Review Fix chats with Jerome Bodin, game designer and owner of Cuve Games, who discusses his new RPG “Heroes & Legends: Conquerors of Kolhar,†a joint venture with Phoenix Online Studios and how old-school J-RPGs of the past played a key role in the customization-heavy adventure.
Review Fix: What was the inspiration for the game?
Jerome Bodin: Mainly old school J-RPGs such as Final Fantasy, along with more modern Rogue-like games like FTL.
Review Fix: What games did you play growing up?
Bodin: I had computers and consoles when I was very young; I was mainly into strategy games like Heroes of Might and Magic, Civilization, and Warcraft II.
Review Fix: How did they influence this game in any way?
Bodin: Not that much as we tried to have a quite modern game. But indeed, the influence from older J-RPGs is strong.
Review Fix: There are so many different monsters in the game. Which ones are your favorite and why?
Bodin: Personally I like the design of the Golem, Fred (Frédéric Simon, the artist) did a very good job, and the monster changes its appearance according to the background. I also like the Succubus, not only because she is pretty, but because she can throw a mess at your team by charming your adventurers.
Review Fix: How many different weapon combinations are there?
Bodin: A lot.There are more than a dozen basic weapons, and each one can have a Skill Bonus (a “Gem”) that can drastically change the ability of the hero carrying it.
Review Fix: How long do you expect this game to keep the average gamer busy?
Bodin: The average gamer should have almost ten hours of gameplay for the story part, add at least two or three more hours for the challenge mode.
Review Fix: How do the characters play differently from one another?
Bodin: The warrior, can tank pretty much anything so you can count on her, but she is more a one-on-one character. You will have to take care of Benedict the Mage as he is more fragile, but he hits hard and has access to spells that can affect all enemies. Allen the Priest starts as the weakest so it can take time for him to kill an enemy ; but he will more than often save your party with his healing spells. For the two other unlockable characters, let the players discover by themselves.
Review Fix: What do you think stands out the most about this game?
Bodin: I think H&L offer a fine balance between a nice story and a solid gameplay with much strategy involved. It can appeal to everyone. I’m also quite proud of the artistic work Fred has done.
Review Fix: Who do you think will enjoy this game the most?
Bodin: Every one can dig in this game, but I think those gamers who used to play older J-RPGs will be able to see it as an humble tribute to them.
Review Fix: How do you want it to be remembered?
Bodin: The game is quite unique and its content is rich, so I hope it’ll provide some hours of challenge and interest to many players.
For more information on the game, head to their official site here.
But before you jump into our Q & A however, check out a trailer for the game below:
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