LONG GONE DAYS
DEVELOPER: This I Dreamt
RELEASE DATE: October 10th, 2023
PLATFORMS: Nintendo Switch, PC, Playstation, Xbox (TBA)
Long Gone Days is a modern RPG developed by This I Dreamt Studios, addressing the complexities and implications of war. It also delves into present-day conflicts and the challenges of language barriers. Both myself and Sam Hipp took note of this game, thanks to its compelling description and the embargo details we were lucky enough to receive ahead of PAX West this year.
In the game, players will find that their dialogue choices significantly impact the gameplay. These decisions not only influence team morale but also the game’s progression. Players assume the role of Rourke, a rookie on his first mission. As he ventures beyond The Core, he’s confronted with some unsettling revelations about his assignment and the overarching war. For RPG fans who appreciate unique elements, Long Gone Days introduces features like the Sniper Mode and does away with random encounters (which is honestly a huge highlight for me).
Visually, Long Gone Days has an art style reminiscent of a hip cyberpunk manga, especially in its cutscenes and character designs. However, the in-game graphics and character movements are more simple. It is refreshing to see a game this dark that you can actually see, as the graphics aren’t too darkened to make out. The characters all have their own personality and cute poses that add depth to the overall team dynamic.
The embargo on Long Gone Days was officially released at PAX West this year. While its console release specifics are still being worked out, the publisher, Serenity Forge, is hopeful for a 2023 launch. It’s currently in early access on Steam for those eager to get a feel. Wishlist this game to follow This I Drempt Studios’ progress on the game!
Editorial by Sarah Raens
Sam: Thank you for joining me. One more time, what's your name?
Zhengua: My name is Zhengua. I'm the founder and executive director at Serenity Forge.
Sam: Awesome. Yeah, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us.
Zhengua: Absolutely.
Sam: We're here at PAX 2023 with Serenity Forge. And yeah, we have the game in front of us here. Yeah, what is the game we have today?
Zhengua: Yeah, the game is Long Gone Days; it’s actually a JRPG about a war and the damage that has all through the world.
Sam: Interesting. Okay, yeah, and this has an interesting mechanic with language, actually.
Zhengua: Yeah.
Sam: Could you maybe describe what the mechanic is?
Zhengua: Yeah, absolutely. So, in the game, it's a very narrative-driven game. So, in the game, you play as characters that are mostly English speakers who are basically traveling; that’s a good way to put it, but basically fleeing through different countries in Europe. And as you keep on going from country to country, you're going to come across other characters who don't speak English. So, in the game, you're kind of exposed to a lot of different languages as you go to different areas. And in order for you to understand what is going on, in order for you to meet new people and to talk to them, you're going to have to find people who also speak English who can help you translate. So really, the game has this language mechanic that's very similar, or almost a representation of what it’s like in life: where we travel, and kind of need a friend, or a teacher, or something.
Sam: Yeah, it’s quite — I don't think I played a game like that before. Were there any inspiration, anything standing out that kind of like, led to this development?
Zhengua: Yeah, I mean a lot of it really had to do with real-life experiences. I mean, anyone who travels outside of the United States knows that not everyone in the world speaks English, right? I'm sure you can go to Canada, maybe some people do, but ultimately if you go to Europe, you go to Asia, you go to South America, you realize that every country has their own language, their own culture, and a lot of times you can't just get around, and that’s what it is. I feel like this is kind of an ignored thing in a lot of media. Everyone speaks English, the robots are perfectly fluent, or you go to some foreign countries where everything is fine. But we want it to really show you the nuance of travel. Letting yourself get immersed in the culture and just realizing that you're actually foreign — you know, take you through the process of learning what it really is.
Sam: Yeah, that’s true, yeah. I mean, I personally have lived in different countries. I know what you're talking about.
Zhengua: Yeah, exactly.
Sam: And so when is this game coming out? Is this game coming out soon? Or is it going to be a while?
Zhengua: Yeah, so Long Gone Days is launching across all platforms on October 10th.
Sam: The 10th?
Zhengua: Yeah. So very soon.
Sam: Yeah, it's just next month!
Zhengua: Yeah, exactly.
Sam: Nice. Okay, and are there any, like, I guess, what are you excited about for this game? What excites you in this game?
