Sabotage was founded with a clear goal in mind; presenting our own “definitive editions” of the game genres we grew up playing. By combining retro aesthetics and modern design, we shoot for experiences that capture what we loved about games of old while leaving behind the elements we feel might hold them back today.
For our very own turn-based RPG, we started with a few simple guidelines; there would be seamless transitions from navigation to combat, no random encounters, and no grinding. Combat is obviously a big one, so let’s dive a bit deeper.
Actual turn-based
In Sea of Stars combat is purely turn-based without any time bars, avoiding pressure in order to let the player make decisions at their own pace instead. Each of the six playable characters come with a small kit of four spells/skills with differing damage types and patterns, which can be combined with other characters’ moves.
MP has a very low cap but regenerates when using normal attacks, creating a flow where using magic in a regular fight is expected, while the big heavy hitter spells have to be paced with some normal attacks when fighting a boss.
No random encounters means every fight is designed manually to offer a unique pattern of enemies that can be analyzed and optimized by the savvy Solstice Warrior, and other combat features come together into a dance between utility and damage.
Locks
Enemies that mount spells or special skills will display a bar with locks, each with an icon of a certain damage type. Breaking locks will weaken the upcoming move, while breaking all of them will cancel it altogether.
Each of the six playable characters can dish out damage efficiently in one or two of the types, further supported by their skill/spell kit which offers pattern variations (like AoE or multi-hit).
Why Nickelodeon?
“Excited” doesn’t even begin to explain how our team reacted when the news broke about the Nickelodeon crossover. Our team dove into the project with animated enthusiasm, developing imaginative ideas and amazing content. While we’ve worked with the Paramount team before, this crossover covered so many different generations of childhood television that it brought up a lot of nostalgia for the team. We hope that our community will experience that same feeling of nostalgia when they see some of their favorite Nickelodeon characters realized in Smite.
This is our first crossover that includes characters from multiple completely different shows, which presented an interesting challenge to the team. For example: how do you turn a feisty musket-toting Tanuki (Danzaburou) into a shirt-wearing, tv-watching Wallaby (Rocko)? By turning the musket into a remote control, of course! We wanted to design every character in a way that did their Nickelodeon origins justice.
Greetings Travelers! This is your Genshin Impact dev team, inviting you into the summertime of Teyvat with Genshin Impact’s Version 2.8, Summer Fantasia, coming on July 13! The Golden Apple Archipelago is once again open with a different look, bringing a variety of plots, stories, challenges, and rewards. Get ready to delve into realms you’ve never set foot in before and discover a different side of your longtime companions.
Then, a year after Kaedehara Kazuha’s first arrival, the wandering samurai seems to want to deepen his friendship with you while bringing the first chapter of his personal Story Quest, as well as his close friend Shikanoin Heizou.
Summertime Odyssey
Compared to the previous island adventures, this year’s Summertime Odyssey big event aims to bring even more as the Golden Apple Archipelago sees a drastic makeover. Fresh landscapes and lots of new stories can be found throughout the event; including richer rewards like a great number of new treasure chests. Players will also have the chance to obtain the four-star character Fischl and her newest outfit, both which are available for a limited time.
Travelers visiting the Golden Apple Archipelago this summer can expect some serious explorations, as each island has been transformed through different themes and puzzles. Xinyan, Fischl, Kazuha, and Mona traveling with us also seem to have their secret connections to certain areas, where you may run into mysterious realms with danger and treasures.
Sailing is always the highlight of island recreations, and this summer you can either speedrun with your Waverider in the specially designed course or set sail with friends online. For example, the Reminiscent Regimen is a co-op-specific event with three different game modes. The Convoy mode requires all participants to escort a large raft to its destination, while Raid requires players to pilot their own Waverider to board floating platforms and take out enemies. In Descent mode, players will have to battle their way down from a high platform in the sky. Be careful, or you and your teammates may find yourselves struggling while airborne.
If you would like to take a leisurely stroll along the beach, remember to pick up the special conches during the Resonating Visions event. By collecting the conches, you can listen to intriguing tales and stories, and redeem Fischl’s all-new outfit with a certain number of conches. All in all, this year’s Golden Apple Archipelago will not only give seasoned Travelers a familiar vibe, but also introduces plenty of fresh exploration mechanics and storylines for everyone!
Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS, or download here
Hey y’all! This week the team share some retro classics they’ve returned to, plus an interview with the Unpacking devs at Witch Beam.
Stuff We Talked About
- Unpacking (interview begins at 26:03)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
- Sonic Origins
- Capcom Fighting Collection
- Jumping Flash
- I.Q Intelligent Qube
- Resident Evil
The Cast
Tim Turi – Manager, Content Communications, SIE
Last week, we asked you to share in-game celebrations using #PSshare #PSBlog. From feasts and fireworks, to costumes and confetti, here are this week’s highlights:
scottoka1 shares a parade celebration from Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.
call_me_xavii shares a moment after crossing the finish line in Gran Turismo 7.
ListoChristo shares a celebratory shot of Paris from Assassin’s Creed Unity.
AhmadYuanda_1st celebrates the end of a level in Rayman Legends.
qazimod shares a moment of celebration in Tetris Effect.
K_M_Y_53 celebrates the seasons in Monster Hunter World.
Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?
THEME: Vacation
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on July 6, 2022
Next week, we’re ready for a vacation. Share destinations from the game of your choice that you wish you could visit using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured!