Available since April 2, “Darwin’s Paradox” is the first French Thursday from ZDT Studio. A very small team which was able to draw inspiration from its roots in animated films to design a touching and magnificent interactive work, which wonderfully combines the seventh art and video games.
Shaking up the codes of the platform-adventure game by merging the demands of cinema with the interactivity of video games: the promise is seductive. It is largely based on the atypical career of its creators, from the world of special effects and animation. ZDT Studio is, however, a young video game studio, launched three years ago and which is already releasing its very first game, Darwin’s Paradox. An atypical reconversion that arouses curiosity: can a cinematic sensitivity bring a touch of freshness to the gaming experience?
Darwin’s Paradoxit’s the story of a blue octopus torn from its ocean by an extraterrestrial threat, then stuck in a mysterious industrial complex. He will try to escape while facing a strange alien plot aimed at controlling humanity. A classic starting point, but a game that stands out for its artistic direction.
A crazy life change born from an octopus dream
This octopus was revealed to Mikael Tanguy in a dream 10 years ago. He then worked in special effects, even receiving a César nomination for his work on the film. November. His sidekick Gilles Aujard listens to him and spends an entire night giving shape to the character. The two men abandon their well-established careers in cinema to embark on this crazy video game project, a field in which they have no knowledge at the time. Video gaming expertise will be provided by Cédric Lagarrigue (former boss of Focus Interactive) and Romuald Capron, former director of Arkane Lyon.
We have no idea that, behind the visual beauty of Darwin’s Paradox and the ambitious side of its sets hides in fact a team of only 17 people, coming from different backgrounds. “It’s a kind of little animated Pixar with a real adventure to play,” rejoices Cédric Lagarrigue who even believes that “Darwin’s Paradox rivals productions from much larger studios.
And it’s true that the Unreal Engine allowed the studio to achieve a result that animation specialists like Pixar or Illumination would not deny. The know-how in terms of special effects and animation of some, added to that of video game veterans of others, gives a quite dazzling result. ZDT Studio displays a certain mastery of animation and atmospheres, inherited from cinema, and knows how to play with the fluidity between cinematics and gameplay to reinforce this impression of an “interactive film”.
ZDT Studio has thus designed a marine and terrestrial universe very inspired by the pop culture of the 1950s, its aesthetic between science fiction and the Cold War. One side Mars Attacks! or The Invasion of the Desecrators of Graves which adds a layer to the satirical aspect of the game’s theme (control of the masses by the agri-food industry, defense of the ocean, extraterrestrial attack, conspiracy…).
“We love everything that refers to something a little conspiratorial,” jokes Gilles Aujard, creative director of the studio. “We feed on it to laugh and make jokes.” Even in a silent game that relies heavily on its ambient noises and its atmosphere to carry the narrative, Darwin’s Paradox manages to convey his humor through the adventures of this octopus who only has his attributes to survive (camouflage, swimming, suction cups to climb the wall, ink jet to deceive the enemy…). Darwin does not need to speak for us to understand his distress and his will.
A “good vibe and authentic” game that we wanted to play
If the graphics are impressive, it remained to find a balance with the gameplay. The gameplay is more classic, even if it will still require a little precision in certain sequences. The studio has also decided to renew the mechanics frequently (approximately every 30 minutes in a game that lasts between 6 and 8 hours) to avoid player boredom and surprise. It works quite well, but don’t expect it to be too easy or too difficult. You will have to think about the puzzles, find the best infiltration strategy and overcome the platform aspect in this adventure game without great difficulty and therefore accessible to the whole family.
“It’s a good vibe. Normally, when we come out of the game, we should feel better,” confides Gilles Aujard. “We wanted to make an authentic game, a game that we wanted to play.”
Darwin’s Paradox perfectly responds to the desire of its creators to make “a project that comes from the heart”. This first project gives birth to an unpretentious, accessible “feel good” game, with its charm and dose of humor, adapted to the creativity and size of the team. If you like a challenge, this won’t necessarily be for you, but the pleasure of its beauty makes it a perfect relaxed game. Enough to suggest a huge margin of progress for the continuation of the studio’s adventures.
Naming the game like that is not trivial. It refers to Darwin’s paradox, an enigma of marine ecology and an evocation of adaptation and the singularity of living things. A metaphor that is ultimately quite relevant for this studio in full transition between two industries, but already a favorite of Konami. The Japanese publisher spotted the game very early on and jumped in to support it throughout this first experience. A dubbing in the form of first recognition.
DARWIN’S PARADOX – Disponible sur PS5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch 2 et PC.
