As a part of at present’s Xbox Associate Preview broadcast, we’re thrilled to disclose a sequel to Raji: An Historic Epic, the multi award successful indie action-adventure title set in historical India. Raji: Kaliyuga isn’t only a easy follow-up to the authentic’s story, however a complete new recreation completely – with an further playable character, new motion mechanics and, most ambitiously, a wholly new third-person perspective.
When Raji: An Historic Epic was first created, Nodding Heads Video games was a younger studio, pushed by pure ardour, perception, and a collective dream to set up India on the worldwide gaming stage. We confronted quite a few challenges with restricted sources and a small staff, but we possessed huge ambition. Years later, we have advanced right into a mature and intentional studio. Our studying extends past simply making a recreation; we’ve discovered to construct a universe. We’d like to discuss you by way of our new mission.
An Epic Continuation
Raji: An Historic Epic was by no means supposed to be a standalone story. The primary recreation ended on a deliberate cliffhanger — from the very starting, the story was meant to proceed.
Set six years after the unique, Raji: Kaliyuga expands on the battle, portraying not only a warfare amongst mortals however a cosmic battle involving gods, asuras, and mystical forces. The traditional asura warlord, Mahabalasura, unseals the heaven’s doorways, shattering the divine equilibrium and plunging all realms into limitless warfare.
The story facilities on Raji, now a seasoned warrior, and her youthful brother, Darsh, a younger dreamwalker haunted by visions of the previous and future. Collectively, they embark on a deadly journey to the Everlasting Summit, traversing varied lokas (realms). Their future hangs in the steadiness: will they save the universe, or be compelled to destroy it to finish the battle?
Making a Second Hero
Raji: Kaliyuga options twin protagonists, permitting gamers to embody each Raji, the warrior of religion, and Darsh, the dreamwalker. Characters swap based mostly on story occasions and act as companions to 1 one other. Raji employs acrobatic martial arts and wields the divine Trishul, whereas Darsh awakens to immense powers, controlling Siddhis to govern gravity, time, and vitality.
Integrating Darsh as a playable character alongside Raji is a core growth for Raji: Kaliyuga, enhancing the narrative and gameplay expertise in a number of key methods:
- Emotional Closure and Perspective: The primary recreation left Darsh’s destiny unsure. Enjoying as Darsh permits gamers to actively expertise his journey, offering a private and emotional decision to the occasions of Raji: An Historic Epic.
- Embodying Cosmic Duality: Raji and Darsh embody the basic steadiness of the cosmos – Raji representing religion and the warrior, and Darsh representing imaginative and prescient and the dreamwalker. Controllable duality offers this central theme tangible type for the participant.
- The Energy of Reunion: The emotional coronary heart of the story is the siblings’ separation and eventual reunion. Gamers will witness how every character has advanced and the way their mixed energy shapes the continued warfare.
- Layered Worldview: Raji’s journey was rooted in responsibility and religion, whereas Darsh’s explores introspection and future. Switching between their viewpoints presents a deep, multifaceted understanding of the sport’s world and battle.
- Complementary Gameplay: The characters supply distinct and assorted playstyles. Raji wields the divine energy of the Trishul, whereas Darsh instructions Siddhis (supernatural powers). This selection enriches fight, puzzle-solving, and boss battle methods, and permits gamers to craft their very own fight types.
- Dynamic Pacing: The shifting management between Raji and Darsh at totally different story junctures retains the sport’s momentum and pacing recent.
- Narrative Evolution: We’re shifting past a easy story of divine intervention. Kaliyuga explores the coexistence of religion and phantasm, the place the narrative tone, artwork, music, and gameplay methods should mirror this duality, shifting to replicate the angle and fact of the character presently being performed.
Shifting Perspective
And, in fact, we have our greatest change. Whereas Raji: An Historic Epic was a dynamic isometric action-adventure, Raji: Kaliyuga makes a major leap into the third-person action-adventure style.
A transfer to third-person felt like the following pure step for our staff. Though we stay followers of the digital camera types utilized in Raji: An Historic Epic, the evolution of the gameplay led us to imagine that third-person motion was the proper course for this mission. Regardless of the numerous problem of this transition, the staff has tailored properly and invested appreciable time in mastering it. Our confidence in executing this efficiently is bolstered by the staff’s collective expertise as avid gamers who’ve loved many third-person motion titles over the previous 20 years. Our staff continues to push boundaries day by day, elevating our abilities to satisfy the style’s calls for.
We’re matching that ambition elsewhere, too. Raji: An Historic Epic was acclaimed for its handcrafted artwork and painterly visuals, deeply rooted in Indian structure. This distinct inventive soul stays central to Kaliyuga, whilst we advance our instruments and scope. We’re now leveraging trendy Unreal Engine 5 options, together with a complicated lighting system and modular world-building, whereas meticulously preserving the essence of conventional artwork. Our murals are not static; they breathe and inform a dwelling story.
A Recreation for New and Outdated
Whereas Raji: Kaliyuga grows in scope, tone and perspective, it should nonetheless really feel like a homecoming for gamers who beloved Raji: An Historic Epic. At its coronary heart, Raji was by no means a battle towards asuras – it was a testomony of religion, resilience and divine grace by way of hardship. That essence carries by way of.
The brand new recreation is designed to attraction to each veterans of the primary recreation and newcomers. Kaliyuga includes a fully self-contained narrative. New gamers will grasp the core premise immediately, and all important backstory components will probably be revealed naturally by way of reminiscence murals, dialogue, and environmental storytelling.
However whereas enjoying the unique title just isn’t a prerequisite, returning gamers will discover a deeper, extra emotional connection to the occasions. And, in fact, Raji stays one of many central figures, not changed however advanced. Gamers will acknowledge her stances, fight grace and quiet braveness.
Keep Tuned for Extra
Previously yr, Raji: An Historic Epic has reached an unbelievable 2.5 million gamers globally. Whereas the discharge of Raji: Kaliyuga remains to be a little methods off, we’re excited to share what we’ve been engaged on, as we now really feel prepared as a studio to take action. Reaching this level has taken intensive effort and time, and we’re dedicated to persevering with our relationship with our group for a few years to return.
Whereas a launch date announcement remains to be far off, gamers can keep knowledgeable by following us on social media and becoming a member of our Discord server, the place we are going to present common updates.
