Styx

Now let’s talk a bit about one of the other humanoid species that lives in the Tower of Akenash: the elves.

Living as close as possible to the Tree, the elves are allowed in the Tower thanks to a treaty made between their ambassador and the Akenash governor. But only because they are uniquely able to collect the amber as the sap of the Tree can push to insanity any human who touches it in its purest form.

Even if most elves will chase you on sight, their ambassador is more likely to hear you out.

But, a life spent close to the amber leaves traces… They can feel the amber near them and communicate with every amber creature. What a pity that our character is the addict type. You would definitetly not want to be detected by one of those. They may be thin but they are good hunters.

The player will need to adapt his playing style if he wants to get past them.

The elves appearance was controversial and we needed a lot of different concept before choosing one.

Dev team just wanna have fun !

Final version of the elves

–
Eléonore
Associate Producer

Today we will answer a question from “Robert John Guarente” posted on Facebook: How long is the game, how much will it be, are there unlockables, is there a play through plus, is there replay value?????

Hi Robert,

You will need about 20 hours to finish the story depending of your play style. If you want to finish the game at 100% it will be quite a challenge: Of course, you will have to finish the story (that is a challenge in itself ^^), but you will also have to succeed all sub-missions and get the 4 ensigns for each mission:

* Finish the mission without killing anyone. Yes you can also use the gentle way to accomplish Styx’s destiny and you have many ways to avoid killing people, starting with being the most discreet as possible.

* Finish the mission without being spotted a single time. The AI is attentive to a lot of details, like movement, past events, sounds, suspect bodies on the ground… but an accident can so easily happen! ;)

* Collecting all items in the mission, there is more than 300 of it to find!

* Finish the mission as quick as possible. Once you’ll be used to Styx’s capacities, you’ll be able to challenge yourself and try to find the fastest means and ways to reach your goals.

As you can imagine, it will be hard to be totally unseen and be as quick as possible in a single run; it’s where you will play with the challenge mode that allow you to replay any mission with all the skills you have unlocked in story mode. Been unseen or been quick will force you to try to found alternative paths and alternative way to handle situations. You’ll see that it’s a complete different experience!

Last but not least, some treasures are hidden into the Tower of Akenash; Will you be able find them?

 

If you have any question you would like to ask to the team about the game, please post it below this thread or on our Facebook page! We’ll be happy to answer you in the next Question of the week.

—
Guillaume
Project Manager

« Look, if you make this guard run toward here, we can push him down this cliff. And when he’ll splatter the lower floor, and the other npc runs toward his body, THEN you can unsrew this crane’s load and kill every single one of them ! »

The level designers sure are a weird bunch. They quite enjoy giving new, exotic ways for a player to kill people. Or be killed, it mostly depends on their mood.

Kismet, the script system in the Unreal Engine, is pretty powerful.
It allows you to create complex patrols.

Your basic guard will just stand there, sleeping…

… but by adding another pathnode, and telling him not to sleep, you could make him go look left and right…

… add yet another pathnode, throw in an animation, and he can go drink some (poisonable!) water…

… and you could add a bit of script so whenever his friend in the background leaves his spot, your first guard will notice and go investigate…

Oops. Oh well.

—
Jonathan
Level Designer

Now for the Knights…

These are real killers with weapon-proof armor SO stay away.
These invicible creatures can be recognized from afar by the shining gem on their armor. Don’t be dazed by the brillance of this gem or be ready to die.

One of the concept arts made for researchs on knights.

How this dangerous ennemy looks now ingame.

Is there a way to get rid of him?

Stay tuned for more info on Akenash dwellers!

—
Guillaume
Project Manager

Today we’re going to discover more in details the powers that Styx can acquire from the magical Amber substance.

During a mission you will gain XP that can be used to unlock numerous skills. These skills are arranged into 6 skill-trees: Stealth, Agility, Clone, Amber vision, Equipment and Assassination. 

