct inspiration or references that we obtained from the film, you must see the Bible as extra of a supply of these inspirations. However then that does not imply this complete story was primarily based on the Bible, closely. It’s extra like they share related lores.
That is sensible as a result of The Matrix seems to the Christian Bible, as properly. And naturally, Adam and Eve are each characters in in Stellar Blade. Is the Bible a major supply of inspiration?
By way of supplies that we obtained for the plot, sure, the Bible, and sure it does must do with the themes of the plot as properly, however then in the end, on the finish of the day, that is an action-adventure sport so when the gamers play this sport, they will simply take this evenly and simply benefit from the sport.
When folks suppose, “Oh, this was primarily based on the Bible,” then they have an inclination to take it extra critically and count on perhaps a heavier, extra critical story there. And naturally, we’re very grateful for that interpretation, however what we wished to concentrate on was extra the gameplay itself.
Why is there a setting to alter the size of Eve’s ponytail?
I truly personally just like the lengthy ponytail that Eve has as a result of it provides extra to the motion and the motion and I see that as an essential factor, however then I additionally realized that this would not be for everybody. Some folks would possibly discover it annoying, or perhaps it obstructs a sure outfit or the display screen when shifting round, and I assumed that could possibly be interrupting or disturbing to some folks, so I additionally wished to incorporate the shorter ponytail. However then after that, there have been calls for about middle-length ponytails or the choice to have the ability to management the size of the ponytail and so forth.
Stellar Blade is out this yr. There’s one other large sport from a South Korean developer, The First Descendent popping out later this yr. Does Shift Up really feel it’s a large yr for Korean illustration in video video games?
We do have a hope that, beginning with Stellar Blade this yr, it is going to be an outbreak yr for South Korean builders. Prior to now, up till just lately, truly, Korean video games have been fairly remoted from the world as a result of the gaming market in Korea is usually mobile-centric. For console video games, it was exhausting for them to realize any consideration and there wasn’t that a lot of some extent the place different international customers have been attending to entry these video games. There have not been that many overlapping components there.
However then, beginning with Stellar Blade, hopefully, many international customers will get to find extra Korean video games and really notice, “Oh, these are literally actually good video games!” And I am beginning with that; hopefully, different Korean builders can be extra well-known. This yr can be that yr. And in that approach, we actually have a sure sense of obligation there.
Are you hoping to make a Stellar Blade sequel subsequent, or does Shift Up need to do one thing totally different subsequent?
Proper now, we’re focusing extra on Stellar Blade – the sport itself. We’re focusing extra on what the customers will like, what they’re going to need to see extra of, and what sort of further content material we’ll be developing. Hopefully, you will benefit from the sport that is popping out quickly.
For extra on Stellar Blade you may learn our earlier characteristic on the sport right here, and skim Recreation Informer’s Stellar Blade evaluation right here.