Redakcja Choose TV
Classic aerial shooters on arcade cabinets had a unique atmosphere that players who grew up on 1990s titles still remember. The creators of Wild Blue Skies set out to draw on those memories and create a game that reminds you why the on-rails shooter genre was once so popular. Studio Chuhai Labs, however, did not want a straightforward trip down memory lane, so it combined the classic arcade formula with modern visuals and mechanics. The developers talked about how they designed the planes, levels, controls and the game's distinctive visual style. Wild Blue Skies will be released on 13 August for Xbox Series X|S and PC.
The creators of Wild Blue Skies deliberately used constraints
During the production of Wild Blue Skies the team quickly realised that part of the distinctive atmosphere of classic on-rails shooters stemmed from technological constraints. One of the most important examples proved to be draw distance, which initially in the game was decidedly too great. Players could see very distant parts of the world, causing enemies to appear unnaturally and making it hard to achieve the right pace of action. The creators therefore decided to significantly shorten the draw distance, which at first seemed a risky move. The result, however, was very good, because the player's attention was drawn to the events directly in front of them. Enemies began to appear more naturally, and subsequent encounters gained greater dynamism. The developers treated this decision as evidence that limitations are not always an obstacle when creating a game. On the contrary, if used appropriately they can help create a more distinctive experience. The Chuhai Labs team therefore decided to clearly define the project's key assumptions and not attempt to include everything that modern technology allows. This approach was especially important when making a game inspired by arcade machines, where fast action, clarity and immediate response to events are what matter most. The creators emphasise that it was precisely by consciously using constraints that Wild Blue Skies was able to retain the spirit of classic arcade games, rather than become another contemporary title stripped of a clear identity.
Controlling the plane should be simple, but allow for masterful play
During production great attention was also paid to the camera and plane handling. The developers wanted players to feel they had full control of the machine as soon as they started playing. At the same time the controls could not be too complicated, because Wild Blue Skies is primarily intended to be a dynamic arcade game that is easy to pick up. Placing the plane correctly on the screen was another significant challenge. The plane could not obscure the most important events, yet it also had to give the player the sense that they were actually at the controls. Among other techniques the team used dithering, which allows the plane to partially disappear from the image in certain situations. This keeps the screen readable even during the most intense moments. The control system was designed so that the basic mechanics can be mastered in a few minutes, but making perfect use of them takes considerably longer. Dodges can be used not only defensively but also offensively, if the player times the manoeuvre correctly. In missions with greater freedom of flight the brake, meanwhile, allows you to perform a 180-degree turn and end up behind a pursuing enemy. Each of these mechanics was designed to have its own level of mastery. This means a beginner can simply enjoy flying and shooting, while more experienced players can look for ever more effective ways to beat opponents. So Wild Blue Skies is intended to be easy to start but harder to master, which is one of the cornerstones of classic arcade games.
Wild Blue Skies is a nod to the classic 1990s aerial arcade shooters, but the developers did not restrict themselves to a simple recreation of the old formula. Chuhai Labs has used modern technology while deliberately preserving the limitations that help build the right pacing and clarity of gameplay. Intuitive controls, striking animation-inspired visuals and distinctive characters voiced by well-known voice actors also play a major role. The game will debut 13 August on Xbox Series X|S and PC, and thanks to Xbox Play Anywhere progress and achievements will be available on both platforms.
source: xbox