With this skill-tree, it is all about being discreet! Styx can develop his capabilities to get heart palpitation when an enemy gets close, and avoid any surprises. He can also improve his invisibility skill and make it more efficient.

Moving with agility is very important when you don’t want to be detected. In this skill-tree, Styx can choose to fall without any sound or to be able to throw his projectiles twice the distance. 

Styx’s best friend also has a skill-tree dedicated to him! You can give him some diversion skills or even offensive abilities.

Amber is the source of Styx’s magical powers. He manipulates its magical properties and improves the way he uses it. For example, the amber vision, which gives Styx a special perception of the environment, can last twice longer.

Apart from his powers, Styx also has some tools at his disposal, as his knives for example. You will be able to enlarge your capacity of carry theses weapons or amber phials using this skill-tree. 

This skill-tree will help you to improve your assassination techniques to be more efficient. So you’ll be able to kill someone while hanging from an edge or even assassinate an enemy even when you are under cover. 

…That’s not all! There’s a seventh mysterious skill-tree that you’ll be able to unlock only under certain conditions… But we will let you discover it while playing the game! 

Use your skills wisely and at the right time, and they will be your best weapons towards victory in Styx: Master of Shadows! 

–
Camille ‘Jolly Roger’
Communication & Community Manager

To continue with our Akenash dwellers,
Let’s go to the Fighters!

The spectrum of fighters go from basic workers, fighting with primitive tools, to the elite guards with their deadly weapons. As well as dockers, vile experimenters and sly smugglers, to mention some more.

Be wary of fighters. You stand a small chance against one and even less against more.

Try it and you’ll see…

Stay tuned for more info on Akenash dwellers!

—
Guillaume
Project Manager

We’re happy to unveil a series of exclusive images in the run-up to E3 in Los Angeles, where Styx: Master of Shadows will be presented at Focus Home Interactive’s booth (West Hall Booth 5512)!

Styx, the goblin assassin, is climbing his way up the Tower of Akenash.

From the murky, oppressive depths of the tower to the opulent and magnificent summits where the elite guards and the citizens of the tower reside, Styx will have to work hard to reach his objective: The Tree, the source of the Amber, the promise of infinite riches he would like to possess. Master assassin and part-time thief, Styx will be able to remove any objects hampering his progress: but don’t leave any clues behind that could betray your presence to the guards… like a lifeless body in a walkway!

But not only humans and elves inhabit the Tower of Akenash; other fantastic creatures also roam the gloomy halls and passages of this immense tower, and it’s generally wise to avoid them. if you don’t want to end up as dinner for a hungry Orc!

Stay tuned on the devblog, more details about the game are coming!

Today, we’re going to talk about the central figure of our adventure… Yes you may have guessed, it’s Styx. :)

First graphic research on Styx after OoaM…

250 years old, our hero Styx is the first known goblin. Physically, he is what you expect of this people: green and small, 1m28 (4’ 2").
He is very agile, solitary and devious. Yet, he has not always been so bitter…

Before being changed into a small creature, Styx was an orc shaman, respected by all, a powerful mage, erudite and passionate about life’s forces. This passion will push him to study Amber, a magic and highly addictive substance, which will unfortunately seal his fate.

Both a blessing and curse, Amber possesses significant powers that Styx will put to full use during his adventures. Alas, these powers come at a significant cost…
In addition to his change of appearance, Styx’s addiction to Amber brings with it unending mental torment, causing him to sink slowly into madness.

Despite his metamorphosis, he retains some orc characteristics, such as pride, his taciturn nature as well as the body language and attitudes of this people.

Styx facial 3D shoots

To put an end to his suffering, our goblin tries to steal the heart of the World Tree, the inexhaustible source of the accursed substance which caused his mutation. His risky plan is to enter that place of damnation, the Atrium of Akenash.

The magnitude of the task will turn out to be more difficult than he had imagined and he will have to brave much hardship in order to finally free himself from torment.

