Stellar Blade is out this week and our assessment, which you’ll learn proper right here, is optimistic. We favored 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 12 months. 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 method to costumes and the way they match within the lore, and why having no minimaps within the sport was a purposeful determination.
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 effectively.
Is there an ending you like?
This all is determined by what selections and choices the participant makes all through the sport. There isn’t a specific ending that I favor. However then there’s this hidden stage so I hope that gamers uncover this and play that. If you’d like, I suppose, a little bit happier ending then you’ll have to uncover that post-credits clip.
There isn’t any gameplay reward for unlocking costumes, however they’re an vital incentive for the participant. Why are the costumes so vital?
I do positively imagine that it is rather charming for an iconic character to have this one iconic costume. However my power 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 completely 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 swimsuit – I designed it myself after which the 3D modeler; when they’re achieved 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 information, modify it so it appears extra futuristic, after which full it that manner. So, it is very completely different. This manner, you get to fulfill very numerous costumes within the sport.
And on prime of that, generally, once you play the sport, you will notice some costumes that seem 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 really solid a real-life mannequin after which had the mannequin put on the costumes and scan the mannequin to make use of the info.
Is there a lore motive why Eve wears so many costumes? Is she involved in style?
There was some sort of lore behind Eve displaying a variety 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 need to be proven within the sport. We do not have to actually make it identified within the sport, in order that obtained taken out, however that lore nonetheless exists.
Did you ever take into account tying costumes to character upgrades?
When making video games up to now, I took it very severely that I did not join the stats of the character and the costumes. It was vital to me to not make it like that as a result of if that occurs, then solely sure costumes will likely 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 are supplied within the sport, whatever the stats.
However in fact, 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 a little bit little bit of an obstacle there for those who’re not carrying 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 assume Eve is conscious of these charms that she possesses, so she’s not that sort of character. So, she will not have the ability to mix that central attractiveness that the Bayonetta character has and to have the ability to mix that with their battles. However then it isn’t absolutely determined how Eve will evolve sooner or later, and how much realization she’ll be met with sooner or later, so I suppose it might rely on the customers and what they like and how much curiosity they present in the direction of the sport. Possibly Eve will undergo some sort of… being extra socialized and adjusted, and perhaps she is going to get to have new realizations and grow to be somebody completely different.
Cans are an vital collectible. Why cans?
That could be a private style. I personally like completely different can designs. And likewise, I believed it would be extra sensible to make use of cans the place the Earth is ruined. As one of many preserved items, cans would make extra sense than different parts.
Are they primarily based on actual Korean manufacturers?
We tried to, however no can manufacturers would companion with us to have a collaboration, so we needed to create all of them initially in-house. We additionally consulted somebody who’s an skilled in designing can packaging. We employed that particular person to provide you with designs that might make them look actual. Sooner or later, hopefully we’ll have the ability to have a collaboration with a real-life model. Particularly Pepsi, which we’re very involved in.
Was a minimap ever thought-about? I would love one in Xion.
When you slide up on the touchpad, you might have entry to the map in Xion.
Oh, however I need a little bit map that’s at all times 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 embody the minimap on the display screen. However then sure, it’s fairly needed in an open-world space. When it is a linear space, in fact, there are different hidden paths, however for those who use the map, then perhaps it’s going to grow to be 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 continuously use. However then sure, in fact, in Xion, you’ll want to seek the advice of the map extra as a result of as issues continuously change, you may be given new quests continuously, so the map does grow to be helpful. I do really 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, in fact, one of many films that I like, however then somewhat than any direct inspiration or references that we obtained from the film, it’s best to 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 comparable lores.
That is smart as a result of The Matrix appears to the Christian Bible, as effectively. 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 need to do with the themes of the plot as effectively, 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 frivolously and simply benefit from the sport.
When folks assume, “Oh, this was primarily based on the Bible,” then they have an inclination to take it extra severely and anticipate perhaps a heavier, extra severe 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 vary the size of Eve’s ponytail?
I really 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 vital ingredient, 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 transferring round, and I believed that may very well 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 12 months. There’s one other large sport from a South Korean developer, The First Descendent popping out later this 12 months. Does Shift Up really feel it’s a large 12 months for Korean illustration in video video games?
We do have a hope that, beginning with Stellar Blade this 12 months, it is going to be an outbreak 12 months for South Korean builders. Previously, up till lately, really, Korean video games have been somewhat remoted from the world as a result of the gaming market in Korea is generally mobile-centric. For console video games, it was onerous 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 parts there.
However then, beginning with Stellar Blade, hopefully, many international customers will get to find extra Korean video games and really understand, “Oh, these are literally actually good video games!” And I am beginning with that; hopefully, different Korean builders will likely be extra well-known. This 12 months will likely be that 12 months. And in that manner, we also have a sure sense of responsibility there.
Are you hoping to make a Stellar Blade sequel subsequent, or does Shift Up need to do one thing completely 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 will need to see extra of, and how much extra content material we’ll be developing. Hopefully, you may 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 browse Recreation Informer’s Stellar Blade assessment right here.
