Action/platform gameplay and anime-style graphics in “Kien”

by Louis Bedigian

 

Like the art of Dragon Ball Z?  Then you’ll love the character designs of Kien.

 

 

Big hair.  Super powers.  Odd clothing.  Those are just some of the things you’d expect to find in a Japanese cartoon (anime).  You’ve seen it on Dragon Ball Z for years, but that’s just one of many anime to exaggerate such features.  Now the quirkiness of Japanese anime culture is beginning to work its way into European and North American video games.

 

P.M. Studios, the developer behind the exciting PC RPG Etrom – the Astral Essence, has already completed work on a Game Boy Advance game called Kien.

 

 

This game appears to be a bit more light-hearted than Etrom, but looks to provide an entertaining experience for fans of the genre.  To verify this hypothesis, GameZone Online interviewed Fabio Belsanti.  Belsanti is the Managing Director and Lead Designer for Etrom – The Astral Essence.  He also worked on Kien, and was prepared to give us more in-depth game detail than we could have ever expected!

 

 

Put us inside of the game.  Tell us all about the gameplay -- what it's like, how it works, and why gamers should get excited.
 

Fabio Belsanti: Kien is an action/platform game with RPG elements. The player’s task is to complete an epic, non-linear quest in a fantasy-inspired world, helping the two young heroes in their challenge to defeat the Evil Forces of Kahalbak.

 

The world of Kien is composed of 23 long, challenging levels, each boasting richly detailed and colourful 2D graphics, appealing features, well-animated characters as well as eye-pleasing environments and backgrounds.

 

The atmosphere of the game is epic, despite of the cute, cartoon-style graphics. The storyline is deep and intriguing and the action is always paced, with a large number of enemies to get rid of and a number of missions to be accomplished.

 

Kien offers a well-balanced mix of arcade and RPG elements: the game require the user to both prove his skills with the control system defeating hordes of lethal enemies and to carefully plan his progress in the game completing missions.

 

One of the game’s main features is its non-linear game structure, which gives the user the possibility to explore all of Kien’s vast playing area, moving from one stage to another and looking for items and hints which may help him completing his quest.

 

Kien's character style is very Japanese.  Who was responsible for creating the artistic designs of this game?

 

FB: The Character Designer, which is a big fan of anime and manga, and the Background Artist which is a fan of old 80’s arcade “classics.”

How do you attack or defend against the game's enemies?
 

FB: If you're controlling Kjan, you can pick up hand-to-hand weapons in your fight against the forces of evil. If you're controlling Elendel, you can use long-distance spells…

 

 

With the power of lightning I will rule the world!

 

Speaking of enemies, I'm sure our readers would like to know all about the different types of enemies that they'll encounter in this game.

 

FB: Enemies are divided in two main categories: “generic” enemies, whose strength range from “weak” to “strong” and have different degrees of ability and intelligence when fighting, and “bosses”, who are very strong and difficult to defeat.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of opponents in the game.

 

Dark guards

Types:  Soldiers

                        Sargeants

                        Captains

                        “Black Demons”

                        Sorcerers - Minor

                        Sorcerers - Major

 

Wards of the Infernal Limbo

Types:  Minor Ward

 

Dark Stones

Types:  Servants Minor

            Servants Major

 

Deadly Storms

Types:  Deadly Storm

            Dark Storm

 

Infernal Lights

Types: Lights of Inferno

                        Lights of the Demons

 

Damned Souls of the Universe of Blood

Types:  Damned Souls

 

Preachers of the Abyss

Types:  Preachers

            Priests of the Dark Depths

 

Dark Wards

Appearance: Red-eyed armour-wearing Skeletons

Types:              Wards

                        Major Wards

                        Great Wards

 

Cahedan

General of the Dark Army

 

Tujon

Ward of the Portals of the Infernal Limbo

 

Arefub.

Emperor of the Universe of Thunder

 

Elamfer

Emperor of the Universe of Fire

 

Satran

Emperor of the Universe of Blood

 

Zediostruin

Emperor of the Universe of Abyss

 

Emperor of the Evil Power

 

 

Big heads give warriors and priestesses "extra power."

Or so games have us believe.

 

 

It looks like Kien has a wide variety of levels types, ranging from rocky mountains to bridges to land.  Could you tell us more about them?

 

FB: There are 23 levels in Kien  (4 hidden stages). The levels can be played in any order the player wishes to. Each of the levels belongs to one of 2 distinct dimensions, which are linked by astral portals located in the Infernal Limbo stage. The 2 different dimensions represent the Lands of Malkut, homeland of Kjan and Elendel, and the Dark Universes, where the Powers of Evil come from.

 

This is the complete list::

 

MALKUT’S LANDS

1_ruins of the training temple quarter

2_temple of harmony quarter

3_temple of wind quarter

4_temple of stability quarter

5_temple of wisdom quarter

6_temple of shadow quarter

7_temple of mystical energy quarter

8_temple of mystical warriors quarter

9_supreme temple (outside)

10_supreme temple (inside)

 

INFERNAL LIMBO

11_infernal limbo

 

DARK UNIVERSES

            FIRE UNIVERSE

12_fire column

13_lava path

14_castle of flames

            THUNDER UNIVERSE

15_thunder threshold

16_storm mountains

17_tower of thunder

            BLOOD UNIVERSE

18_blood source

19_horror lands

20_throne of massacre

            ABYSS UNIVERSE

21_beginning of darkness

22_abyss of nothingness

23_crown of darkness

 

This game seems to fit in well with anime and anime-style RPGs.  Is that where the inspiration for Kien came from?

 

FB: The title comes from the Chinese Mitology “KKIENN,” which means “principle of the universe.” As a game designer, I have a very strong RPG background; we felt more comfortable with RPGs, so we decided to do this kind of game. As I told you earlier, the anime-style comes from the artists’ inspirational background.

How challenging is the game?  Was its challenge developed with the targeted age group in mind?

 

FB: Kien’s look and structure make it a game particularly suited to appeal to the large number of games players who are fond of the Action/Platform category. Its colourful, detailed graphics and rich animations will have a strong appeal on most GameBoy Advance owners.

 

The title’s traditional game structure is enriched by an involving storyline and by RPG elements which widen its appeal towards a more adult audience, making it the perfect choice for those games players who are looking for a more complete and deeper game structure rather than the usual “run/jump/hit” experience.

 

Intuitive control system and attractive graphics make Kien a title which is perfectly suited to appeal to the GameBoy Advance’s audience .

Will players encounter any puzzles?
 

FB: No

What kind of items are there in Kien?  It's a given that there'd healing items and other items along those lines.  But are there any attribute-enhancing items?  Anything you can use or equip to increase your character's performance?

 

FB: Yes to all!

 

There are Weapons (21), Power-Ups, Spheres of Spells, Armors, Magical barriers… discover them playing the game!

 

 

Kien includes nearly two-dozen weapons.

 

How many playable characters are there?

 

FB: Kien features two playable characters, each of them with her/his own unique attributes and skills:

 

KJAN (The Warrior): Son of simple peasants: his extraordinary physical strength, together with its incredible will, have made him a powerful warrior. His only allies in the battle against Khaalbak are his trusty sword, Elendel and the spirit of Master Ken.

 

ELENDEL (The Priestess): Her cute looks hide a fierce warrior whose psychic force is unequalled in the land of Kieter. At first glance she may look a spoiled child, but her will to succeed makes Elendel a formidable adversary for the Evil Emperor plans. She is secretly attracted by Kjan.

 

Thank you for your time.