Unlock the Depths of Love and Intrigue: Behind the Scenes of Eternights - A Persona-Inspired Game

Studio Sai recently announced that their first title, Eternights, will be releasing nine days ahead of schedule. Following the digital release, there are plans to release a physical edition over the holiday season. While Eternights is a third-person action RPG, it takes inspiration from the Persona series. The game incorporates a time management mechanic and features an intriguing cast of friends and love interests. As players deepen their relationships, they will also level up their combat abilities and embark on a journey of self-discovery in the post-apocalyptic setting. In a recent interview with Game Rant, Jae Yoo, the lead designer of Studio Sai and creator of Eternights, discussed the game's influences from Persona, the player character's companions, and more.

Eternights' "Confidants"

Yoo mentioned that players will come across four diverse love interests and a total of five confidants in the game. He provided concise descriptions of each character, with the idol character, Yuna, receiving the most attention:

Yuna is an immensely popular pop star, known for her striking beauty. However, she is much more than just a pretty face or a vulnerable girl. Beneath her appearance, Yuna is a resilient, logical, and brilliant woman. She also possesses a strong moral compass, always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need.

Sia, another confidant, is a brilliant researcher whose passion for science can make others feel uncomfortable. Yohan is a captivating and attractive individual whose true age, intentions, and motivations are unknown, despite his opposition to the apocalypse. Chani, the childhood best friend of the player character, is a reliable ally who Yoo described as always having their back. Min is an introverted girl who struggles with low self-confidence.

Although Yoo did not specify which characters can be pursued romantically, he emphasized that the choices made by players will heavily influence the final chapter and ending of the game. Yoo believes that the endings are so distinct that they will provide sufficient replay value, compensating for Eternight's lack of new game plus features.

Moral Dilemmas and Relatability in Eternights

Yoo believes that the key to creating a captivating video game lies in the player's ability to empathize with the main character. To cultivate these emotional connections, Yoo utilized a fundamental element of character development: imperfections.

"To establish a sense of relatability, I incorporated characters making specific morally ambiguous choices. I don't mean anything gravely immoral, but rather minor actions. Sometimes we act selfishly. Sometimes, when we're feeling down, we may say hurtful things to others. [...] This moral conflict serves as an effective means to make players feel a personal connection to the characters."

Eternight's love interests and the players themselves are far from perfect. Sia's intense focus on science can create obstacles in relationships, just like Yuna's popularity or Min's lack of confidence. Yohan's enigmatic nature makes him difficult to approach, while Chani may fall into the vulnerable category of the "Childhood Friend" trope in anime, which, although not necessarily a flaw, can complicate more intimate connections.

This relatable approach also applies to the game's protagonist, who must learn to move forward after experiencing loss and failure. As Yoo explained, "No matter what you choose, it defines who you are, so there is no right or wrong," indicating the game's overarching theme of self-discovery.

Conveying Emotion with Animation

Representing emotionally impactful moments with a limited engine was a significant challenge for Eternights. Along with the vast amount of assets needed for a 3D action title, Yoo struggled with the models not being suitable for close-up camera angles. This limitation hindered the clear expression of characters' emotions, potentially resulting in lackluster scenes.

In order to give each character's pivotal emotional moments the attention they deserved, Yoo opted to incorporate 2D animation for scenes that were less labor-intensive to create in the engine. These short anime interludes became more prevalent towards the end of the game, especially after the player's choices had caused the story to diverge, bringing them closer to their closest confidants.

Eternights is launching for PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 on September 12.