Interview with the Developer of Oscuro: Blossom’s Glow
I think if I had magical light powers I’d use them for evil, but that’s just because I love a good bit of mischief. How would I use these powers for evil? Waking people up in the dead of night. Shining a light in the middle of a movie theater, that kind of thing. What does this have to do with Oscuro: Blossom’s Glow from developer Hongoneon? Absolutely nothing. I’m digressing majorly here.
A huge thank you to the Oscuro team for answering my questions and creating a truly stunning game that has literally nothing to do with my weird introduction.
Can you tell me about the team behind Oscuro: Blossom’s Glow and how you began working on the game?
The team is made up of three people, two Costa Ricans and one Guatemalan. All three of us graduated from the Digital Animation program in Costa Rica and have worked in the audiovisual industry for five years. We've known each other since university and had previously collaborated on university projects. Two and a half years ago, we reunited to collaborate again on a commercial project, this time on a video game. This way, we combined our skills and acquired some new ones to break into the video game industry. None of us have a background in the video game industry, so this is our first title. To that end, we also created a brand called Hongoneon to publish video games under that brand.
What are some ways players can use Selen’s light ability in the game?
In the game, there are three types of flowers that the player manipulates using Selene's ability. Each flower has a different behavior. With the light from these flowers, the player can manipulate the plants and animals in the environment to help you continue progressing on their journey.
What was the inspiration behind the hand drawn art style of the game?
Our inspiration comes from illustrated storybooks. Illustration is something the three of us are passionate about, so we wanted it to be one of the game's strongest points. We divided the game into small caves, almost like little levels, because we wanted each cave to feel like a small illustration from a storybook.
Can you tell me a little more about the story and what kind of adventure Selene will be going on?
Selene faces a creature that threatens to destabilize her world. As the guardian of the Mother Flower's light, she must act when the Oscuro appears and steals it. On her journey to recover the stolen light, Selene explores her planet and restores the flowers drained by the Oscuro. However, along the way, she uncovers a hidden truth about the Oscuro, a revelation that forces her to make a final choice: to save the Oscuro or let it be lost forever.
What kind of threats will Selene encounter on her journey? Will she also make friends?
Selene will journey through lush environments teeming with plants and creatures, some will aid her path, while others pose a real threat. Though she doesn't form friendships along the way, perhaps she might just turn the Oscuro into one.
If you could have a special ability like Selene’s, what special ability would you choose?
I would love to fly, it would speed up my transportation without machines and I could also enjoy the wind and feel light.
What does “indie” mean to you?
For me, “indie” means a space of opportunity for small teams to create, publish, and exploit their intellectual property.
Oscuro: Blossom’s Glow is available to wishlist on Steam now.