Volgarr the Viking is again, and greater than a decade on from the discharge of the unique recreation comes Volgarr the Viking II.
We reached out to the staff at Loopy Viking Studios in hope of discovering out extra concerning the sequel, forward of launch on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Change and PC. Their CEO and Inventive Director was very happy to inform us how they’ve gone about crafting a legend…
Are you able to please introduce your self and your function within the growth of Volgarr the Viking II?
Hello there, I’m Kristofor Durrschmidt, CEO and Inventive Director at Loopy Viking Studios. My function on the event of Volgarr the Viking II was as Inventive Director overseeing all artistic choices that went into the sport and I additionally contributed on to character and results animation.
How would you pitch this recreation to potential gamers?
I might determine Volgarr the Viking II as a methodical motion journey platformer with a side-scrolling perspective. If I have been to match it to platforming video games aimed on the widest viewers potential (checkers) this might be (chess). Slightly tougher to study and get good at, however actually rewarding if you do.
It’s been over a decade since Volgarr’s first outing, so why is now the time for his return?
It is a actually lengthy story (ten years within the making!). I by no means meant to make a direct sequel. I initially felt like we did all we wanted to do within the first recreation. It’s a recreation you’ll be able to play again and again and actually take pleasure in, like Castlevania III or Tremendous Ghouls N Ghosts. Over time we have been exploring different issues just like the expanded universe, different characters and skills, and so on.
Within the meantime, I’ve been requested nonstop all this time if/when one other Volgarr recreation was going to return out. Immediately, publishers began taking discover because the tenth anniversary of Volgarr the Viking loomed. The celebrities aligned with my relationship with Digital Eclipse and it simply felt like the appropriate time to discover it for me. It took some severe thought into what would truly make an excellent sequel to the unique expertise. It’s fairly thrilling to do one thing particular for followers for the tenth anniversary of Volgarr, even when it did get right here just a little late.
Who’s your target market for Volgarr the Viking II?
Anybody who likes to be challenged and to beat challenges. Truthful challenges. Within the unique recreation I knew we have been focusing on a particular viewers, however this time round I’m hoping to introduce extra folks to video games like this who wouldn’t ordinarily play them and hope that they begin to fall in love with the frenzy of bettering themselves as online game gamers and get them into one thing new for them. Aside from that, anybody who loves Viking fantasy, swords, monsters, excessive journey, and the riddle of metal…possibly loincloths.
Are you able to speak us via the primary variations discovered on this one, from the primary Volgarr the Viking recreation?
After all. As a result of I wished to get extra folks uncovered to this form of recreation and hope they stick round to find in the event that they just like the style, we added a brand new function that was extremely requested from the nice opinions we acquired the primary time round, primarily “Undead Volgarr.”
In Volgarr the Viking II there’s a model new function that enables gamers who’re struggling to learn to play Volgarr just a little higher. Undead Volgarr mode is tied to the narrative and has a visible illustration of how you’re doing. It’s not a selectable mode. For those who unlock this, your selections are to press on and see what occurs to Volgarr within the “Dangerous Ending” or restart the sport and attempt to do higher subsequent time which is within the core spirit of the sport.
That is tied to the narrative so that everybody enjoying Volgarr II has the identical expertise. Nobody must “Guess” if you happen to have been enjoying in straightforward mode or not. Everybody can see it. IE, you’ll be able to’t faux to be good on the recreation, however you’re welcome to have enjoyable in it as you see match.
Similar to the primary recreation, there ought to be a way of accomplishment and pleasure for many who full the core expertise of the sport. Nonetheless, this time, I hope that by together with this mode tied to the narrative, it can enable extra individuals who ordinarily wouldn’t wish to play video games like this to actually uncover—if in reality—that they could! Extra folks having fun with extra issues is all the time an excellent factor!
I actually felt like this function was an exquisite manner to offer inclusivity, but additionally retain bragging rights for probably the most hardcore followers.
Moreover, followers and a few reviewers requested for extra checkpoints. Whereas the Volgarr expertise will not be going to ever place a checkpoint proper earlier than each problem – it does comprise a considerably bigger quantity than within the first recreation. Within the 1st recreation, you solely acquired a checkpoint on a map transition. In Volgarr the Viking II you’ll get a number of per map now. Nonetheless, this has been balanced in opposition to the truth that Volgarr the Viking II has considerably bigger maps and worlds than the primary recreation as effectively. Once more, this function is to help new gamers to video games of this sort however it’s once more additionally non-compulsory in the best way that probably the most hardcore gamers can destroy them for further danger/reward for clout, lives, and rating.
