Rebel Wolves’ Konrad Tomaszkiewicz Addresses Future of Time Mechanic in The Blood of Dawnwalker
- Konrad Tomaszkiewicz discusses the uncertain future of the time mechanic in potential sequels to The Blood of Dawnwalker.
- The mechanic allows players 30 days to rescue their family, but has received mixed reactions from players.
- Tomaszkiewicz emphasizes open-mindedness towards exploring new ideas within the RPG genre.
Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, director of The Blood of Dawnwalker, shared insights about the game’s time mechanic during a recent interview, clarifying that its presence in potential sequels is not guaranteed. The mechanic grants players a limited timeframe to save their family, imposing a time-cost on quests and significant actions.
In the interview, Tomaszkiewicz was asked about the centrality of the time mechanic to Dawnwalker’s identity as a series. While developer Rebel Wolves has expressed intentions to create more titles, Tomaszkiewicz stated uncertainty regarding the future use of the time mechanic.
“We didn’t decide it, to be honest,” he explained. “We will play with it. If we have parts of the story to which it fits, then we will use it. If we have stories where it does not fit, we will not force it.” He also mentioned that they are exploring other innovative concepts to enhance the RPG genre.
The time mechanic allows players a total of 30 days and nights to rescue their family from Brencis, the game’s vampire antagonist. The time gauge progresses when quests are completed or skills are upgraded. However, players must actively manage time advancements rather than it depleting passively while exploring or battling various enemies.
“The arguments of ‘I want to see everything in one playthrough’ I understand, but it’s false to begin with…” Konrad Tomaszkiewicz
Despite being a unique aspect of the game, the time mechanic has stirred a divisive reception, with some RPG players expressing an aversion to the pressure it places on gameplay. Many players prefer the option to fully explore the game in a single playthrough. In response to the controversy, Tomaszkiewicz acknowledged that there are vocal groups both supporting and opposing the mechanic.
“There are a lot of complaints about the time mechanics,” he noted, adding that player feedback indicates differing perspectives. He highlighted a balance in the design, suggesting that players can complete approximately 80% of the content without feeling rushed. Yet, he recognized the completionist mindset among some players who seek to experience every aspect of the game in one go.
Tomaszkiewicz reiterated his awareness of the strong opinions regarding the time mechanic, admitting it had been a contentious topic since the game’s release. However, he mentioned a decrease in complaints as more players have completed the game, noting that many have found they have more time than initially perceived.
I reviewed The Blood of Dawnwalker for Eurogamer, and while I found value in the time mechanic, I also had some reservations about its implementation. Further discussion on this topic will be explored in a complete interview with Tomaszkiewicz to be published on Eurogamer soon.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
