As part of TGS 2024, there were not only major blockbusters, but also stands of small companies presenting several projects at once, each with its own unique style and gameplay. Awaken: Astral Blade is one of them. Our editor-in-chief Rodion Ilyin spoke with Alexander Kudeshov, executive producer of ESD Digital Games, and found out the key details of the project.
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VG times: Hello! Tell us about your project!
Alexander: I would like to introduce you to the metroidvania Awaken: Astral Blade, which will be released on October 22, 2024. The game is inspired by projects such as Metroid and the series Ori. The developer is the Chinese studio Dark Pigeon Games. The game is being launched as part of the China Hero Project initiative. This is a program to support Chinese developers in the release of their projects on the international market, under the supervision of Sony, which selects one or two projects annually. Sony believes in the game, and so do we. The release is just around the corner.
VG times: What are the main features of the game? Why is it worth playing?
Alexander: The game has an excellent battle system! It has been carefully worked out: timings, combos, movements – everything is on level. There are three types of weapons in the game that can be customized: disc, scythe and dagger. There are many locations: a dark forest, an alien ship, dungeons, and you can freely move between them, find secrets and reveal the story.
The gameplay depends on your attentiveness and the skills you find. For example, if you encounter a blocked area, it means you need to find a new skill. For example, we found a double jump, we turn back and enter this zone. There are a lot of bosses in the game – they are very difficult, and it is almost impossible to beat them without using combos. It is important that there is a slight delay in the combo so that the player has time to realize which attacks to perform next. For example, a combo consists of five steps. The player has taken three steps and in the next two steps he can think about which shots he wants to make.
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As you destroy enemies and bosses, the character gains experience to level up. There are three branches of development: combos, skills (improves the style and speed of combat) and weapons. The better you understand the world, the easier it is to understand what to do next.
We also have many skins for the main character that can be changed. You can see our cosplayers portraying hair and costume elements.
VG times: Do you have a message for our audience?
Alexander: Play, buy the game! Awaken: Astral Blade is all about gameplay, what the player wants to get out of the process. It will appeal to a wide audience and give you a really cool gaming experience. It’s definitely worth a try!
The interview was conducted by Rodion Ilyin.
Source: VG Times
Christina Moncayo is a contributing writer for “Social Bites”. Her focus is on the gaming industry and she provides in-depth coverage of the latest news and trends in the world of gaming.