Volgarr has new power-ups and skills along with his previous ones. Gamers might want to experiment to see how they assist Volgarr this time round. Every new piece of armor and energy as much as uncover supplies a novel profit unto itself.
Volgarr begins along with his Magic Protect this time versus the picket defend (which is retired on this sequel).
There are after all new traps, enemies, bosses, and methods to get across the ranges as can be anticipated!
The unique was recognized for its traditional arcade problem. Can we anticipate extra of the identical in Volgarr the Viking II?
Completely. The sport may be simpler for folks to heat as much as it, however it can be much more difficult for the individuals who need it. I think most folk will fall someplace within the center! The issue and the help that the sport offers you is tied to the narrative of what occurs to Volgarr. The more severe you do, the simpler the sport is – offers the worst story consequence, which I hope encourages folks to finally take the coaching wheels off and shoot for higher endings and in the end uncover the ultimate world and secret boss.
How will gamers be rewarded for his or her hard-earned progress?
The efficiency of a participant is tied to the narrative of the sport. For those who do rather well you’ll be able to unlock secret content material and study one thing actually cool about Volgarr and the gods he has to take care of.
What are you able to inform us about Volgarr’s skills and objects which can help him through the recreation?
A part of the enjoyable in a recreation like that is the invention of what the objects are and what they do. With out spoiling an excessive amount of there are fairly just a few extra issues Volgarr can get this time round, which inherently makes it so he can take a number of extra hits earlier than dying if you’re powered up versus the unique title. Among the new armor items are a magic girdle and magic boots. A few of these new skills do issues like ship out a shockwave to both facet of Volgarr when he lands on the bottom from a downward stab.
What influenced the visible type in Volgarr the Viking II?
I like the fantasy arcade video games from the late 80s via the mid-90s. Notably of the CPS1 and CPS2 programs, comparable to Capcom’s Magic Sword, Black Tiger, and so on. I actually love Taito’s Rastan. I wish to make video games pretending like they have been AAA big funds titles from that point interval. What wouldn’t it have been wish to stroll into your favourite recreation retailer on the time and see a Neo Geo, SNES, Genesis model of the sport on the shelf subsequent to Tremendous Ghouls N Ghosts. Difficult ourselves in such a manner that we put ourselves in our youthful selves’ footwear and check out to consider what would have influenced our buying choices then. These video games by no means stopped being enjoyable or related.
What did you study from the Volgarr the Viking group after the discharge of the primary recreation? How has this formed the sequel?
We have been actually pleased initially when the unique recreation got here out. It was rather well obtained. Nonetheless, a few of the criticism that got here up repeatedly was the need for consideration of extra or totally different checkpoint programs. Moreover, a number of requests for a simple mode. Nonetheless, straight up together with a simple mode in Volgarr II would stray too removed from the key sauce and design mantra that made the unique so good. To us, it’s speculated to imply one thing when gamers share that they’ve overwhelmed Volgarr the Viking. The expertise ought to be a shared one. Somebody shouldn’t must ask if it was on straightforward mode or not. That is why the undead mode options are tied to the narrative, and have apparent visible illustration to talent. Everybody can see what is occurring clearly, but nonetheless have enjoyable.
Which aspect(s) of Volgarr the Viking II are you most excited for gamers to expertise?
Truthfully, all of it. I imply that. That is the type of recreation I hope is shared amongst pals taking turns in the identical lounge laughing over pizza supply, arguing over whose flip it’s, or getting roasted on Twitch, and so on. I hope it’s a recreation that brings folks collectively and for a short time helps them to neglect concerning the troubles of the world and really feel like a badass. Similar to the primary recreation, I can’t wait to see all of the movies pop up on YouTube and elsewhere of gamers throwing their controllers, leaping, and shouting with glee once they beat a problem they’ve been caught on – often the actually humorous rage movies.
And eventually, which recreation are you most trying ahead to in 2024 (apart from your individual after all)?
I actually love the Dragon Quest collection, so if you’re solely going to permit me to choose one which DQIII HD Remake seems actually candy. After all trying ahead to Star Wars Outlaws, Dragon Age and a heck of numerous stuff similar to everybody else! It’s a great time to be a fan of video gaming. There may be actually one thing on the market for everybody! It doesn’t matter what you’re into and that’s tremendous superior.
Enormous thanks exit to Kris for offering us a while within the lead-up to Volgarr the Viking II launching to the world.
Volgarr the Viking II launches on August sixth 2024, on PC through Steam and GOG, and on Nintendo Change, PlayStation 4|5, and Xbox One, Sequence X|S. The Xbox Retailer will type you out with a obtain of the sport for £16.74. There’s additionally the Volgarr the Viking I & II Bundle for £20.99.
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