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Soul Knight Prequel Developer Interview

13K View2022-05-17

Soul Knight impressed us as a fast-paced, colorful, fun roguelike when it released back in 2017. Now five years later, we’re excited to be hosting the closed beta test for Soul Knight Prequel, a follow-up that takes things in a slightly different direction. You can sign up for the iOS-only beta for Soul Knight Prequel right here on TapTap.

We spoke with Soul Knight Prequel developer ChillyRoom to get all the latest details on the upcoming game.

Q: TapTap: This beta test is only for iOS. What is the timeline for testing and development of the Android version of Soul Knight Prequel?

A: ChillyRoom: We wish to start with a small scale testing on iOS, and then schedule further testings on Android. Because some of the login-related functions have not been finalized and there are still some unsolved problems, we are unable to start the testing for Android for now. But our main focus next would be testing on the Android version as soon as possible. I’m sure Android players will have their chances to participate in testing soon.

Q: TapTap: In the promotional video for Soul Knight Prequel, we noticed some simulation elements. How will you be integrating them with the action gameplay? Will there be gacha elements in the game as well?

A: ChillyRoom: gacha elements meaning monetization? We actually don't have gacha elements and in the Chinese draft. Our goal is to add some mini- games and some fun stuff to mix things up between the intense battles. We are all big fans of Animal Crossing, so we hope that players can keep collecting furniture and taking care of their gardens and so on, so that their “House of Knights” can progress along with their characters. The Majority of the items can be obtained during exploration, but of course, you might need to pay for some of the more intricate furniture and customizable items.

Q: TapTap: What were some of the unique ideas that inspired the creation of this new title? What kind of new experiences are you trying to bring to the players?

A: ChillyRoom: As players ourselves, we love RPG games, and we also love those games that we used to play on Game Boy. We are hoping to make our own ideal RPG game, and bring a pure, fun gaming experience to the players.

Q: TapTap: Can you tell us about the development time for Soul Knight Prequel and how many team members are working on it?

A: ChillyRoom: We started the production of this new project shortly after Soul Knight was officially launched. I think the production of Soul Knight Prequel started in 2017, but back then it was just me, the programmer, and a graphic designer. And we kept working on it for four years. We’ve slowly expanded our team , in order to make more content.

Q: TapTap: Do you have any fun stories or stories about difficulties you encountered during the production of Soul Knight Prequel?

A: ChillyRoom: It has been a huge project... We completely underestimated the workload that our simple idea would bring to us. And it kept getting bigger and bigger; after we fixed one thing, some other stuff would need fixing, and then we’d have to start over again. Especially as we’ve got closer to releasing it to the players. We always encounter problems that we’ve never seen before, such as the login issues I mentioned before, but we will keep working hard to finish our job, and bring this game to everyone as soon as possible!

Q: TapTap: Is Soul Knight Prequel a single-player game or a multi-player game?

A: ChillyRoom: Once Soul Knight Prequel is officially launched, it will require an internet connection to log in, so technically it’s not a fully single-player game, in that you can’t play it offline. However, we are trying our best to provide a good single-player gaming experience for when you play alone.

Q: TapTap: So can you play Soul Knight Prequel online with other players? And what are some of the online features?

A: ChillyRoom: We are working on multiplayer! The latest version of the game allows players to play co-op and participate in instances within a local LAN. We are still optimizing and testing remote online co-op, but we’re hoping we can create more online gameplay content. As for now, you can play co-op and participate in instances, challenge bosses, or go take a walk in your friend’s village.

Q: TapTap: Is Soul Knight Prequel basically Soul Knight 2.0? Is the gameplay the same as the original?

A: ChillyRoom: The original Soul Knight was a roguelike, but Soul Knight Prequel is an action ARPG game. They share the same story setting, but maybe with some twists(for example the role of the Magic Stone).