A groundbreaking idea
At DigixArt, we’re all the time searching for new, revolutionary, and quirky methods to inform non-linear tales, in our “selections matter” narrative video games.
Our earlier sport, Street 96, was a procedural street journey. Our new sport, Tides of Tomorrow, is a post-apocalyptic, plasticpunk journey the place different gamers’ selections immediately affect your story.
We name this new gameplay function “Story‑Hyperlink.” Principally, you observe the Story-Hyperlink of somebody who performed earlier than you (a good friend, a streamer, or a stranger – possibly one of us devs right here at DigixArt). Their choices have left marks on the game-world and you’ll must take care of the implications of their selections. Then, as you play, your individual choices will form the story for future gamers.
The core theme of the sport is: “What’s going to you permit behind?” We wish gamers to replicate on how their actions have an effect on those that come after them, which ties into the broader query of “What world will we depart behind for future generations?”
Whereas many gamers are curious and enthusiastic about this idea, we’ve additionally heard some folks say, “That’s good and all, however do my selections nonetheless matter to my story?” – and boy, sure, they do.
A collaborative journey
Balancing how a lot earlier gamers’ selections ought to influence your expertise versus how a lot management you’ve over your individual story was one of the hardest challenges throughout improvement. We didn’t need gamers to really feel robbed of their very own journey.
We struck that stability inside Story-Hyperlink, guaranteeing earlier gamers’ actions have penalties on a stage‑by‑stage foundation. Another person explored every island earlier than you. By their actions, they modified the “narrative state” of what’s taking place “proper now” in that place. Possibly they made some buddies, possibly they made some enemies, possibly they helped somebody, possibly they prompted bother…
Ultimately, nevertheless; you continue to undergo your individual overarching story. The Story‑Hyperlink strongly shapes your journey, however you stay in management of your vacation spot.
What’s fascinating about this function is that, relying on the model of every stage you expertise, you’ll be able to find yourself with very totally different views on characters and occasions. A personality would possibly develop into one of your trusted allies, whereas that very same character is perceived as a villain by different gamers. That is very true for our extra “gray” characters, like Nyx or Efod.
Shaping your individual destiny
After all, the narrative includes many “huge ethical selections.” We diabolically designed them so that every one comes with an actual dilemma – there’s by no means a single “proper” reply. These choices have a robust affect on the following half of your story, and some of them also can have main penalties for future gamers.
For instance, deciding to steal a key artifact from the Mystic means it gained’t be there anymore for the following gamers – and they’ll must take care of the fallout of its disappearance.
On prime of that, many smaller choices ripple by way of the expertise and come again within the remaining acts of the sport. Even issues that don’t really feel “narrative,” like useful resource administration, matter. One of the principle themes of the story is useful resource shortage throughout a time of disaster. Selecting whether or not to share drugs with an NPC or preserve it for your self can have penalties in a while.
The sport additionally includes a trait system. These are character traits like Survivalist, Cooperative, or Troublemaker, which evolve primarily based in your actions and selections. This offers lengthy‑time period weight to almost each choice – even the smallest ones. These traits unlock late‑sport alternatives, steer you towards totally different endings, and assist you to higher perceive the character of the gamers you’re following.
I don’t need to spoil an excessive amount of, however the remaining act of the sport is the place all the things comes collectively. All the alternatives you’ve made alongside the way in which tackle additional significance – figuring out who’s nonetheless alive, which communities stand with you, and in the end the sort of answer you’ll use to save lots of the planet… or doom it perpetually. What’s going to you be keen to sacrifice?
Tides of Tomorrow might be out on Xbox April 22. We hope to see you on the Tides!