Review Fix Exclusive: Christophe Vanhille Talks ‘Terra Incognita’

Review Fix chats with video game designer Christophe Vanhille, who discusses the FPS Action RPG “Terra Incognita.”

Review Fix: How was this game born?

Christophe Vanhille: The game is a Uchronia. Initially, I think everything had to rest on a simple question: What would humanity be if the dinosaurs had survived the cataclysm that wiped out them? (To the extent that humans would have managed to survive and evolve …)

Review Fix: What is your role in the game?

Vanhille: I am the designer of the game.

Review Fix: How has the development been?

Vanhille: Pretty good. I remember having maintained some small devlogs during development, on sites dedicated to the creation of video games. It was really cool because I got to get some feedback on the game as well, which can be a lot of fun and motivating for the game.

Review Fix: What makes this game special?

Vanhille: I think the interest in the game is mostly History and Legends. This allows you to immerse yourself in a medieval world that would be parallel to ours, while giving a certain depth to the legendary stories of this time.

The attraction for the Techno-Magic, quite subtly introduced into the game world, is also very interesting.

Review Fix: Which games influenced this one the most?

Vanhille: The series of games Ark Survival, Hexen, Conan, Diablo, Baldur’s Gate, Fire Emblem, and many others …

Review Fix: What were the main lessons learned?

Vanhille: Designing an atypical game world and making it realistic and coherent is not an easy task …

I think I have deepened all of my knowledge in terms of development, especially for a better balance of game-play. As well as in terms of optimization of resources, without forgetting of course the visual and sound atmosphere in the levels.

Review Fix: Do you think it’s important to preserve old game mechanics in newer games?

Vanhille: Of course, it is even quite in the spirit desired for our artistic direction. As the saying goes, there is no point in reinventing the wheel. It is always better to be based on pre-established concepts.

Review Fix: What is your favorite memory as a player?

Vanhille: Personally, I may have a slight preference for the Inca level, especially for the legend associated with it, taken from the game: “A very old Inca legend says that one should not approach the saurians (a kind of giant lizards living in the jungle), and they should even be hunted! Their bite causes a contagious disease which necroses and transforms the victims into lizards … “

Review Fix: How have your previous experiences in the industry helped this game?

Vanhille: A little on all aspects … But especially in terms of Level Design I think …

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

Vanhille: A good experience of Heroic fantasy for all ages, for young and old. The breach between our world and Terra Incognita is not very deep. We can often slip into it without even realizing it. But this time, with this game the step is now well crossed, and for good …!

Review Fix: And after?

Vanhille: Probably a second opus in the world of Terra Incognita, which will come if the first one catches the public interest as much as we had hoped.

Review Fix: Do you have anything else to add?

Vanhille: I think this second installment will be even more intense, with more epic adventures and still many other places to explore, in particular with more confrontations and also a lot of puzzles to solve.