Only a few games that take almost a decade to create actually garner spectacular reviews. That's why it came as a surprise when D-Pad Studio's "Owlboy," which was released this November 1, earned critical praise from gamers. The D-Pad Studio game defies expectations despite its nine-year long development that made gamers think it would eventually flop.
"Owlboy" follows the owl-human hybrid Otus in the land of the sky, where he's tasked to protect his village from pirates that threaten their safety. Throughout the D-Pad Studio game, Otus earns allies that have a unique set of skills and weapons. In the world of 3D and advanced gaming technology, "Owlboy" has managed to turn pixel art into new gaming medium, and that's why the D-Pad Studio game defies expectations.
D-Pad co-founder and art director Simon Andersen spoke with the Guardian to shed light on the success of "Owlboy," and he had some interesting things to say about it. He explained that in the early stages of "Owlboy" development, pixel art was viewed as something "outdated" instead of an "art medium." "Owlboy" has managed to turn pixel art into a new gaming medium that marries adventure and nostalgia into one awesome package.
Andersen explained that it was their goal since the beginning to showcase pixel art's strength as a new gaming medium. Thus came "Owlboy," which now defies expectations among gamers. He admitted that it was a tedious process, as the whole game was created "pixel by pixel." He added that because of the painstakingly intricate process, only the dedicated would be able to pull off something like this.
Gamasutra also spoke with the makers of "Owlboy," admitting that the long process gave them even more material to reinvent "the mythos and lore of 'Owlboy.'" The D-Pad studio game defies expectations and is out now on Windows PC. Check out the trailer below.
