Review Fix Exclusive: Inside ‘The Adventure Pals’

Review Fix chats with game developer Julian Wilton who discusses “The Adventure Pals and its release on Steam in 2017 and their current Kickstarter campaign. 

About The Adventure Pals:

Take challenging yet exciting platforming, mix liberally with ridiculous big boss battles, slather on some RPG-style towns and exploration, and you’re on the right track! This time, the player is out to rescue dear old Papa, who’s going to be turned into a hot dog by the nefarious Mr. B unless you can stop him.

Together with the prancing, helicopter-tongue’d Sparkles the giraffe, and the smashing skills of Mr. Rock, you’ll romp (and stab) your way through a whopping 125 levels across five different areas, each filled with towns, minigames, and much more.

Review Fix: When did the initial idea for this game come to you?

Julian Wilton: This initial idea for this game came a long time ago, It came from a very simple thought. Let’s make a game with a giraffe in it, but wait… wouldn’t it be cool if he had a friend, oh and another one! The Adventure Pals was born, Feat. Player, Pet Rock & Giraffe. An award winning combination. It developed further to focus around the ideas of childhood and going on adventures with your friends but kept that same simple idea of making something whacky with a giraffe. 
 
Review Fix: What games inspired this one?

Wilton: Some great notable games which have inspired this one would have to be:

• Chibi Knight
• Castle Crashers
• Banjo Kazooie
• Zelda 2

The game was also inspired quite a bit by cartoon shows.

• Adventure Time
• Gravity Falls

Review Fix: What do you play for fun when you’re not developing?

Wilton: At the moment I’m stuck into the binding of Isaac, it’s got it’s self latched into me. However, I’ve got some great games lined up for next time I’m free such as Hyper Light Drifter and Firewatch. I have more fun playing indiegames than I do with triple A Games.

Review Fix: What has development been like?

Wilton: Development of this game been really rough, we’ve spent about three years trying to get the game to where it is today, this is due to basically re making the game three times! Along with working on it part time. But beside that it’s been great! With this game we can basically do what we want, we work off each others creativity and weirdness. It’s fully inspired by imagination and wouldn’t exist without it.

Review Fix: With all the competition on the mobile market and in the indies now, how difficult was it for you guys to try and make something that stood out?

Wilton: Very Difficult, we’ve tried quite hard to make sure our game stands on it’s own. Using our own secret recipe of cuteness, vector and what the heck is going on. On the third time we were remaking the game we really sat down and thought long and hard about how the game would be different to others.

Review Fix: Who do you think will enjoy this game the most?

Wilton: With this game we’ve worked hard to try make a game that can be enjoyed by everyone, this has resulted in us taking home an award for “Best Kids & Family Game”. I think the game is best enjoyed with a pal, kids and young adults with a vivid imagination and in search of an adventure. But definitely provides something for all audiences, think of movies such as Toy Story for example.

Review Fix: Bottom line, why must someone play this game?

Wilton: Without playing this game, you’ll never know the joys of owning a pet giraffe. 

Review Fix: How do you want this game to be remembered?

Wilton: Remembered fondly for using too many puns.

Review Fix: What are your goals for this game?

Wilton: This is our first commercial desktop & console game, so my main goal is to have bragging rights that I’m on console & steam. But further to that I’d love people to have a retrospective look on hotdogs and ultimately enjoying the game.