Review Fix chats with “Combo Crew†Developer Emeric Thoa, who discusses the premise of the colorful brawler. Off the stellar Squids games for the iPad, Thoa discusses The Game Bakers’ approach to the upcoming mobile beat-em-up.
Review Fix: How did the idea for the game come about?
Emeric Thoa: After two SQUIDS games, I wanted to do a more arcade-like game with real time gameplay. I remembered games like Streets of Rage and Final Fight and started to look on the App Store for similar games, but I was very disappointed by what I found: bad controls with virtual D-pads, weak universes, no multiplayer options… That was just enough to fire me up.
Review Fix: What was the development process like?
Thoa: We started to make a very quick prototype in 2D from our SQUIDS framework, but soon we moved everything on to Unity, a cross platform engine. We started to make the game in 2D but during the pre-production we decided to make the characters in 3D in order to be able to have more combat animations. It was a big switch but in the end it came out pretty nice and allowed us to do more than what we could have done in 2D, and we still were able to keep a cool “old school” feeling to the game.
Review Fix: What did you guys learn during the development of the Squids titles that helped this one?
Thoa: We learned a lot of things like not to make a cross-genre game, or not make a game that’s so “big” that we can’t recoup our investment with a mobile game’s low price point. (SQUIDS is almost a Nintendo DS kind of game in terms of content, but still sells at $2) Then we forgot all of this and made a cross-genre game with way too many features! But at least Combo Crew will release on both iOS and Android simultaneously, and players from both platforms will be able to play together. That’s a good thing we wanted to improve after SQUIDS.
Review Fix: What’s your favorite part/element of the game?
Thoa: I think that we nailed the controls. It’s the Fruit Ninja of brawlers. I’m really glad that we could find a way to get rid of the virtual D-pad.
Review Fix: How important do you believe this game is in regards to the company’s reputation?
Thoa: I think it’s important that we keep doing what we like, and that SQUIDS fans will likely like Combo Crew as well. But it’s a big change in genre — it’s a real-time brawler, where Squids was a turn-based tactical RPG. But I’m confident that Combo Crew will confirm The Game Bakers’ identity as a studio that takes the roots of an old-school genre and modernizes them on mobile with touch-controls.
Review Fix: From a gameplay aspect, what does this title offer?
Thoa: It’s the first and only mobile beat ’em up with touch controls and asynchronous multiplayer gameplay. The controls support the game’s solid combo system. Maintaining your combo streak is the key to getting a high score and is the core of the game. The multiplayer will let you rescue a friend or be rescued by a friend in order to reach the high floors of the evil tower.
Review Fix: Who do you believe will enjoy this game the most?
Thoa: I believe it can be compared to a title like Infinity Blade: it’s designed to appeal to gamers, but the controls allow most casual players to have fun with the game, too. Players who like scoring games will love Combo Crew.
Review Fix: Are there any plans on any DLC?
Thoa: We are still working on the in-app purchases and additional content. Obviously in a beat ’em up, one cool thing would be to add a new character or new special moves.
Review Fix: How do you want the game to be remembered?
Thoa: I would love to hear someone on the subway say to his friend: “You know Combo Crew? It’s like Street Fighter meets Draw Something.”
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