But we're closer than ever to seeing what's inside the minds at Neostream become a reality – not just in the game, but in our own heads, too.īig in 2021 is GamesRadar's Spring celebration of the new year. It's taken much longer than they'd expected, Choi admits, due to difficulty finding local talent in a country where the market is still driven largely by online and mobile games. Slow and steady wins the race, in other words –a maxim that can be applied to the development process of Little Devil Inside itself, now several years in the making. And so will you: 'The game is not designed in a way where we expect you to break and demolish every box you see, seek that ultimate gem or rune, run into all corners of a level or to creating the most powerful sword,' Lee says.

There is no fast travel, only a train to travel between different regions on the world map – and you may find you experience curious or dangerous events while riding to your next research destination.Īnd your town serves as a place of preparation: in a routine that recalls both the Persona and Monster Hunter series, you'll get ready for expeditions by gathering intel about regions and potential foes, packing weather-resistant gear and choosing the most appropriate weapons before setting off, and this will determine your level of success. The UI is kept deliberately clean for this purpose, with Neostream paying particular attention to sound and character design to convey incoming threats or survival needs. It makes sense for an adventure that's about fully taking in every moment, whether it's an encounter with a new monster or land. We wish to express more with less, and leave some room for the players to fill in for themselves.' It's all about the journey 'For example, we don't intend to make survival gameplay that becomes a repetitive chore that gets in the way of overall progression,' he continues, 'and we certainly don't intend to go too far with RPG features to be compared with other hardcore, grinding hack-and-slash RPG games. 'But the mechanics we are bringing in from multiple genres are just the core essence of its parent.'Īlthough the game combines action, exploration, survival and RPG elements, then, they are all treated with a lighter touch. 'On the surface, it may look over-ambitious,' Lee says. And not just via the art style (a delightfully muted, slightly blocky, toy-town aesthetic that manages to be at once endearing and foreboding). But that guiding star of minimalist design has also worked wonders for Little Devil Inside. Sony's support has been invaluable to a new team some way into its own long journey, Neostream tells us. The partnership was finally set in stone just before the PS5 reveal event last June.

But when rumours of a next-generation PlayStation began to circulate, they received 'a louder knock at the door' and knew it was time to take up the company's offer of support. They were shocked, Choi tells us: so much so that they felt it was too early to make a commitment.

The idea caught the attention of over 5,000 backers – and also, rather unexpectedly for Neostream, of Sony, who got in touch 'very soon after Kickstarter'. 'We wish to express more with less, and leave some room for the players to fill in'

Kickstarter little devil inside