Delving into Zoe and the Elusive lifestyle
As we announced at the beginning of the year, Chibig is primarily focused on the development of Elusive, previously shown at Chibig Presents 2022.
Elusive is a metroidvania that combines 3D and 2D gameplay, something uncommon in the genre, and is deeply inspired by the artistry of Studio Ghibli’s The Secret World of Arrietty and The Borrowers.
Following a successful Kickstarter campaign in April, all efforts are now focused on meeting the planned release date of 2027 on Steam (PC), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Teaching and learning through Memories
Our protagonist Zoe is skilled and brave, without a doubt, but she is also young, and that means she still has a lot to learn about her abilities, other Elusive, and the world of Giant People.
Nothing would please developers more than to write lines and lines of text to explain everything about the world and characters they have built, but as players, we are also aware that very few people are willing to stop and read it.
So, since we know we’re here to play, especially when it comes to the Metroidvania genre, we’ll convey all this information, this lore, in small doses to support immersion without interrupting the gameplay too much.
To do this, we’ve created the Memories.
Memories are fragments, collectible objects that we will find while exploring the Giant House and that will tell us more about Zoe’s past, her relationship with her father, and the Elusive lifestyle.
Although we don’t have them all yet, we’re already working on it, so we will use them as an example so you can see what they consist of and enjoy these beautiful sketches.
“Following your steps”
Here we have little Zoe waving goodbye to her father as he sets off on a raid.
She’s still very young, but she already dreams of becoming one herself and exploring the world of the Giant People, full of unimaginable resources and treasures.
The Elusive raiders play a very important role in the society of these tiny beings, as thanks to them they find new places full of opportunities where they can settle and prosper.
Zoe’s father spends a lot of time on these raids and Zoe sometimes feels a bit lonely, but the excitement she feels when he returns home (especially because he always brings her a gift) comforts her.
“Second lives”
Treasures like this tiny button that her father brought back from his last foray, which in the eyes of the Giant People would be an insignificant object, but for Zoe is a real treasure.
The Elusive survive by borrowing many of these objects that the Giant People leave behind or do not value, so they are experts at giving them a second life and making the most of everything they find.
The only drawback is that, due to their small size, they cannot carry too many borrowed items with them, which is why Elusive raiders must constantly risk their lives to support the community.
“You’ll be a shadow”
Luckily, Zoe has her father’s expertise to help her become a true raider, so she started practicing Shadow Dance from a very young age.
Although it looks like a game, these are movements and behaviors that the Elusive have learned from insects and smaller animals to move around the giants’ homes undetected.
An Elusive’s priority is to go unnoticed, but if the strategy goes wrong, they are also prepared to slip away in the fastest and most acrobatic way possible!
There are still many more Memories on the way, so in the coming months we will be sharing more alongside Zoe’s stories and the Elusive lifestyle.
Remember to join the Chibig Discord server to see more exclusive content and share great moments with other players, talk about games, and much more.
Have a good raid!
