In a recent interview, Artiom Komarov, co-founder of Hilltop Studios, discussed his upcoming game Lil’ Guardsman. Lil’ Guardsman is a cozy fantasy title with Papers, Please-inspired mechanics. While the concept of a time-altering gate guard sim might evoke memories of the unforgiving bureaucracy of Papers, Please, Komarov assures players that Lil’ Guardsman will be a more forgiving experience.
According to the interview, one key difference lies in the rewind mechanic. Unlike Papers, Please, where mistakes could have dire consequences, Lil’ Guardsman’s “Chronometer3000” allows players to rewind time and experiment generously with different choices. While there is a limit to rewinds, running out simply sends players back to the beginning of the current guard shift, avoiding harsh penalties.
“The rewind mechanic is not unlimited. It’s generous, to encourage experimentation, but not unlimited. But worst case, for the player who wants to try absolutely everything – if you use up the allotted rewinds, you can go back to the beginning of the guard shift level freely, which is not too much backtracking. In terms of the story outcomes of rewinding too much, you’ll just have to play the game to find out.”
Artiom Komarov
Komarov further emphasizes the “cozy” aspect of Lil’ Guardsman. Although the game tackles mature themes and features some dark humor, the overall tone is intended to be lighthearted and non-violent. The developers encourage players to take their time, explore the world, and even embrace a “chaos run” playthrough where they intentionally mess with the quirky characters.
Lil’ Guardsman looks like it will appeal to a much larger player base than Papers, Please. To be honest, I liked the gameplay of Papers, Please, but the story kind of has a bad ending no matter what. It’s hard to like a game that doesn’t reward you in the end. I understand the argument for realism, but at the end of the day, it’s a game.
The decision to deliver a unique blend of Papers, Please, but with more comedy and comfort is smart. Players who enjoyed the strategic challenge of Papers, Please but found its tension overwhelming can look forward to a more forgiving experience in Lil’ Guardsman, while still reaping the rewards of impactful choices and branching narratives.
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