[Entrevista] The Mato Anomalies team tells us about its development and influences

Mato Anomalies is a very interesting role-playing game developed in China and coming to Nintendo Switch this month. To celebrate its arrival on the console, we have spoken with its development team. More specifically, with Zane Xuhe Product Manager y Lead Narrative Designer of the game, who has told us many very interesting things. In addition, it should be noted that we have already been able to test the title thanks to a preliminary version computer, and the truth is that it promises a lot!

we leave you with the interview together with some of our impressions about the game:

Mato Anomalies Interview

The art style of Mato Anomalies is impressive, what were your biggest inspirations when creating it?

During the concept phase, we took a lot of inspiration from sci-fi manga and anime like BLAME! by Tsutomu Nihei, Evangelion by Hideaki Anno, and the Kamen Rider series. Later in production, we took a lot of cues from neon-noir movies, like The Neon Demon, Blade Runner and Black Coal, Thin Ice.

What do you think makes Mato Anomalies different from other games in the genre?

The most notable part is its distinctive art style, but there are more factors that set this game apart from other JRPGs. As for the narrative, instead of focusing on the usual heroic stories, Mato Anomalies presents more individual struggles and growth and deeper representations of social problems and conflicts. The gameplay also takes different directions by emphasizing team HP and character equipment.

The video game industry in Shanghai has always seemed particularly interesting to us. What would you say are its main peculiarities compared to other markets?

There has been a somewhat common view that developers in Shanghai pay more attention to uniqueness of art and quality of game features, while studios in other regions pay more attention to market trends and focused features. in income. I think both approaches have their pros and cons. [risas].

What have been the biggest difficulties when creating a game like this?

This is our first title to launch simultaneously across all platforms, so the development schedule has been tight, especially as we approach beta and final release. Last year, due to the combined workload of the platforms and early feedback, we had to delay the release by 6 months. But the good part is that everyone has learned a lot in the process, and the game received additional optimizations. The other major hurdles were hiring experienced console developers in a competitive market like Shanghai, and the pandemic only made the situation worse.

Similarly, what aspect of the game are you most proud of?

My favorite aspects are the story and the art, as they speak to the unique soul of this game and broaden the spectrum of the genre. As for the features, I would like to nominate the Mind/Hack card game, which offers quite a number of themed challenges in a creative way.

We have noticed some references to movies like Blade Runner, what inspired you the most when creating the game world?

One of the main charms of neon-noir films is their deep, cold feel. We cannot avoid continuing to reflect on issues and questions that go beyond our daily problems. Our goal was to introduce a few touches of that feeling into this game.

If you had the chance to work on a new game from an already established IP, what would you want it to be?

I think making a single player game based on The Mandalorian would be interesting, and a new game for Full Metal Panic! It’s also high on my wish list.

After the release of Mato Anomalies, we know that you are working on other projects, could you tell us more about them?

Yes, we are working on the concept of a cross-platform tactical title based on a world-class cyberpunk IP that includes infiltration, unit combat, and narrative elements. Meanwhile, a development plan is being prepared for a new virtual reality game that will be enjoyed by gamers who love music and partying.

Thanks for your time!

Mato Anomalies this one arrives March 10th to Nintendo Switch and other platforms in both Physical format as in digital format, as you prefer! If you like the role playing games cyberpunk themed, Do not miss it!