As a part of at present’s Xbox Partner Preview broadcast, we’re thrilled to disclose a sequel to Raji: An Historic Epic, the multi award profitable indie action-adventure title set in historical India. Raji: Kaliyuga isn’t simply a easy follow-up to the authentic’s story, however a entire new sport totally – with an further playable character, new motion mechanics and, most ambitiously, a wholly new third-person perspective.
When Raji: An Historic Epic was first created, Nodding Heads Video games was a younger studio, pushed by pure ardour, perception, and a collective dream to set up India on the worldwide gaming stage. We confronted quite a few challenges with restricted sources and a small staff, but we possessed large ambition. Years later, we have developed into a mature and intentional studio. Our studying extends past simply making a sport; we’ve realized to construct a universe. We’d like to discuss you by our new undertaking.
An Epic Continuation
Raji: An Historic Epic was by no means meant to be a standalone story. The primary sport ended on a deliberate cliffhanger — from the very starting, the story was meant to proceed.
Set six years after the unique, Raji: Kaliyuga expands on the battle, portraying not simply a warfare amongst mortals however a cosmic battle involving gods, asuras, and mystical forces. The traditional asura warlord, Mahabalasura, unseals the heaven’s doorways, shattering the divine equilibrium and plunging all realms into infinite warfare.
The story facilities on Raji, now a seasoned warrior, and her youthful brother, Darsh, a younger dreamwalker haunted by visions of the previous and future. Collectively, they embark on a perilous journey to the Everlasting Summit, traversing numerous lokas (realms). Their future hangs in the stability: will they save the universe, or be compelled to destroy it to finish the battle?
Creating a Second Hero
Raji: Kaliyuga options twin protagonists, permitting gamers to embody each Raji, the warrior of religion, and Darsh, the dreamwalker. Characters change primarily based on story occasions and act as companions to 1 one other. Raji employs acrobatic martial arts and wields the divine Trishul, whereas Darsh awakens to immense powers, controlling Siddhis to control gravity, time, and vitality.
Integrating Darsh as a playable character alongside Raji is a core growth for Raji: Kaliyuga, enhancing the narrative and gameplay expertise in a number of key methods:
- Emotional Closure and Perspective: The primary sport left Darsh’s destiny unsure. Taking part in as Darsh permits gamers to actively expertise his journey, offering a private and emotional decision to the occasions of Raji: An Historic Epic.
- Embodying Cosmic Duality: Raji and Darsh embody the elemental stability of the cosmos – Raji representing religion and the warrior, and Darsh representing imaginative and prescient and the dreamwalker. Controllable duality offers this central theme tangible kind for the participant.
- The Energy of Reunion: The emotional coronary heart of the story is the siblings’ separation and eventual reunion. Gamers will witness how every character has developed and the way their mixed power shapes the continuing warfare.
- Layered Worldview: Raji’s journey was rooted in responsibility and religion, whereas Darsh’s explores introspection and future. Switching between their viewpoints provides a deep, multifaceted understanding of the sport’s world and battle.
- Complementary Gameplay: The characters supply distinct and assorted playstyles. Raji wields the divine energy of the Trishul, whereas Darsh instructions Siddhis (supernatural powers). This selection enriches fight, puzzle-solving, and boss battle methods, and allows gamers to craft their very own fight kinds.
- Dynamic Pacing: The shifting management between Raji and Darsh at totally different story junctures retains the sport’s momentum and pacing recent.
- Narrative Evolution: We’re shifting past a easy story of divine intervention. Kaliyuga explores the coexistence of religion and phantasm, the place the narrative tone, artwork, music, and gameplay programs should mirror this duality, shifting to mirror the attitude and reality of the character presently being performed.
Shifting Perspective
And, in fact, we have our greatest change. Whereas Raji: An Historic Epic was a dynamic isometric action-adventure, Raji: Kaliyuga makes a important leap into the third-person action-adventure style.
A transfer to third-person felt like the following pure step for our staff. Though we stay followers of the digital camera kinds utilized in Raji: An Historic Epic, the evolution of the gameplay led us to consider that third-person motion was the proper route for this undertaking. Regardless of the numerous problem of this transition, the staff has tailored properly and invested appreciable time in mastering it. Our confidence in executing this efficiently is bolstered by the staff’s collective expertise as avid gamers who’ve loved many third-person motion titles over the previous 20 years. Our staff continues to push boundaries each day, elevating our abilities to satisfy the style’s calls for.
We’re matching that ambition elsewhere, too. Raji: An Historic Epic was acclaimed for its handcrafted artwork and painterly visuals, deeply rooted in Indian structure. This distinct inventive soul stays central to Kaliyuga, at the same time as we advance our instruments and scope. We’re now leveraging trendy Unreal Engine 5 options, together with a sophisticated lighting system and modular world-building, whereas meticulously preserving the essence of conventional artwork. Our murals are now not static; they breathe and inform a residing story.
A Recreation for New and Outdated
Whereas Raji: Kaliyuga grows in scope, tone and perspective, it should nonetheless really feel like a homecoming for gamers who beloved Raji: An Historic Epic. At its coronary heart, Raji was by no means a battle towards asuras – it was a testomony of religion, resilience and divine grace by hardship. That essence carries by.
The brand new sport is designed to attraction to each veterans of the primary sport and newcomers. Kaliyuga options a utterly self-contained narrative. New gamers will grasp the core premise immediately, and all important backstory parts might be revealed naturally by reminiscence murals, dialogue, and environmental storytelling.
However whereas taking part in the unique title shouldn’t be a prerequisite, returning gamers will discover a deeper, extra emotional connection to the occasions. And, in fact, Raji stays one of many central figures, not changed however developed. Gamers will acknowledge her stances, fight grace and quiet braveness.
Keep Tuned for More
Up to now yr, Raji: An Historic Epic has reached an unimaginable 2.5 million gamers globally. Whereas the discharge of Raji: Kaliyuga remains to be a little methods off, we’re excited to share what we’ve been engaged on, as we now really feel prepared as a studio to take action. Reaching this level has taken in depth effort and time, and we’re dedicated to persevering with our relationship with our group for a few years to come back.
Whereas a launch date announcement remains to be far off, gamers can keep knowledgeable by following us on social media and joining our Discord server, the place we are going to present common updates.