Announced a month ago during the first IGN Live, the remaster of “The Thing”, the 2002 video game based on Carpenter's cult film from 1982) should arrive sometime in 2024 on Nintendo Switch.
During an interview with Nightdive Studios given to the NintendoLife website, the developers assured that they would add the possibility of being able to play with the gyroscope on Nintendo Switch as well as improve the handling and the general atmosphere of the game.
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Here is the translated interview that the studio gave to the site:
Larry Kuperman: First of all, we are all fans of the classic movie as well as the game itself. Remember, the game was originally released in 2002; we found the game to be brilliant, but flawed in the sense that the original developers pushed it as far as the technology of the time would allow. Now, with modern gaming systems, we have a chance to realize their vision.
Stephen Kick: I've always been a huge horror fan and when the game came out I played it from day one. It was the first licensed game that respected the legacy of the film, and the fact that it was an officially canon sequel made it incredibly special. The Thing is a title I've wanted to remaster since the inception of Nightdive and I'm honored that we have the opportunity to introduce a new generation of fans to this incredible game.
Nightdive has already handled several major licenses, but The Thing is arguably one of the most revered horror franchises of all time. How does it feel to be taking the reins on this project?
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Larry: I think “reverence” is exactly the right word. It's both really exciting and a little terrifying at the same time.
Stephen: I have the legendary poster of The Thing by Drew Struzan hanging outside my office. It seems surreal to be working on this property, but it speaks volumes about how far Nightdive has come to deliver some of the best remastered experiences. I couldn’t be more proud of what our team has accomplished. My only hope is that fans of the game and the film love what we deliver.
The original title was published by Vivendi's Black Label Games on PC and by Konami on consoles – was it difficult to secure the rights to work on this project?
Larry: I can't comment on the specifics of the deal, but fans should know that we've been working for several years to secure the rights to this game.
How important was it to have Mark Atkinson, one of the original directors, there to help? What kind of information did he provide? Did other members of the original team help?
Larry: Absolutely! Ron Ashtiani was the first of the old guys to join us on this project, and it was Ron who introduced us to Mark. Ron and Mark work directly with our team on a daily basis. They were instrumental in helping us understand the vision of the original game, telling us things they would have changed or improved if they had the technology and time.
Besides the visuals, can you talk about other improvements made to the game?
Larry: I can't really go into detail, both because we want to surprise fans and because the game is still in development. But fans should expect significant improvements in gameplay quality while remaining very faithful to the original vision. As always, our goal is to give fans a remaster that “plays like you remember it” but a little better.
Stephen: One thing I will mention is that lighting is getting a massive overhaul. The Thing was a terrifying cinematic experience, and we're taking a close look at the film and its lighting to bring that same atmosphere into the game.
What kind of challenges did you encounter with this project? Did you encounter any difficulties that you may not have encountered with previous games?
Larry: I wouldn't consider it a “difficulty” but thanks to Ron and Mark we've been given a huge amount of original assets and materials. Some of it is used in the game itself. The rest we're trying to decide how best to preserve. It's a good challenge to have.
Your games will have great appeal to older audiences who may have played the original, but how will you attract new fans with it? The Thing: Remastered ?
Larry: The fans' reaction to our announcement The Thing has been spectacular and has expanded far beyond the players who played the original. Fans of the film and horror films in general, people who might not be interested in games, are the largest new segment of our audience. Looking at the number of views of the trailer, along with other factors, shows us that this title will have mainstream appeal.
We know you're aiming for 4K resolution and 144fps performance, but what can you tell us about the Switch version specifically? Will the performance be similar to previous versions like PO'ed And Dark Forces ?
Larry: Yes, The Thing will have all the performance improvements fans have come to expect from Nightdive titles. The Switch will also receive the gyroscope for aiming.
Many Nightdive games offer options for a more “retro” look that might appeal to fans of the original title. Is this the case with The Thing ?
Stephen: With this specific title, due to the complexity of the assets, there will be no option to switch between the original and remastered visuals.
Finally, do you have any beloved horror movies or TV series that you think would translate well to video games?
Stephen: Personally, I would like to see the film. Mandy adapted into a game, but as a sequel, in the same way as the game The Thing has been adapted. Something about controlling Nicolas Cage in third-person view, as he fights demons and new-age cultists with chainsaws and that huge axe, excites me.
I would also like to see Annihilation get some kind of adaptation – it’s basically a modern version of The Colour Out of Space by HP Lovecraft, but better suited for a game. Play as a team of explorers with different disciplines immersed in an ever-changing environment full of wonders and horrors. Coincidentally, there was a film adaptation of the original story starring Nicolas Cage, so one way or another, we'll get Nicolas Cage in a horror game!
You can find the original interview on the NintendoLife website by simply clicking here.