Unlocking the Secrets of Eternights: Dive into Studio Sai's Enchanting World of Emotional Connection, Aesthetics, and Narrative Themes

Jae Woo's debut game, Eternights, is set to be released earlier than expected after three years of development. Studio Sai, the developer and publisher of this unique dating sim/action RPG, recently announced that the launch date will be moved up by nine days. Additionally, fans will have the opportunity to purchase a special physical edition just in time for the holidays. Eternights takes inspiration from the popular Persona franchise and incorporates a calendar system that challenges players to manage relationships and survival battles. In a recent interview with Game Rant, Yoo discussed the intriguing features of Eternights, including the confidants, combat system, aesthetics, and narrative. Fans of Persona and Scarlet Nexus should definitely keep an eye on this highly anticipated title. (Transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.)

Q: Can you provide a brief introduction about yourself and provide an overview of Eternights for gamers who may be unfamiliar with it?

A: I'm Jae Yoo, the founder of Studio Sai and the developer of Eternights. I handle all aspects of the game, including programming, art, story, and production. Eternights is an action-packed dating game where players guide a group of young individuals through the apocalypse while building meaningful relationships. With limited time, players must carefully navigate dungeons and decide which characters they want to invest their time in.

Q: Can you explain the elements of Eternights’ combat system? Why did you settle on an action-oriented system as opposed to a tactical or turn-based RPG?

A: The game’s Steam page states that players can acquire new abilities and spells depending on their relationship with the game’s confidants. How many distinct spells and abilities can players expect to obtain?

A: In Eternights, there are various skills available for players. These skills can be categorized into passive, active, and elemental skills, which are obtained based on your character's level progression. It is difficult to determine the exact number of skills present in the game, as each character possesses a unique combination of passive, active supporting, elemental skills, and an ultimate skill. The ultimate skill can be accessed when you establish a deeper bond with each character and is known to be a powerful support skill that should not be overlooked.

Q: Does Eternights feature any additional mechanical systems beyond its combat and dating elements?

A: The calendar system serves as the primary game mechanic that integrates both combat and dating aspects in Eternights. Within the limited number of days available in the game, players can opt to explore dungeons, scavenge for resources, engage in training, or strengthen their connections with companions. Making the right choices and allocating time with preferred characters significantly influences the story progression in later chapters and ultimately determines the game's ending.

Q: Did any other games or series aside from the Persona series influence the development of Eternights?

In the process of developing the game over the past three years, I have played numerous games that have had a minimal impact on its development. However, I have customized them to fit Eternights, making them unsuitable as references to describe the game.

Among these games, Persona 3 stands out as a major inspiration for embarking on this project. The character-driven story in the game medium left a lasting impression on me. Additionally, Persona 5, in particular, showcased the exceptional skills of the series director in bringing forth a character-driven narrative through gameplay. I found myself engrossed in Persona 5, as well as Persona 4, but Persona 3 remains my ultimate favorite.

Other than Persona, the Devil May Cry series provided me with valuable insights into combat mechanics. However, as the combat system evolved, the game diverged significantly from DMC's distinct combat style. While it served as a useful point of reference during the initial stages, the current state of the combat system is too distinct for me to draw any meaningful comparisons. Therefore, I would no longer consider it as a suitable reference.

Q: What is the average duration of a playthrough of Eternights? Does Eternights include New Game Plus elements?

A: Eternights does not incorporate a new game plus feature. However, without specifying further details, players have ample time to familiarize themselves with each character and develop a sense of strong camaraderie throughout the entire adventure. In addition to the absence of new game plus, the final chapter of Eternights varies significantly depending on the choices made in the preceding chapter, which in itself offers substantial replayability.

Q: In your opinion, what do you believe to be the key factor that contributes to a truly fulfilling JRPG experience?

A: Personally, I consider the essence of a gratifying JRPG to be highly subjective. To me, the pivotal aspect lies in the characters themselves. It's crucial for me to be able to empathize with the main character's emotions, immersing myself in their world and genuinely experiencing it through their eyes. This applies not only to JRPGs but also extends to my overall enjoyment of any narrative when the characters possess relatability.

A: Eternights explores a central theme of self-discovery, focusing on the journey of finding one's true identity. The game also delves into smaller themes such as the ability to persevere despite failures and the notion that individual actions are not inherently wrong. The overarching theme encourages players to keep moving forward, aligning with the game's world and its underlying principles.

Set in an intense post-apocalyptic setting, you and your companions endure the pressures of a confined space for an extended period. Consequently, interactions between you and your companions become more frequent than in ordinary life, where time is restricted to the period between school and home. Within each act, a new friend becomes part of your team, allowing you to delve into their personal stories and understand their challenges, objectives, and values.

