Odd Bug Studio, a UK-based developer who released the 2D VR side-scrolling adventure game by the name of The Lost Bear, is soon releasing another indie title called Tails of Iron. Tails of Iron is an RPG adventure game with Souls-like elements, and it actually seeks to be different from Dark Souls clones by changing the way a Souls-like is played, doing things like removing the stamina bar and making builds out of loadouts instead of skills and talents. Game Rant speaks with Jack Bennett from Odd Bug Studio about what makes Tails of Iron stand out and what was it like to develop this game.
There are several things that Bennett described as career highlights, like having Doug Cockle — the voice actor for Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher series — narrate the story and events of Tails of Iron, and also being part of the E3 with a trailer for the game. There are also big titles that inspired Tails of Iron, and living up to the legacy of games like Hollow Knight and The Witcher is no easy task. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
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Q: Tails of Iron seems to have many Souls-like elements. Was this always the case or did the original vision shift to the current one?
A: This was always the case for Tails of Iron. Our main thing was that we wanted the game to have the level of difficulty that is associated with Souls-likes — after all, Redgi is restoring his kingdom — it’s not a particularly easy thing! However, the game does have a major difference compared to most Souls-likes in that it doesn’t feature a stamina bar. We removed this as we didn’t want the player distracted by managing a bar, we wanted them completely focused on the combat and really understanding the enemy they’re fighting.
Q: Speaking of Souls-like games, how much of an inspiration were they while working on Tails of Iron?
A: Souls-likes were definitely an inspiration for us. We liked that difficulty curve and we enjoyed the slow, deliberate combat that many of them offer. However – we did have other influences. Games like The Witcher series inspired us greatly during development. We really liked the combination of an epic world teamed with intriguing characters, mixed with deep and methodical combat.
Q: Was Hollow Knight something you were looking up to with your game?
A: Of course! Hollow Knight is the pinnacle of indie Souls-like games alongside Salt and Sanctuary. Hollow Knight has all of the things we wanted to bring to Tails of Iron — Souls-like combat, explorable worlds, and intriguing characters. The main thing we’ve added to that recipe is that we have a very definitive story that drives the whole game.
Q: Are there other games or media that inspired your work?
A: The world of Tails of Iron is obviously full of anthropomorphized critters so there were some major influences there. Things like the Redwall and MouseGuard books, as well animated movies like Wind in the Willows and The Secret of NIMH.
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Q: What do you think of the comparison between the rats in Tails of Iron and Warhammer's Skaven?
A: I’ve seen this online a few times and it’s high praise indeed! We’re big fans of the Warhammer universe, so it’s really cool to see that comparison. I’ve also seen the frogs being compared to the lizardmen too. I do think our rats are slightly different – the rats in Tails of Iron are much more ‘civilized’ and much less naturally brutal.
Q: What's the story behind Doug Cockle narrating the events in Tails of Iron? Did you choose him because of his work on The Witcher?
A: We’re obviously big fans of The Witcher series so getting to work with Doug Cockle, THE Geralt of Rivia was like a career highlight! I think the main thing that drew us to Doug was that his voice is so iconic. As soon as you hear those deep gravely tones, you know you’re in for a dark epic adventure which I think really helps to pull the whole world and story of Tails of Iron together.
Q: What was it like for you to have a trailer for Tails of Iron shown at E3?
A: Another career highlight! As an indie studio, you never think you’ll get the opportunity to show your game at these big conferences and conventions so to see Tails of Iron among so many amazing games was really awesome. We were part of the Future Games Show, so a big thank you to them!
Q: What is the story behind the conflict between the rats and the frogs?
A: The Rats and Frogs have been in conflict for centuries with both sides being on top at different times throughout history. Tails of Iron takes place at a time where the Rats have enjoyed peace for a long time thanks to the current ruler King Rattus, however, the King is getting old and needs to choose an heir. At the same time as this, the Frog lands have become intoxicated with poison gas, making life for the Frogs very hard, as nothing grows. This is ultimately what is forcing this new era of conflict.
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Q: How does character customization work in Tails of Iron? What do different weapons and pieces of armor do?
A: Character customization is all based on your weapon and armor loadout. Weapons come in one of three different types – swords, spears, and axes. Each of these weapon types is slightly different, for example, spears are fast but weaker whereas hammers and axes are slow but powerful. This also carries over into two-handed weapons. In addition to this, armor has its own stats. Armor can be light, medium, and heavy. The weight of the armor affects the speed of your dodge roll and your ability to evade attacks. On top of this, armor has enemy resistance so you’ll need to select the right gear for the enemy you're facing.
Q: Are there skills, talents, builds, and something of the sort?
A: There are no skills or talents, it's all based on how you want to play. For example, you could equip an ax, a two-handed hammer, and a crossbow as well as heavy armor. This is going to give you a super tanky build with a lot of defense and damage but you’re going to be super slow. On the flip side of that – you could have a spear with a bow and arrow and light armor which would give you an almost rogue build that would allow you to nip in and out of combat. This way, you can find a combination that allows you to play the way you like to play.
Q: How does the companion system work? Who is your favorite companion, and why?
A: Companions are quest-specific and will join you on a number of different quests. They fight alongside you in combat and each has different weapons. My favorite companion is most probably Jey, he’s got a really cool weapon and he takes you into what is probably my favorite area of the game. I think if I say anything else then I’ll probably be in spoiler territory!
Q: What sorts of items and collectibles can players find in Tails of Iron?
A: There are a lot of things to collect in Tails of Iron. For starters, Redgi’s armory has 75 unique weapons and pieces of armor to find. You’ll need to find ingredients to craft meals for health upgrades. Finally, there’s also a whole side quest based around finding statues for a specific area. Again – if I say any more about that then it’s most probably a spoiler!
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Q: Is there crafting in the game? How does that work?
A: There are two types of crafting. Firstly, you’ll find blueprints that you can take back to the smithy. There, BamBam the smith will convert them into a new weapon or armor. The second type of crafting is cooking. You’ll need to find and earn ingredients around the world and bring them back to the chef, RemRem, so they can cook a new meal to give you a health upgrade.
Q: Are there hidden quests, NPCs, items, and encounters?
A: There are a couple of hidden bosses that you’ll find by exploring the world. There are also hidden pathways that’ll lead to secrets so it’s definitely worth exploring the world fully!
Q: What is your favorite thing in Tails of Iron?
A: That’s a tough one! I really love the boss battles. Each one is unique and every boss has its own unique execution animation, so defeating a boss is really rewarding. However, I think my favorite thing about the game is the world. Redgi’s story and the area that it takes place within Tails of Iron is just one story in a massive world that we’re yet to explore!
Q: Is there anything you'd like to add that I didn't ask?
A: I’d just like to say thanks for the interesting questions! The whole team is super excited for Tails of Iron to release on all platforms and we can’t wait to hear from everyone and see their reactions when they play it!
[END]
Tails of Iron will launch on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on September 17, 2021.
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