Unveiling the Haunting Evolution of LISA: A Solo Developer's Decade-Long Journey

In a time when remakes and remasters enjoy both commercial success and high anticipation, it's no surprise that, nine years after its initial release, the cult classic indie horror RPG LISA the Painful is set to release LISA: Definitive Edition. For developer Austin Jorgensen, however, this experience was more than just a remastering effort – it was a chance to reconnect.

Partnering with publisher Serenity Forge, Jorgensen is currently working on redesigning both LISA the Painful and its sequel LISA the Joyful. These games, originally created using RPG Maker, are now being rebuilt on a custom-built engine based on Unity. However, due in part to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, LISA: Definitive Edition may turn into something greater than the sum of its parts. This unexpected situation has put Jorgensen, who typically doesn't engage in reflection, in an interesting position. Recently, he sat down for an interview with Game Rant to discuss the upcoming remaster and the perspective it has brought him.

He emphasized that his intention was not to alter the fundamental experience of LISA, unlike the approach taken by Final Fantasy 7 Remake. However, he did aim to build upon the existing content in order to delve deeper into the meaning and message of his work.

"The aspect that excites me the most is that, while it remains the same game, there is now an additional layer, a completely new framework. The goal is to enable people to perceive it from a different angle. This invites players to encounter the familiar game and characters, but with fresh perspectives. Perhaps they will form opinions guided by unreliable narrators, so to speak."

Part of the enhanced wrapper, as Jorgensen described, involves delving deeper into character interactions and conversations by the campfire. By expanding these moments, Jorgensen aims to emphasize the humanity he has infused into the characters, showcasing their flaws, challenges, moments of contemplation, and even humor.

Before LISA the Painful, Jorgensen had created a free RPG Maker game called LISA the First. He was surprised by its success and didn't pay much attention to it until he stumbled upon it online. Jorgensen tends to feel uneasy when looking back at his past works. Although he was aware and impressed by the success of LISA the Painful and LISA the Joyful, he had little interest in returning to that world until the remaster came along. However, during the remastering process, he had to reflect on his past and discovered that there was more he wanted to say.

"I had distanced myself from the game, moved on, and was focused on new projects. I had turned my back on it, wanting to look towards the future and be excited about new games. I was motivated to move forward... But during the remake, something changed within me. I realized there was still something left in the tank, it wasn't all according to my perfectly planned vision."

Jorgensen also pointed out that finding the right balance between incorporating new elements and features with Unity without compromising the original RPG Maker essence has posed a challenge. However, if it weren't for the delays caused by COVID, LISA: Definitive Edition would not have gained the same level of added depth.

"The COVID situation actually provided us with a lot of breathing room and opportunities to introduce new elements, which is truly amazing … It's like I planted a seed that has now blossomed into something beautiful. COVID-related delays have given me the chance to rediscover it. Initially, I was hesitant, but now it has become an excellent opportunity to expand on this intricate storyline."

Jorgensen’s primary focus appears to be on the narrative of LISA: Definitive Edition and its ability to resonate with players, which complements the game's strong influences from The Last of Us and Earthbound. The game is set to be released on July 18th for various platforms including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.