–
Camille ‘Jolly Roger’
Communication & Community Manager

Today we will answer a question from “Jesper Vas Broer” posted on Facebook: Will you use the same voice actor? I loved his voice.

Hi Jesper,

Yes! Saul Jephcott is back to lend his voice to Styx.

We just recorded the voices with him last week, so you can listen, without waiting any further, some samples:

If you have any question you would like to ask to the team about the game, please post it below this thread or on our Facebook page! We’ll be happy to answer you in the next Question of the week. 

—
Guillaume
Project Manager

Hello everybody,

In the next series of updates, we are going to discuss the different creatures that populate the Tower of Akenash.

Let’s start with the more humble human dwellers that we like to call the “No-Fighters”: ambassadors, librarians, and servants.

They don’t represent a direct threat to Styx as they prefer not to cross paths with the wily goblin. However… watch out! Non-Fighters may appear harmless, but if they see you, they can round up dangerous allies who are not afraid of tracking you down and killing you. And those carrying lighting sticks can ignite the torches, removing the shadows that Styx calls home.

Stay tuned for more info on Akenash dwellers!

–
Guillaume
Project Manager

Today we will answer a question from “Орхан Османов”: Will we able to customize our Hud? Turn off quest marker maybe?

Hi Orkhan, 

Yes, you will have some Hud’s customization in “Styx: Master of Shadows”. Additionally to be able to hide subtitles, it will be also possible to hide quest markers and AI detection’s icons.

In “normal” game mode, it is up to you to deactivate or not those options, but we have a spacial hardcore mode, you can unlock after finishing the game, where those options are always deactivated. There is some other challenges in this special mode we will tell you later.

If you have any question you would like to ask to the team about the game, please post it below this thread or on our Facebook page! We’ll be happy to answer you in the next Question of the week. 

—
Guillaume
Project Manager

Hello,

Today, we will open up a new facet of the development of “Styx: Master of Shadows” and take a special interest in the area of the game art, namely concept art.

Before beginning to create a 3D world, we the concept artists, have the job of putting down on paper, in both image and text form, our vision of the game universe.

Working with game designers and writers, we strive to produce an overview of the graphic universe of the game for the whole development team.

So a lot of preparatory work goes into creating a general outline, with “painting” and “drawing” being the vectors that bring the environment to life. We supply the “blueprints” to help our “blacksmiths” shape the distinctive world of Styx.

One of the most interesting environments that we had to design for Akenash are its “bowels” where dark creatures have their lair and where Styx finds the shadows of which he is so fond.

So we produced a variety of artwork to outline the location:

These images set the atmosphere of the location. After that, we move onto a more specific design of the elements that will make up the environment. This will help the 3D artists when it comes to modeling the Akenash tower, with such things as the pipes and roots of the Tree as they crisscross the various volumes.

-
Concept team : Cyril, Paradis, Tom and Mathieu

Hi,

Today we will answer a question from “snapfit”: What about the Story? Will the game be as story-driven as Of Orcs and Men? When does the game take place, before or after the events of OOAM?

Yes, “Styx: Master of Shadows” is a story driven game. There are two sides to the story we want to tell you: the first is an epic adventure of a goblin that wants to steal the heart of a World Tree enclosed inside a huge and terrifying tower: Akenash. The second is a kind of Bildungsroman that will lead Styx to a better understanding of his own origins.

The game is a prequel. The story takes place a long time before the events of OOAM and most of the protagonists of the first opus are not yet born. That said, you will discover the genesis of some important events that you have seen in OOAM.

You have a question about the game? Don’t hesitate to post it below this thread! We’ll answer it in the next Question of the week. 

—
Guillaume
Project Manager

Today we will give you a few details about the tower of Akenash, the playground of your hero in “Styx: Master of Shadows”.

This huge tower was built around the world Tree by humans in order to try to control the power of the amber that flows from it. Over time, the tower became a center of power, knowledge and mystery.

