It started with a love triangle…
Then a big bang.
Now that the universe is expanding, so is Feral Cat Den’s catalog! We are pleased to announce this Nirvana Noir; the sequel to the acclaimed indie Genesis Noir.
With a stunning art style and a jazzy, addictive soundtrack, Genesis Noir stole our hearts when it launched in 2021. Nirvana Noir brings color to the beautiful, expanding noir universe and offers even more jazzy tunes to enjoy. To share more about the sequel, we asked Evan Anthony, creative lead at Feral Cat Den, to shed some color on the origin story and how it relates to the original Genesis Noir Story.
How does Nirvana Noir expand the Genesis Noir universe?
Evan: Genesis Noir tells the story of the Big Bang: the birth of our universe, but also a shot fired in the heat of a cosmic love triangle. The player explores this universe from the first moments of creation, to the emergence of life in the ancient seas, the history and future of humanity, to the very last explosive moments of the Big Bang. Genesis Noir tells a story through the past, present and future of our universe, but only briefly introduces the cosmic city where that Big Bang was fired. After completion Genesis Noirwe had so many questions about this city!
What’s it like to live in a city where one shot can create the entire universe? What is it like to walk the streets, what can you find in a dark alley, what laws apply in this place?
What other characters might live in this strange world? What are they like, who do they love, what conflicts do they get into?
Nirvana Noir explores all of these questions. While the streets of our home seem endless in New York City, a metaphysical metropolis where the imagination embodies the unknown in steel beams, stomping feet and rowdy crowds and alleys full of star bodies, this seems unimaginably larger! To expand the universe Genesis Noir was an exciting creative and technical challenge for our team and we are excited to see where it takes us.
What role does the soundtrack play in Nirvana Noir and is it as prominent as in Genesis Noir?
Evan: The soundtrack plays a similar role to the first game, definitely being prominent, interactive and “sound-toy-y”. It’s like a character who plays a supporting role but then comes to the fore in different ways, sometimes quite unexpectedly. And like the first game, there are moments where the characters hold various instruments and play music. We’re very lucky to be working on a game that draws attention to music in this way.
How does Nirvana Noir differ from Genesis Noir in game mechanics? Is there anything new players can expect?
Evan: We are still very interested in the tactile interactions, generative art, simple puzzles and musical toys that we featured Genesis Noirbut with Nirvana Noir We’re building in a broader storyline, a larger environment to explore, and dialogue interactions.
While in Genesis NoirThe player went through individual levels with tailored interactions and settings. Nirvana Noir tells a story of conspiracies and intrigues woven throughout the city. Players will see how the different areas and characters of this cosmic city change as the story progresses.
Players can expect a new dimension of gameplay through dialogue-based interaction, offering fun and tailored ways to interact with text. Players cut up words, throw them around, dodge and break blocks of text, and find truths hidden in word bubbles.
What inspired you to add color to the clearly recognizable and deliberately black and white noir universe?
Evan: At the beginning Genesis Noir During development, we imagined the entire game in black and white. But as we immersed ourselves in the world and watched the characters take on a life of their own, we realized that the game’s themes tempted us (spoiler) to introduce color in the final act. Introducing vibrant colors to the player after spending so much time in a world of black and white created an unforgettable moment – No Man’s first and last decision in the game. Live a life of color and crime or enter the monochromatic darkness.
This decision was made at both ends of Genesis Noir, and we were intrigued by the idea that both endings could be canon. Perhaps No Man chose the impossible and was split into two realities. A world, its city drenched in rain and moonlit shadows, in the style of classic film noirs of the 1940s and 1950s like The Third Man. The other is a world of psychedelic colors vibrating under the hot sun of 1960s/70s neo-noir films like The Long Goodbye.
The contrast of these two palettes opened up many creative possibilities for us. We also discovered that we miss working with paint!
Were there any particular songs or artists that inspired the game’s music or style?
Evan: The new period setting of the 60s/70s inspired timeline allowed us to immerse ourselves in a really exciting time in pop music. While there are various strands of psychedelic pop music at play in the score, we’ve found that some of the darker material from this period best reinforces the mystery that No Man finds itself entangled in: The Doors, Velvet Underground, Love, Jefferson Airplane, a A few pieces by Pink Floyd and Silver Apples are some of the artists we drew from. There are some more obscure references in there too, but we actually find the more well-known artists to be more useful for looking for period/genre tropes that resonate with the theme.
For the 1940s/50s timeline, we go back to create a contrast to the colorful 1960s timeline. In the first game we explored jazz influences that stretched back to the 70s as No Man made his journey across the universe. In Nirvana NoirNo Man spends a lot more time roaming the streets and doing some good old fashioned detective work, so we’re delving deeper into classic film noir soundtracks than before Genesis Noir. Bernard Hermann and Jerry Goldsmith are constant inspirations.
What should players look forward to most in Nirvana Noir?
Evan: Players should be excited to meet new characters in a plot full of intrigue and mystery, culminating in a psychedelic climax. Explosions and arson! Drugs and drama! Lovers and corrupt cops! An exploration of the cosmic and metaphysical wrapped in a rough pulp exterior.
You should also prepare for exciting interactions with the incredible music of IGF winner Skillbard, all in a city of eternal fantasy. So buckle up, hit the streets and embrace the Big Bang!