In the game, there are four distinct love interests, along with a total of five confidants.

Yuna, a renowned pop star, is currently at the pinnacle of her fame. Despite being viewed solely for her beauty and perceived weakness, there lies a resilient, logical, and highly intelligent woman behind her facade. Possessing a strong moral compass, she readily extends a helping hand to those in need. When facing challenging situations or a complicated life, Yuna finds solace in the act of ironing, which has transitioned from a mere habit to a cherished pastime. Despite living the glamorous life of a pop star, she secretly yearns for the simplicity of a normal school existence.

Sia, an avid scientist, possesses an insatiable curiosity that leads her to view everything as a potential subject of study. This intensity sometimes makes others feel uneasy, unaware of the traumatic experiences she has endured. Consequently, people simply perceive her as an eccentric scientist, oblivious to the scars she conceals.

Min, an introverted and timid girl, possesses remarkable capability for achieving her goals. Unfortunately, her lack of self-assurance prevents her from recognizing her own potential. Nevertheless, as the narrative unfolds and her connection with the protagonist deepens, Min gradually discovers her inherent strength. Ultimately, she exhibits an unwavering determination and a compassionate nature.

Chani, the player's childhood companion, remained inseparable until the world's final moments. Their bond exudes mischievous energy, solidifying Chani as the player's closest confidant, always offering unwavering support.

Yohan, an enigmatic and captivating individual, is whispered to possess an ancient existence spanning centuries. Striving relentlessly to avert the apocalypse, his motivations and true intentions remain shrouded in mystery. The depths of his past remain a mystery to all those around him.

Q: How do you design love interests in dating games that resonate with players and establish an emotional connection?

A: Establishing an emotional connection with characters is vital in dating games. Creating relatable love interests for players involves careful design and storytelling. In the case of Eternights, we faced the challenge of fostering this connection. To overcome it, we introduced certain instances of moral ambiguity within the characters' actions. These actions were not deeply immoral, but rather relatable, everyday behaviors. We wanted players to resonate with the characters on a personal level, as we all make selfish choices or say offensive things when we're feeling low. By presenting this moral dilemma, players can relate to the characters and feel a sense of familiarity. This connection prompts players to listen attentively to the characters' stories and become invested in helping them solve their problems.

Q: Eternights has a number of 2D-animated cinema scenes. How did you decide which scenes should receive animation versus in-engine representation?

First, Eternights was initially planned with a scene list that spanned from the beginning to the end of the game. When mapping out all the necessary scenes, it became evident that the game required a substantial amount of cinematic content. Being a third-person action game, Eternights demands more assets and resources compared to other genres. The events within the game happen quickly and are not abstracted, therefore requiring precise animation to avoid any misinterpretation. Some cinematics were successfully executed in 3D, primarily for smaller scenes that didn't necessitate complex visual effects or close-up shots. However, as the character models were not specifically designed to accommodate close-ups, they were originally intended for a more distant viewpoint. For scenes that would have consumed significant time to create in 3D, I opted for 2D animation, as it allowed me to save time by not having to construct every aspect of the game. This decision was my initial instinct.

My second instinct was that scenes requiring extensive facial animations to convey emotional impact were more effectively portrayed in 2D. As mentioned earlier, the final chapter of the game differs based on the player's choices and incorporates a significant amount of 2D animation. This choice serves to highlight the characters' emotions and experiences. By utilizing 2D animation, it was easier to achieve the desired facial expressions accurately. These are the two primary factors influencing my decision-making process.

Q: Why was the unique color palette of indigo, purple, and magenta chosen for Eternights?

A: The color palette was inspired by my previous project, a little indie game. It had the same colors and was centered around the theme of dreams. Eternights also has a dream-like atmosphere, symbolizing an eternal night or an endless dream/nightmare. The overall mood I wanted to convey to players is that of a melancholic dream, where even in the daytime, the experience feels like a dream. When the game ends, it's like waking up from that dream. This is why the colors chosen are vivid and dreamlike, including shades of purple, magenta, and sunset orange.

Q: Is there any additional information you would like to share with readers?

A: We are excited to announce that the release date for Eternights has been moved up to September 12. Additionally, we will also be releasing physical copies of the game. Over the past three years, I have thoroughly enjoyed working on Eternights and have gained valuable experience. It was my first time creating such a lengthy game, and I found it fascinating to learn and explore new concepts. I am eagerly looking forward to immediately beginning work on our second game, where I can apply all the lessons learned from Eternights. Finally, my hope is that players thoroughly enjoy the title and embark on a fantastic adventure with Eternights.

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