SIGONO’s OPUS: Echo of Starsong is one of the best narrative-driven indie games of the past decade, and now, the Taiwanese-based studio is returning with a brand new story. OPUS: Prism Peak is a narrative adventure where you play as a weary photojournalist, beaten by a life of failures, as he stumbles into an ethereal realm.
There, he encounters many spirits and strangers, including a girl with no memory except a vague sense that she is there to help a grown-up find his way home. Throughout their adventure together, the girl teaches the photojournalist how to perceive the world around him in a new light.
Unlike the epic intergalactic settings in previous OPUS titles, OPUS: Prism Peak feels distinctly grounded and nostalgic even without laying your hands on the game. We had the opportunity to speak with Sissi Tu from SIGONO at gamescom asia 2024 earlier this year, where she shared more about the new title’s departure from the formula.
“It indeed is a lot different from our previous work in terms of the scale, the theme, and the world-building. But there is one thing in common across all of our series, which is the contrast between a vast world and a small character. And the world can be set in any world, like in space, under the sea, or in a vast land,” she shared.
“This time, we tried to make this happen in a more realistic world, or metro-realistic. And it is because we think this kind of world can best convey what we want to create. There is also one major technical goal we want to achieve with this new title, which is the element of cinematics. Because we focus on telling stories, and cinematics are a very powerful way to convey stories.”
It’s instantly clear that OPUS: Prism Peak is a small story with great ambitions, not only in terms of cinematography but also gameplay features. The game introduces the concept of divergent endings, a franchise first for SIGONO, complemented by its main narrative device of photo-taking, which was on display at gamescom asia.
“Taking photos is not just a way to observe or record. It is also a way of self-expression, and we found it really interesting to incorporate it into our narrative and gameplay. The key is in how you see the world and how you see yourself.”
When asked about what fans can expect for the game, including the possible release of a public demo, Sissi had nothing to add — yet. For fans who are eagerly awaiting more updates, it looks like you’ll just have to wait a little longer.
“That’s all I can tell you right now,” she added cheekily.
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