“Life and death” and “karmic reincarnation” are spun in a psychedelic world – Interview with the developer of Metroidvania “ULTROS”

Mr. Pelle Cahndlerby (hereinafter referred to as Pelle): Hello. My name is Pelle Cahndlerby and I am a writer, poet, and narrative designer for ULTROS. She is currently enjoying Kentucky Route Zero and Disco Elysium. Both have a good blend of mythological lore and realism. I also really like implicit dialogue.

–How did the development of this work begin?

Pelle: Many years ago, I was out for a midnight walk with my friend Niklas Åkerblad (El Huervo). At that time, we talked about life, psychology, and philosophical matters. He shared his thoughts on “a powerful demon that cannot be defeated by violence.” Because you can’t defeat the devil with violence, you need to stay calm and not be passive-aggressive and get through it.

We talked about this idea and I told him my thoughts and ideas as a poet. A few years later, when El Huervo started making games based on his vision, he said to me, “It’s time to bring your spirit to this project.”

–Please tell us about the features of this work.

Pelle: ULTROS has a unique blend of elegant close combat and cosmic gardening. When you enter Sarcophagus, the drifting space station where the devil sleeps, many insect-like creatures will appear. It’s good to wield a sword there, but it’s also good to plant seeds and take care of nature.

As you begin your journey, you will discover a rich world filled with colorful plants and strange trees. Only by growing a variety of plants can we uncover the true mystery of Sarcophagus.

The game progresses through a loop, a cycle of karma. This loop takes you (the player) deep into Sarcophagus, but also into yourself.

–What kind of people do you want to play this game?

Pelle: First of all, there are players who appreciate a well-made Metroidvania. And for anyone who wants to open their minds to completely new shapes and colors, who want to experience the karmic cycle of life, and who want to feel a true connection with nature.

–Are there any works that influenced this work?

Pelle: Personally, I love David Lynch’s work. Inspired by the way he creates mood, I wanted to give the player poetic snippets of information that would slowly make them dream, without revealing too much mystery.

Among others, we know that Niklas (El Huervo) was inspired by the French artist Möbius and the German biologist Ernst Haeckel’s microscopic encyclopedia .

–I feel that “karma” is an important concept in “ULTROS”. May I ask you about this “karma”?

Pelle: As humans, we are all interconnected. We are part of nature and part of a larger whole. Therefore, if I harm you, I am also harming myself. And if we harm the planet, it spills over to all of us.

What we give and how we respond to situations influences our karmic cycle itself.

In ULTROS, when you release your demons into the world, do you want them to wreak havoc and cause mayhem and destruction, or do you want them to tear down old and outdated structures and beliefs so that you can build something good that will benefit us all? You will be forced to choose whether to do so or not.

――In game design, “selection” has a pretty big meaning. What choices did you make during the development process for ULTROS?

Pelle: It was essential for us as developers to treat the game as a work of art while also creating a solid gaming experience. We had to pay the same amount of attention and love to the mechanics of the game itself (combat movements, character control, gardening elements, etc.).

We wanted the game to stand on its own technically, rather than relying solely on art style to pique people’s interest. The choice to intersperse a Metroidvania with a roguelike was born out of our belief that this is the best way to present our message, creativity, and love for our games to our players.

――Please let us know if there are any points to be careful about regarding the video distribution of this work and the associated monetization.

Pelle: There’s nothing wrong with that!

–Finally, please give a message to our readers.

Pelle: Dear Earthlings and aliens in Japan, I send greetings from Sweden, a cold northern kingdom full of strange and wonderful dreams. I visited Japan many years ago and hope to return to that beautiful country someday.