Craving for pistachio ice cream and bean stew, we decided to learn more about the new game dedicated to one of cinema’s most beloved couples, especially in Italy and Germany, set to slap us after a successful Kickstarter campaign. Screens in 2023, whether on PC or console.
To be precise, we have Interviewed by Manuel LabbateHe is the co-founder, art director and lead artist of the Trinity Team studio he is bringing to life. Bud Spencer & Terence Hill – Slap and Beans 2. Let’s read what he told us.
Meeting
Bud Spencer & Terence Hill – Slaps And Beans 2 went through Kickstarter like the first episode, how do you relate to bottom-up funding? Do you think this is the best way to stay independent and play the game you want?
For Slaps and Beans, Kickstarter crowdfunding was not just an operation to raise the funds needed to produce the game, but a form of market research into the backlash it would get among fans.
The success of the campaign not only confirmed fans’ desire to see a video game made about Bud and Terence, but also triggered a series of dynamics that included any advice and feedback with supporters, even collaborations for adaptations and translations. dialogues
That’s why we haven’t given up on direct fan input, even for the sequel, ultimately the goal has always been to make a game that satisfies them and pays homage to cinematic couple Bud Spencer & Terence Hill, and that’s Slaps and Beans 2.
In this regard, the entry of publisher United Games Entertainments after the campaign in no way limited our authorship and technical independence.
What was the general public reaction to the first Slaps & Beans? How did Bud Spencer and Terence Hill fans take it?
In the global video game scene, the game enjoyed commercial success, especially in countries where Bud Spencer and Terence Hill were very popular, leading Italy and Germany, but sold well on all continents.
Beyond the obviously important commercial data, it was above all a huge critical success among the couple’s fans; If the love and respect that underlies this genuine respect for their movies didn’t show up, two things would ensue as eventually having the play about Bud and Terence wouldn’t be enough.
In every event we bring to try, we can tap into the positive feedback it has had and continues to receive, people sincerely thank us, enjoy playing and that not only makes us proud but also encourages us to improve in the new chapter.
Let’s say Slap & Beans 2 tries to improve every aspect of the first episode. What was the game system that required more careful scrutiny, when one had to make a personal judgment? Did the feedback you received about the first episode guide you?
As can be imagined for any beat ’em up, combat was definitely the system where more attention would be focused. The biggest challenge in the first episode was to combine a precise and tested playing style like beat ’em up with the unconventional choreography of the films.
The end result was satisfying on both counts considering that the original aim of the game was to pay homage to Bud and Terence and we started from there, overhauling the existing one to make the controls smoother and increase the number of moves. technical level to put them into practice.
Using one or the other of the characters will be a very different gameplay experience than in the first game, Bud will be more durable and Terence will be even more agile and capable of handling the environment mechanics.
The goal is to make the game more interesting for fans of the beat ’em up genre and for fans of the Bud and Terence duo.
Speaking of the story of Slaps & Beans 2, you announced that it will be original, i.e. written by you, just like the first episode, but it will still touch on some of the most famous films of the duo. Can you tell us which ones specifically? What kind of process do you follow when deciding which movies to get ideas from?
The decision to make a sequel to Slaps and Beans matured over the years when we realized how many ideas and stimuli we couldn’t manage by re-watching movies (yes, we never tire of seeing them again) allowing ideas to settle in. to enter the first game.
We identified memorable scenes and settings that were not in the first part, and then proceeded with additions: After figuring out a rough plot to develop these macro locations, iconic situations were contextually deployed by the design of the mechanics, and then the story and character writing.
What role do Bud Spencer’s heirs play in the development? Do they just supervise or contribute more actively? Is Terence Hill interested in the progress made? If so, can you get his comments? In short, what is your degree of freedom relative to the characters?
The Pedersoli family and their collaborators, as you can imagine, are an active and important part in the management of the whole system that takes action when it comes to two such important figures; Terence Hill, who supports the project, is constantly informed about the developments through them.
Naturally, the main elements of the game and the story go through their approval, but other than that, our artistic and productive freedom regarding the characters is mainly dependent on the constraints directly dictated by the themes and characteristics of the films. two characters that we have already proven fit in the first episode.
In our opinion, one of the most beautiful features of Slaps & Beans was the feeling of facing a game made by the duo’s true fans, someone who knew the images they manipulated very well. How is your relationship with the Bud & Terence movies? Has that changed since the game started and you started working on the sequel?
As mentioned earlier, this is probably the aspect we’re most proud of, and after all, the phrase repeated during the development of the first Slaps and Beans was that this is a game made by fans for fans.
Our relationship with Bud Spencer and Terence Hill’s movies is the same as everyone else who grew up on them like us, that’s for sure the great love in their remembrance, but also, and perhaps above all, the great love in remembering family. moments that look at them all together. After the release of Slaps and Beans, there was a natural satisfaction in making a minimal contribution to perpetuating these feelings among old fans and perhaps discovering them by someone new.
How many minigames will there be in Slaps & Beans 2? At first they were really useful to get into the atmosphere of the game because they were basically big quotes from the movies. Will they follow the same principle here?
If it weren’t for the spoiler, Bud would say “double at least!” he would say.
In fact, there will be mini-games and, as in the first, they will alternate with parts of the fight, but also allow you to bring into the game a series of situations that would otherwise be impossible to assimilate to beat.
However, they will play an even more important role as there will be a dedicated party game section to be able to replay them for up to four players.
How long will the game last? Will there be content to make it playable multiple times?
We’ve also worked on making it fun for the entire length of the game, with new enemies spawning gradually, going hand in hand with some fighting techniques to deal with them.
However, beat ’em up is not a genre that focuses on duration to avoid physiological repetition; Slaps and Beans 2 should decide a game time comparable to the first episode.
In any case, when it comes to the party game mode, which is already an excellent replayable element, the real plus of Slaps and Beans from this point of view was the renewed fun of playing it and replaying it in couch co-op as well as replaying it. we watch their movies together and we aim the same dynamic for Slaps and Beans 2.
Big question: Have you set a release date for Slaps & Beans 2? Or would you rather wait to have more certainty?
Choosing to wait for more certainty, today’s answer is spring/summer 2023.
Last question: do you have peanuts?
Thanks for the question! Our dream has always been to make Schiaffi and Pistachio. We are currently negotiating for the rights of Fistik, well done!
Source: Multiplayer