Zhengua: Yeah, I mean, I feel like what's really exciting to me is the fact that this is a JRPG. It takes a very traditional formula, tested formula, but it kind of puts it in a setting where people get a sense of help. It's a game that has a lot of commentary, it's a game that basically shows you the detriments of war and the pain it inflicts on us civilians. It helps you emphasize with all sorts of perspectives in a situation like that. I mean, there are moments where you are, you know, gaining some mechanics and trying to get a handle on the system, but then you realize the whole narrative wrapper around that and what it's going on and what you need to do. And really, you know, in a lot of JRPGs, you tend to be a hero that kind of goes out and saves the world. But in this game, you think about the world more like it’s wartime, and you just want to buy. Sometimes, you realize that your party members are not magicians, but they’re just elementary school teachers who are trying to do their best for the people. And that's what I'm really excited for — to take a genre that’s really tested, but then slap a coat of paint that is relevant, that is fresh, and that is unique to what we’ve been doing over the past years.
Sam: Yeah, that's certainly true. Yeah, and one thing I've been wondering, so there are a number of languages you can use. Are they real-world languages, or are they kind of made up?
Zhengua: They're real-world languages. They're real-world countries that you go to. So everything here is made of the real-world. So you go across Russia… and then you'll get to see more down the road.
Sam: Interesting. Yeah, and so, being that these are real languages, if someone spoke that language, does it switch things up? Like for example, I speak Japanese, and so if, like, will the Japanese part come in at the same time every time you play?
Zhengua: Yeah, yeah. The idea is that you can perhaps speak that language as a player, right? But the game is not about the player, right? Like, Rourke, the main character of the game, it’s his journey and he doesn't speak that language. It might be true that you kind of sit there and understand what's going on, but he doesn't. You know, for the players that speak all the languages, I think it's going to be a different type of learning experience. And ultimately, there are so many languages involved that, you know, I would love to, you know, I think it'll be a really fun experience if someone speaks a lot of this, and realizing and to see it from this perspective.
Sam: Interesting. And taking a step back, you know, as the president of the company, and as the president of a game publisher — so we have a variety of games here, I remember last year I was here at PAX and I tried… I think it was the Arcadian…
Zhengua: Arcadian Atlas.
Sam: Yeah, yeah! Okay, for those of you who don't know, it's a turned-based strategy game. It's really fun, you definitely should check it out. And so, like, as the president of a publisher, what do you look for in games that you take on?
Zhengua: Yeah, absolutely. Serenity Forge has a very focused mission that is, we want to create meaningful and emotionally impactful games that challenge the player. So, these games that we look for, there are generally very much games that kind of push greater meaning on society, on to its players. And these are games that are also doing it in a way that has a strong emotional impact. Something that’s very engaging, something where people can grasp that timeless feeling of humanity. You know, our games tend to really challenge the way that you think about our world, our society, each other, ourselves. So, people don’t spend too much time playing our games — is not like a multiplayer online game where you're playing it all the time — but, even though you only finish the game in a few hours, you are probably going to carry these stories and these characters, with you for the rest of your life. That's really kind of the games that we look for.
Sam: Interesting. Okay, and so for the indie developers — because not only do we have players in our audience, we have developers with us — what would you tell a developer who may be looking into submitting a game to you?
Zhengua: Yeah, for us, ironically, we care about the lore, the story, the narrative, first and foremost. We want to make sure that the narrative of the game really stands on its own, with or without the mechanics. A lot of our games, honestly, for example, Doki Doki Literature Club, it's a visual novel that has unique elements to it and mechanically, it's pretty straightforward. But the story, the way it's delivered, the subversive nature, and the commentary about invisibility, of depression, of mental health: these are the things that we really care about. So, generally, when we look for games, we want to understand why they're making this game and what is this game doing for our world, and how is this game going to create a meaningful impact on the people who step into it.
Sam: Yeah, well said. I couldn’t have said — like, that’s such a great description of it. I love it.
Zhengua: Yeah.
Sam: So, is there anything else you'd like people to know about either Long Gone Days or Serenity Forge in general?
Zhengua: Yeah, I mean, I think the thing for people who are making games, or people who are playing games even, is that a lot of us, we vote, you know, individuals vote with their money and their time. Right? And if you are someone who wants to see more meaningful games, if you're someone who wants to see more sophistication in the products that publishers are creating, then go do it. You know, either go make your own meaningful game, pick up, you know, Unity, and start programming (and it’s easier now than ever). Or you just go out there and buy them, and support these narrative-driven games. Games like Citizenship Sleeper, or I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, or IMMORTALITY, or these narrative-focused titles that really drive the world forward. The more that we support them across the board, the more you’re going to see of them as well. So I highly recommend people giving these games a chance and seeing what you can find in them.
Sam: Awesome. Yeah, thank you so much for taking the time.
Zhengua: Yeah.
Sam: Yeah, go check out Long Gone Days, go check out Serenity Forge. They have so many cool games here and just in general. So, thank you so much.
Zhengua: Yeah, absolutely. Thank you very much for talking to me.