The upper levels contain the apartments occupied by the ruler, the embassy where humans receive diplomats from the four corners of the kingdom, the great library and the “docks” (served by airship). The upper levels are the only ones that receive sunlight.

Below, built around the dome that encloses the World Tree, are the military quarters, prisons and alchemy labs where humans try desperately to master the sometimes destructive power of amber.

The further you descend into the depths of Akenash, the closer you get to the world Tree and the elves that protect it. This is a dangerous zone where unpleasant creatures are to be found lurking.

That’s it for today, more secrets about the Tower of Akenash to discover in Styx : Master of Shadows!

–
Guillaume 
Project Manager

Hi,

Today we will answer a question from “Hightechzombie”: There seem to be different approaches to finishing a level, but is there more to it?

The levels within “Styx: Master of Shadows” are both high and wide, which means that we were not lacking in space when it came to design. You therefore have numerous options when choosing your path towards reaching your goal. There is not one “right path” and each choice you make will lead to different challenges and require different styles of play. For example, the most obvious path is often the best-guarded and so it offers the biggest challenge if you want to sneak in. Exploring the level will allow you to find alternative routes.

When you have chosen a path, the way you actually pursue it is up to you. You can sneak quietly in through the shadows or you can use the many tools at your disposal. For example, a clone could create a diversion; disable a guard or create a smoke screen. You could also use your power of invisibility to simply avoid a guard or use a weapon such as a throwing knife to silence him for good. As with paths, you have many other tools, but we’ll let you discover them. You can even forego tools and use the environment to your advantage: poison a guard’s drink; make objects fall on a guard’s head; etc.

Spying, especially on guards, will yield useful information about alternative ways to succeed in your objective. For example, in the prison, you may overhear talk of a mechanism to unlock all cell doors: you can image the kind of diversion that would create, with guards chasing after prisoners who are fleeing in all directions.

Bonus question from “Hightechzombie”: Styx hates dogs, but what’s his opinion on cats?

Styx loves cats… especially roasted with onions. ^^

If you have a question you would like to ask to the team about the game, please post it below this thread! We’ll be happy to answer you in the next Question of the week. 

—
Guillaume
Project Manager

Hi all,

Creating a good game doesn’t always guarantee success so, as a first step in reaching players, it is important that we make our game known to the press.

After months of working undercover on our project, we don’t consider it work to present Styx to the press; it’s a real pleasure to share our work with them and to receive valuable feedback.

Our press tour covered three cities: Paris, London and Munich.

Our first encounter took place in Paris on January 14th. It was Julien’s (Lead Level-Designer) and my (Project Manager) first experience of showing a game to the press.

The second event took place in London on January 22nd. Julien did the presentation on his own and had difficulty in playing the demo and speaking to the press at the same time. ^^ “Styx: Master of Shadows” is not an easy game: you can easily come unstuck if you don’t pay sufficient attention to your surrounds.

The most recent press encounter took place in Munich on February 6th. Julien, having gained in press XP, was able to put forward a trenchant case. :)

The next big step is the San Francisco GDC in March.

Stay tuned for more updates on the development of Styx: Master of Shadows!

—
Guillaume
Project Manager

Hi everybody!

We are really happy and proud to be able to share the development of our game “Styx: Master of Shadows” with you on this DevBlog.

This game is our homage to the stealth genre: We want to provide all the ingredients that make a game a great stealth game.

In “Styx: Master of Shadows”, you will play a goblin: fragile, but resourceful thanks to his agility, his assassin skills and his magical powers. Your goal will be to steal the heart of the world-Tree, an infinite source of power: amber. But things are not as easy as they seem… ^^

In this DevBlog we will introduce to you some aspects of gameplay, some of the locations and inhabitants of the Akenash tower as well as the people who are working hard to bring you the best game possible. And as you can see, all the team is on a war footing for the job!

If you have any question about this project, write a comment below this post. We will select one question and answer it in our next post.

Best regards,

–
Guillaume
Project Manager