Dragons are some of the most universally loved mythological creatures in storytelling history and remain as ever popular today, appearing in franchises fromDragon AgetoGame of Thronesand more.Criminals Withinis an upcoming third-person, action-adventure game that looks set to feature a whole range of dragons in its medieval fantasy kingdom, but with a unique twist.Criminals Within’s dragons are de-evolved, and what precisely this means sets up an exciting premise for its take on dragons and the beloved magical creature.
Game Rant recently spoke with Space Rock Games' Managing Director, Zsombor Pirok, about what precisely the game’s de-evolved dragons are and explained more about their role. Pirok also shared some new screenshots of the game’s dragons and talked about how theCriminals Withindevelopment team created their designs, including the tiny and adorable-looking pug dragon.
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What Are De-Evolved Dragons In Criminals Within?
As described on Space Rock Games' Twitter account, de-evolved dragons inCriminals Withinare essentially ‘dragons who are bad at being dragons’. However, Pirok spoke more about what this means for the game’s story and setting. Pirok explained how de-evolved dragons are connected tothe decline of magicin the game’s story.
In theCriminals Withinuniverse, powerful dragons called primordial (or prime) dragons used to roam the lands. These are the classicGame of Thrones-sized dragons that you really would not want to mess with. Due to the disappearance of magic, these dragons started to lose their potency, and over the years, they started to become smaller and less aggressive.
Pirok addedCriminals Within’s dragons are often “silly, unintelligent, and sometimes more of a hindrance than a boon to their human keepers.” Some are even kept as pets, while others become “beasts of burden” or roam the wild. An example of a de-evolved dragon is the cute-looking and miniature-sized pug dragon, which looks like the perfect, pet-sized dragon and a fun twist on the portrayals ofdangerous dragons in video gamesand movies. However, as seen in the game’s reveal trailer, not allCriminals Within’s dragons are friendly, with others described by Pirok as “extremely dangerous” that players will have to fight. Even if de-evolved, some dragons are not to be taken lightly, like the trailer’s fierce purple dragon protecting its treasure.
Criminals Within’s Dragon Designs And Their Role In The Game
In addition to the pug dragon, which Pirok confirmed players can pet,Criminals Withinfeatures other types of dragons, such as the Scrap dragon, described on the Studio’s Twitter as “the unwanted guest living in Jarel’s camp, feeding on his items.” Furthermore, Pirok explained how their designs were inspired by real-world animals and suitability stylized, drawing upon the invaluable zoology experience of Concept Artist Simone Giovanardi. However, Pirok said the exact types of dragon interactions are currently undecided. Where somegames let players be a dragonand even ride dragons, it will be interesting to see what dragon interactions Space Rock Games create.
Whether potential friends or foes, Pirok also confirmed dragons are “crucial to the story.” Although no further details were revealed, this sets up an exciting premise for a game involving dragons and using Unreal Engine 5, which may spark interest from fans ofgames likeDragon Age. It could be fascinating to learn Within’s dragons when the game releases, how they impact the story, and what interactions the developers decide.
Criminals Withinis currently in development.
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