It began with a love triangle…
Then, a BIG BANG.
Now, because the universe expands, so does Feral Cat Den’s catalog! We’re excited to announce Nirvana Noir; the sequel to the acclaimed indie Genesis Noir.
With a surprising artwork type, and a jazzy, addictive soundtrack, Genesis Noir stole our hearts when it launched again in 2021. Nirvana Noir provides coloration to the attractive increasing Noir universe and much more jazzy tunes to take pleasure in. To share extra concerning the sequel, we requested Evan Anthony, Inventive Lead at Feral Cat Den, to shed some coloration on the way it got here collectively, and the way it ties into the unique Genesis Noir story.
How does Nirvana Noir broaden on the universe of Genesis Noir?
Evan: Genesis Noir tells the story of the Huge Bang: the start of our universe, but additionally a gunshot fired within the warmth of a cosmic love triangle. The participant explores this universe from the primary moments of creation, to the emergence of life in primordial oceans, the historical past and way forward for mankind, all the way in which up till the final explosive moments of the Huge Bang. Genesis Noir tells a narrative by means of the previous, current, and way forward for our universe, however solely briefly introduces the cosmic metropolis through which this Huge Bang was fired in. After finishing Genesis Noir, we have been left with so many questions on this metropolis!
What’s it prefer to stay in a metropolis the place a gunshot can create your complete universe? What’s it prefer to stroll down the streets, what would you discover in a darkish alley, what legal guidelines govern this place?
What different characters would possibly inhabit this unusual world? What are they like, who do they love, what conflicts do they discover themselves caught in?
Nirvana Noir explores all these questions. Whereas the streets of our house in New York Metropolis appear limitless, a metaphysical metropolis the place creativeness embodies the unknown into metal girders and stomping ft and rioting crowds and alleyways full of stellar our bodies, nicely that appears unfathomably greater! To broaden the universe of Genesis Noir has been an thrilling inventive and technical problem for our group, and we’re wanting to see the place it takes us.
What function does the soundtrack play in Nirvana Noir, and is it as distinguished in because it was in Genesis Noir?
Evan: The soundtrack performs an analogous function to the primary sport, undoubtedly as distinguished, interactive, and ‘sound-toy-y’. It’s like a personality that performs a supportive function however then involves the fore in varied methods, generally fairly unexpectedly. And like the primary sport, there are moments the place the characters are holding varied devices and enjoying music. We’re so fortunate to work on a sport that attracts consideration to the music on this manner.
How does Nirvana Noir differ from Genesis Noir in gameplay mechanics? Is there something new gamers can anticipate?
Evan: We’re nonetheless very within the tactile interactions, generative artwork, easy puzzles, and musical toys that we featured in Genesis Noir, however with Nirvana Noir we’re layering in a richer plot, bigger setting to discover, and dialogue interactions.
Whereas in Genesis Noir, the participant progressed by means of particular person ranges that featured bespoke interactions and settings, Nirvana Noir tells a narrative of conspiracy and intrigue interwoven all through the town. Gamers will see how the totally different areas and characters on this cosmic metropolis change because the plot unfolds.
Gamers can anticipate a brand new dimension of gameplay by means of dialogue based mostly interplay, which characteristic enjoyable and bespoke methods of interacting with textual content. Gamers will lower up phrases, throw them round, dodge and break textual content blocks, and discover fact hidden inside phrase bubbles.
What impressed you to convey full coloration to the extremely recognizable and intentionally black-and-white noir universe?
Evan: Initially of Genesis Noir growth, we imagined everything of the sport in black and white. However as we dove into the world and watched the characters tackle a lifetime of their very own, we realised the themes of the sport have been drawing us to (spoilers) introduce coloration within the last act. Introducing vibrant coloration to the participant after spending a lot time in a world of black and white created a really memorable second – No Man’s first and last choice within the sport. To stay a lifetime of coloration and crime, or stroll away into the monochromatic darkness.
This choice grew to become the 2 endings of Genesis Noir, and we have been fascinated by the concept each of those endings could possibly be canon. Maybe No Man selected the inconceivable, and located himself break up in two realities. One world, his metropolis drenched in rain and moonlit shadows within the useless of Nineteen Forties/50s traditional movie noir like The Third Man. The opposite a world of psychedelic coloration vibrating underneath the new solar of Nineteen Sixties/70s neo-noir movies like The Lengthy Goodbye.
Contrasting these two palettes has offered us with a lot of inventive alternatives. Plus, we came upon we missed working with coloration!
Had been there particular songs or artists that impressed the music or type of the sport?
Evan: The brand new interval setting of the 60s/70s-inspired timeline allowed us to dig into a very thrilling time in well-liked music. Whereas there’s varied strands of psychedelic pop music at play within the rating, we’ve discovered that a few of the darker materials from that period greatest helps the thriller that No Man finds himself wrapped up in: The Doorways, Velvet Underground, Love, Jefferson Airplane, some bits of Pink Floyd, and Silver Apples are just a few of the artists we’ve been drawing from. There are some extra obscure refs in there too however we’re really discovering the better-known artists are extra helpful to mine for interval/style tropes that resonate with the theme.
For the 40s/50s timeline, we’re discovering ourselves going backwards to be able to distinction with the colorful 60’s timeline. In the primary sport we have been exploring Jazz influences that went proper as much as the 70s as No Man went on his journey by means of the universe. In Nirvana Noir, No Man is spending much more time pounding the streets, doing good ol’ gumshoe detective-work so we’re digging deeper into traditional movie noir soundtracks than we did on Genesis Noir. Bernard Hermann and Jerry Goldsmith are fixed inspirations.
What ought to gamers be most enthusiastic about in Nirvana Noir?
Evan: Gamers ought to be jazzed about assembly new characters in a plot chock filled with intrigue and thriller that culminates in a psychedelic climax. Explosions and arson! Medication and drama! Lovers and corrupt cops! An exploration of the cosmic and metaphysical wrapped up in a raucous pulp exterior.
They need to additionally prepare for participating interactions full of the unbelievable music of IGF-winning Skillbard, all inside in a metropolis of eternal creativeness. So buckle up, hit the streets, and embrace the Larger Bang!