We recently got in touch with Flying Wild Hog, the developers behind the upcoming reboot for Shadow Warrior. We were able to ask a variety of questions ranging from the inspiration to bring back an old classic to what kind of new gameplay features fans can expect.
Check out the entire interview below and share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Ravi Sinha: Times have changed. 3D Realms has shut down, Duke Nukem Forever finally released and Shadow Warrior has made its return. What are your thoughts on the evolution of the industry up till this point?
Well, that’s a pretty broad question but we think it’s a great time to be in video games and there has never been a better time for an independent studio like Flying Wild Hog to create the games we want to make.
"There is nothing really ‘politically correct’ about Lo Wang, he’s just a more fully formed character now with a sense of humor and a reason to get into the battles that he does in the new game."
Ravi Sinha: Of all the games to reboot/remake, why did you decide on Shadow Warrior, a game which is perhaps most defined by the controversy of its stereotypes?
Devolver Digital approached us with the idea as they had access to the IP and many of our studio leads were fans of the original so we saw this as a great opportunity to reimagine the Shadow Warrior world and bring Lo Wang back to modern gamers.
Ravi Sinha: The original Shadow Warrior and its characters were meant to parody bad kung-fu movies. What will be the approach now that the new game has instilled a more politically correct nature? Will we get something more Kill Bill-esque?
There is nothing really ‘politically correct’ about Lo Wang, he’s just a more fully formed character now with a sense of humor and a reason to get into the battles that he does in the new game. There is a lot of Kill Bill feel to the New Shadow Warrior between the katana combat and some of the visual style – we’ll happily take that comparison!
Rashid Sayed: Does the story play an important role in the reboot?
Very much so – the story is a lot more engrossing in the new Shadow Warrior and something we are very proud of in the final game. There is a great mythology and motivations in the narrative. But of course you can skip it all and get back to the action – sometimes you just want to hack demons apart and that is fine too.
"There are a lot of games that force in multiplayer for no reason and no one really ever plays it so we didn’t feel like it would be a good use of resources to put it in there."
Ravi Sinha: Could you tell us your thoughts on why multiplayer was removed for the reboot? Granted, there are a few games which are emphasizing single-player more, but in this age, multiplayer is considerably more popular then when the original Shadow Warrior released.
There are a lot of games that force in multiplayer for no reason and no one really ever plays it so we didn’t feel like it would be a good use of resources to put it in there. We focused on making the best campaign with some strong visuals, stories, gameplay mechanics, etc. and our time was best used there.
Ravi Sinha: Will Shadow Warrior be releasing on any other platforms besides PC? Or are there any plans for the same somewhere down the line?
We are looking at consoles as well after PC launches.
Ravi Sinha: What are your thoughts on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and advancements being made into PC gaming technology to further increase visual fidelity?
The better consoles are, the better it is for all gamers. Pushing the limits all around makes for great games!
"The katana is amazing and there will be old favorites like machine guns, quad barrel shotguns, and even demon heads that unleash energy beams. "
Rashid Sayed: How long will the campaign mode for Shadow Warrior be?
5 – 8 hours depending on the difficulty level and how thorough gamers are in finding all the secrets.
Rashid Sayed: The game has some really cool weapons like the Katana. What else can you tell us about the other weapons in the game? I am sure there must be a lot of crazy weapons in the game!
The katana is amazing and there will be old favorites like machine guns, quad barrel shotguns, and even demon heads that unleash energy beams. The new crossbow is quite fun as well.
Rashid Sayed: Can you upgrade these weapons?
Yep, all mechanical weapons in the game can be upgraded a few different ways.
"Lo Wang can upgrade his skills with the katana, with magic, and overall abilities by collecting resources and performing well in combat."
Rashid Sayed: Does the main character level up, gain skill points and unlock some super cool moves?
Lo Wang can upgrade his skills with the katana, with magic, and overall abilities by collecting resources and performing well in combat.
Ravi Sinha: Given the rise of the indies and the dwindling number of AAA studios, where do you see PC gaming in the next few years?
It will be a market with more variety than ever before. Big games, small games, serious games, ridiculous games, and so on. The more opportunities for people to make and distribute games the better!
Rashid Sayed: The original game had two expansion packs. I am sure you guys must have planned supporting the game post release. Can you please share details about the same?
We can’t share those details quite yet but we would love to continue expanding on Lo Wang’s legacy!
Rashid Sayed: Is there anything else you want to say to the fans of the game?
Just thanks for your support and follow us on Twitter at @_ShadowWarrior!
A big thank you to Liz Stewart from Tinsley PR for setting this interview up.