We’re working on a review for Niffleheim, so I got in touch with Ellada Games to talk a bit about the game. Come check it out!
PS4Blog: Good afternoon! Welcome to PS4Blog.net. Could you please help us get started by telling our readers a bit about yourself and your work?
Thank you for your time. I’m Andrey Arutyunyan, and I’m the CEO of Ellada Games. Ellada is both a developer and publisher of games, and we’re a family-owned company. The title most people would know us for is Niffelheim, though we’ve also published titles including The Tiny Bang Story and Braveleand Trilogy (on Nintendo Switch).
PS4B: Niffelheim is on its way to the PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo Switch. How would you describe the game to someone who’s never heard about it?
Niffelheim is a mix of adventure, exploration, and survival in a Norse-themed fantasy world. The story follows that of a Viking (you), that died in glorious battle, yet for some reason, was denied entry into the halls of Valhalla. You decide to force your way in, and by finding the pieces to a magic portal, you can do just that.
In the game, you explore the overworld, collecting resources, crafting the tools, buildings, weapons, food and other items you need to bolster your explorations into the underworld. While the overworld is certainly dangerous, the underworld dungeons are far worse, as they are filled with all types of monstrous horrors.
Our art style is meant to resemble what you’d see in an old fashioned picturebook, where the images are cut-outs that can actually move. This gives Niffelheim a very distinct look and feel, making it less about monster-hunting action, and more about just exploring and enjoying the world.
PS4B: How long did it take the team to develop the game? Where there any considerable changes between the original concept phase and the final version of the game?
It took more than three years. We started development with just two people, and finished it with a six-person team. I think 50% of the concept changed during development – for example, we switched from a very story-driven game to a more open action game.
PS4B: Are you considering releasing additional content for Niffelheim by way of DLC?
We add content usually 2-3 times per year in the main game on PC, and we hope that we can do DLC as well.
PS4B: And that’s all the time we have for today. Is there something else you’d like to add before we go?
Thank you again for your time, and for allowing me to chat about the game. If there’s one thing I want to say about the game, it’s “try it,” as it’s so much more than you might think. It’s also been called “a zen adventure,” as you’re not constantly fighting monsters, so you can just relax as you gather and craft, and when the time’s right, go explore the dungeons and kill some monsters.
