Developer MegaPixel Studio is difficult at work on its upcoming remake of Home of the Useless 2. Writer Endlessly Leisure’s advertising and marketing and communications supervisor Monika Ginter was form sufficient to reply a few of our questions on The Home of the Useless 2: Remake, with topics starting from how the general gameplay was translated from arcade machines to regulate, to even sillier issues, like hanging on to the camp of the unique recreation. Ginter additionally spoke to us in regards to the normal response of an viewers to basic video games that they could have by no means seen earlier than. With out additional ado, try the interview beneath.
How a lot of a market are you seeing for remakes of previous light-gun shooters like Home of the Useless?
The remakes of the unique Home of the Useless and Panzer Dragoon clearly confirmed us that there’s sturdy demand within the gaming marketplace for retro remakes, together with on-rail shooters. We’re seeing curiosity not solely from longtime followers who bear in mind the golden days of gaming with nostalgia, but in addition from a youthful viewers that appreciates retro gameplay in a modernized format.
How has the response to bringing again previous video games like this been as regards to followers of the unique and a model new viewers?
This subsequent entry in such a legendary sequence, primarily a reimagining of the unique recreation, has sparked a broad and enthusiastic response from each long-time followers and new gamers discovering The Home of the Useless for the primary time. From the second we introduced the undertaking, we’ve been receiving a gradual stream of messages from individuals eagerly awaiting the discharge. That type of assist is deeply motivating for our crew.
“From the second we introduced the undertaking, we’ve been receiving a gradual stream of messages from individuals eagerly awaiting the discharge.”
How difficult has it been to translate previous light-gun shooter mechanics from Home of the Useless 2 into the remake?
The majority of the technical groundwork was executed throughout growth of the primary remake, which helped us refine the gameplay system and made the method smoother for the sequel. That mentioned, we’re nonetheless repeatedly bettering the management system, which is a crucial factor for any on-rail shooter, and exploring new methods to adapt it for each consoles and PC platforms.
Except for the visible overhaul, will we see any new content material in The Home of the Useless 2: Remake within the type of new bonus missions or mini-games?
Completely. The Home of the Useless 2: Remake builds on the groundwork established by the primary remake, and we’re dedicated to increasing the expertise past only a visible replace. Gamers can anticipate a wide range of new content material, together with further weapons, a broad vary of unlockable achievements, and an expanded in-game gallery. This gallery will showcase enemy varieties, weapons, collectibles, and different components. Whereas we’re staying true to the core on-rails gameplay, we’re additionally trying into new methods to supply additional challenges and layers of replayability that weren’t current within the authentic.
Has it been a problem to maintain a number of the cheesiness of the unique Home of the Useless 2 with the remake?
The early Home of the Useless titles carry a novel type of nostalgia: an over-the-top, campy attraction that outlined that period. We’re doing our greatest to protect that tacky environment within the remake, adapting it to suit the up to date visuals. It’s positively a problem, particularly given how iconic the unique voice performing in The Home of the Useless 2 has change into.
What do you see as being essentially the most difficult a part of Home of the Useless 2 to play, and the way will this carry over into the remake?
The Home of the Useless 2: Remake, like every on-rail shooter, is closely depending on rhythm and pacing. Sustaining a tempo that intently mirrors the unique, whereas integrating it easily with music, cutscenes, and enemy encounters, is a crucial problem. It’s one thing that must be executed exactly.
“The early Home of the Useless titles carry a novel type of nostalgia: an over-the-top, campy attraction that outlined that period.”
As a developer, what are your ideas on the PS5 Professional? How does enhance in GPU assist in creating your recreation in comparison with the bottom PS5?
The elevated GPU energy of the PS5 Professional has definitely been useful, significantly with regards to bringing the Excessive Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP) model of the sport to the console, one thing that was beforehand unique to PC.
What are your ideas on PSSR? What sort of alternatives will this open for the sport?
Any expertise that helps us obtain smoother gameplay is clearly a bonus, and that’s very true for a recreation like The Home of the Useless 2: Remake, the place body pacing and responsiveness are crucial. Whereas we’ve already aimed for prime body charges even with out counting on PSSR, accessing such upscaling strategies provides us further flexibility. It permits us to take care of visible high quality whereas optimizing efficiency, guaranteeing the expertise stays quick and fluid throughout supported {hardware}.
What decision and body charges will the sport goal on PS5, Xbox Collection S, Xbox Collection X, and PS5 Professional?
Our base goal decision throughout all platforms is 1080p, although each normal variations of PS5 and Xbox Collection consoles constantly push nearer to native 4K in follow. When it comes to efficiency, we’re aiming for a secure 60 FPS on the bottom variations of every platform. For PS5 Professional and Xbox Collection X, the sport will assist as much as 120 FPS, providing a good smoother expertise for gamers with suitable shows.