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The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is now on Netflix and building out Jim Henson’s lore and world of Thra that began in in 1982. Now, the Dallas-based developer Bonus XP, who also brought us Stranger Things: The Game, and publisher En Masse Entertainment are bringing that world to consoles, PC, and Mac with The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics.
At PAX West 2019, we got the chance to sit down with David Pottinger, President of Bonus XP and lead developer on The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance Tactics and dig into why the turn-based strategy game-type was chosen for Thra, the character designs, and how they balanced the world. Announced at E3, the game offers fans the opportunity to experience the fantasy world of Thra by playing through–and going beyond–the events of the Netflix Original series – including a fan favorite from the demo, the Potion Master Podling named Pombo.
With 80 unique turn-based campaign battles taking place across the world of Thra, players will recruit new allies and customize their forces by assigning them jobs and outfitting them with new equipment. As Pottinger explains in the interview, the numerous campaigns allow the player to not only play the story of the Netflix Original series but also to explore more stories in the world of Thra.
One of the best moments in the interview comes when Pottinger explains the process of working with the Jim Henson Company in designing the game’s characters. Not only did the team at Bonus XP decide to include more than just Gelflings in the game, with the addition of podlings, but they also decided to add levity to Age of Resitance’s story by adding fizzgigs as playable characters too.
While the diversity in characters is great to see as a fan, David Pottinger explained some of the roadblocks they faced while trying to bring them into the world of Age of Resistance Tactics, namely the difficulties of character scale. In fact, of the three races to choose from, Gelfling is the tallest in continuity. In order for the characters to be readable on the screen for the player, the team at Bonus XP needed to enlarge both the Podlings and the Fizzgigs.
Take a listen to the full interview in the audio above and dive into the world of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics. Get ready to jump into the game when it arrives on the PlayStation4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Mac this Winter.
