Game Rant spoke with Lozano to discuss everything from Elementallis’ Kickstarter success, to dungeon and combat iteration, to how nostalgia can magnify affection for the titles gamers grew up playing. In order for the game to succeed, Lozano knows he and his team must do more than recreate the experience of top-down Zelda games.

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Refinement is the Sincerest Form of Reverence

While discussing the importance of sound and music design, Lozano related an important insight that every retro indie-developer should take to heart.

Each time Nintendo releases a new Zelda title, it is a prestige piece; Something that represents the best of what the company has to offer. Whether gamers grow up on the original Legend of Zelda, Link to the Past, Link’s Awakening, Ocarina of Time, or a remake thereof, those titles come across as novel and cutting age. Nostalgia magnifies those original thrills, and often gains momentum over time. Memory makes them larger than life. When players return to those titles - assuming the hardware is even available - they will inevitably fall short of that first, unexpected playthrough.

Consequently, living up to those fond recollections requires more than a simple recreation. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but refinement is a true mark of reverence. Creators must aspire to improve upon the formulas laid out by their predecessors to offer players something new. For Elementallis, that is where the game’s robust elemental magic system comes in. Fulfilling the role reserved for Link’s tools in the Zelda series, each element has multiple uses, and their effects can synergize with other elements to yield new tactical combinations.

Puzzling Dungeons

The merits of the Zelda franchise runs much deeper than having cool items to play with. Each installment, from Breath of the Wild to the Link’s very first outing, boast some of the most challenging and satisfying puzzles in video games. Lozano knows that replicating that success is no trivial matter.

All gameplay benefits from iteration informed by multiple players’ perspectives, but it is impossible for a single person to playtest an original puzzle they develop. Knowing how something is supposed to be solved often blinds developers to other potential solutions and loopholes, to say nothing of friction points that could lead to frustration.

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Lozano believes that one shortcoming of modern games, compared to classic titles, is an over-reliance on tutorialization as opposed to organic discovery. In the case of puzzles, that means a lot of experimentation. But knowing just how much hand-holding is necessary can be a very difficult balancing act.

Creative Elemental Combat

Zelda games are also known for challenging-but-fair combat, and Lozano wants to bring several improvements to that aspect of the formula. The foundations are still the same as Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and Game Boy Zelda titles, featuring a sword, shield, and armor. But the enemies in the game will take advantage of better AI techniques for attacking and positioning, so the hero cannot simply mash to achieve victory. Variety is the other spice that will enrich the formula. Being able to switch between magical elements on the fly will allow for combinations like shocking enemies standing in pools of water.

While Nintendo’s Zelda remakes are usually stellar, gamers hoping to re-experience the magic of early, top-down Zelda titles should keep a close eye on Elementallis. It is shaping up to be a genuine spiritual successor to the storied franchise.

Elementallis is projected to release in June 2022 on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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