Unveiling the Thrilling Universe of Andrew Teo's 'Eastpunk': The Ultimate ARPG Experience

Ghostlore, a newly released ARPG available on Steam and Xbox Game Pass, offers a unique and fresh setting, complete with unconventional enemies. Developed by Andrew Two, Ghostlore takes place in an alternate universe Singapore during the early 90s. Dubbed "Eastpunk" by Two, this term accurately describes the game's aesthetic, which heavily draws upon Southeast Asian folklore and culture. From enemy mechanics to in-game cuisine, Ghostlore immerses players in a world rich with Southeast Asian influences. In an interview with Game Rant, Teo discusses the game's development, including its many inspirations and the diverse group of individuals who helped bring this Southeast Asian adventure to life.

Singapore Lore

Teo utilized Southeast Asian folklore to create game mechanics for Ghostlore's Singaporean rogues gallery. By following the rules of superstitions and mythological pantheons, he was able to bring these creatures to life. One such creature is the Pontianak, which can be found in banana trees. In the game, players must evade these ghosts as they are invulnerable and indestructible. The only way to defeat the Pontianak is to destroy the tree that it possesses.

The enemy characters in Ghostlore all have a unique backstory that informs their combat style. For example, the Jiang-Shi, a Chinese hopping vampire, utilizes unpredictable lunges and hops to attack players while also restoring its own health with life steal. Meanwhile, the Babi Ngepet, a demon associated with greed, will steal a portion of the player's in-game currency upon charging into them. The Hungry Ghosts, based on local folklore, have the ability to breathe fire, a nod to the belief that everything they consume will be immolated. Teo, the game's creator, emphasized that he did not rely on superstition for inspiration, but instead conducted research through conversations with friends and online sources. The unique classes and moves of Ghostlore's enemies were inspired by a variety of sources including anime, video games, and recommendations from friends. References to popular media, such as Fist of the Northstar's Pressure Point and Fire Punch's Immolate, can also be found throughout the game.

An Anachronistic Compromise

During the early access of the game, Teo encountered a common problem faced by most game developers - players' insatiable desire for more content. They demanded more items, enemies, areas, and infinite replayability. Struggling with ideas for a new environment, Teo took inspiration from Singapore's Changi airport and created the Institute of Paranormal Studies. Even in the game's Lo-Fi pixel graphics, the resemblance is striking. Despite the area's impressive appearance, Teo has mixed feelings about the post-game content.

Teo's aim was to capture the essence of the first half of the 90s with Ghostlore, not only in terms of Southeast Asian culture but also in its appearance as a product of that era. To achieve this, he chose pixel graphics reminiscent of late Super Nintendo and early PlayStation games. However, the inclusion of the visually impressive Changi area, which wasn't constructed until the early 2000s, has left Teo with mixed feelings as it somewhat detracts from the game's overall 90s aesthetic.

Ghostlore's Community-Sourced Cuisine

Teo garnered a following on the r/Singapore subreddit while developing Ghostlore, often sharing glimpses of the game through clips and images. In one instance, Teo reached out to the community for food photos, which he then incorporated into the game's food buff system after pixilating them and uploading them to a Google Drive. "All contributors are given proper credit in the game’s credits section," Teo assured. Though Ghostlore may not boast the same level of visual fidelity as newer titles, its mouth-watering in-game cuisine undeniably earns a spot among the most delicious-looking foods in video games. Ghostlore is now available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.