{"id":260502,"date":"2024-09-23T07:09:52","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T07:09:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/23\/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants-how-iconic-rpgs-of-the-past-led-me-to-create-beyond-galaxyland\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T17:11:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:11:11","slug":"standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants-how-iconic-rpgs-of-the-past-led-me-to-create-beyond-galaxyland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/23\/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants-how-iconic-rpgs-of-the-past-led-me-to-create-beyond-galaxyland\/","title":{"rendered":"Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: How Iconic RPGs of the Past Led Me to Create Beyond Galaxyland"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-xbox-summary\">\n<h3>Summary<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Take to the stars in this planet-hopping adventure-RPG.<\/li>\n<li>Battle strange creatures and bosses in active turn-based combat.<\/li>\n<li><em>Beyond Galaxyland<\/em> launches for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One tomorrow!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Tomorrow\u2019s launch of <em>Beyond Galaxyland<\/em> marks the end of a personal journey that\u2019s far older than the six years it\u2019s taken me to develop the game itself. In fact, my fascination and love for the turn-based RPG genre started way back in the late 1990s, with one game in particular: Square\u2019s iconic <em>Chrono Trigger<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>I have very fond memories of growing up and watching my cousins play the game on their consoles; it helped break new ground and \u2013 alongside a small number of its contemporaries \u2013 set the foundations for the genre for years to come. So I knew when I was developing <em>Beyond Galaxyland<\/em> that it was important I understood what made that game so special to me 20 years previously.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe title=\"Beyond Galaxyland - Gameplay Overview Trailer\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yM9RRBxKXls?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Firstly, it has a great story\u2026 who doesn\u2019t want to experience a fantasy time-travelling adventure to stop the end of the world? And secondly, it has impeccable pacing \u2013 despite being a turn-based RPG, a genre typically known for extended campaign lengths, <em>Chrono Trigger<\/em> is just 15 hours long. It also has a depth behind its apparent simplicity and shows that <em>more<\/em> doesn\u2019t always equal a better experience for players.<\/p>\n<p>These two pillars were critical and inspiring to me. I knew I wanted to tell a grand and epic story, while also ensuring <em>Beyond Galaxyland <\/em>had a pacing similar to my favourite game, while perhaps making the runtime closer to that of a movie (or limited TV series).<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s why the story of <em>Beyond Galaxyland<\/em> is arranged into two distinct parts: the story that occurs before our hero \u2013 high schooler Doug \u2013 and his newly formed party of pals return to <strong>[redacted]<\/strong> and battle <strong>[more redaction]<\/strong>, and after, when the story sees them take the fight to <strong>[even more redaction]<\/strong> in a valiant attempt to save Earth. <em>(You didn\u2019t think I\u2019d spoil some of the key story elements of the game in this post, did you?)<\/em><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net\/prod\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/BGL_MechBossFiringNoUI-b63f853fb19304b1bcfa.jpg\" alt=\"Beyond Galaxyland Screenshot\" class=\"wp-image-204310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net\/prod\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/BGL_MechBossFiringNoUI-b63f853fb19304b1bcfa.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net\/prod\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/BGL_MechBossFiringNoUI-b63f853fb19304b1bcfa-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net\/prod\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/BGL_MechBossFiringNoUI-b63f853fb19304b1bcfa-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net\/prod\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/BGL_MechBossFiringNoUI-b63f853fb19304b1bcfa-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>Turn-based RPGs lend themselves so perfectly to stories of this nature. In addition to the RPG classics of the mid-to-late-1990s, I was influenced by some classic TV shows and movies: Alien, Aliens, Star Wars, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Hitchhiker\u2019s Guide to the Galaxy\u2026 Actually, this list could go on and on. While I wanted it to feel epic and cinematic, mixing light-hearted humour with serious moments and themes, I simultaneously wanted to ensure <em>Beyond Galaxyland <\/em>was pacey: as such, it\u2019s a game with no filler, level grinding, or artificially extended storylines.<\/p>\n<p>Another childhood favourite that went on to inspire me is the original <em>Final Fantasy VII<\/em>, which I think gets its battle pacing so, so right: the combat in the game is quick, snappy, and rewarding. It\u2019s something I\u2019ve tried to pay homage to in <em>Beyond Galaxyland<\/em>, all the while adding my own spin on things. <em>Beyond Galaxyland <\/em>has an active battle system that requires players to press the attack button with every strike against enemies, as well as the need to time their defence when under attack themselves. It\u2019s also why players have the ability to capture and then unleash any of the creatures collected during the adventure (including some of the 25 bosses strewn across the zoo-like collection of planets that make up Galaxyland itself) against their opponents.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net\/prod\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/06_GalaxyMapUpdated-701de87726c256368bf2.jpg\" alt=\"Beyond Galaxyland Screenshot\" class=\"wp-image-204311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net\/prod\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/06_GalaxyMapUpdated-701de87726c256368bf2.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net\/prod\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/06_GalaxyMapUpdated-701de87726c256368bf2-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net\/prod\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/06_GalaxyMapUpdated-701de87726c256368bf2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net\/prod\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/06_GalaxyMapUpdated-701de87726c256368bf2-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>Most of all, I hope <em>Beyond Galaxyland<\/em> doesn\u2019t <em>just<\/em> feel like a nostalgic experience for players. When I set out to make it, I wanted to push the boundaries of this genre in ways it might have developed if more people had seen in <em>Chrono Trigger<\/em> what I saw, back at my cousins\u2019 house over 25 years ago: <em>Beyond Galaxyland<\/em> is fast-paced and compact (for the genre), and avoids grinding gameplay. It also combines gameplay from other genres, including puzzles and platforming, photography, and even retro-style racing!<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t get me wrong, I <em>do<\/em> want this game to also feel nostalgic for those who fell in love with those classic games just as I did. It\u2019s a bit of a contradiction, but I hope <em>Beyond Galaxyland<\/em> feels both familiar and also new, innovating within the confines of this classic genre. Most of all, I just hope it transports players to another world as all those games did for me.<\/p>\n<div id=\"msp1726652770988\" class=\"\">\n<div class=\"ms-product-badge mspb-large\" data-product-id=\"9p41gc4t6bjg\">\n<div class=\"mspb-primary-image\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/store\/apps\/9p41gc4t6bjg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/store-images.s-microsoft.com\/image\/apps.45997.14597676462841553.afc22cb4-d703-4ffe-a1f2-c31abd5948c3.3afcda1b-72ac-4ccf-aa22-4f7fa2777626?w=400&amp;h=600\" alt=\"Beyond Galaxyland\" class=\"skip-lazy\"\/>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"mspb-details\">\n<h2>Beyond Galaxyland<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mspb-secondary-details\">\n<div class=\"mspb-left-container\">\n<p>United Label<\/p>\n<div class=\"mspb-rating\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t<span>\u2606<\/span><span>\u2606<\/span><span>\u2606<\/span><span>\u2606<\/span><span>\u2606<\/span>&#13;\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t<span>\u2605<\/span><span>\u2605<\/span><span>\u2605<\/span><span>\u2605<\/span><span>\u2605<\/span>&#13;\n\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"mspb-msrp\">&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t<span>$17.99<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t<\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t<span>$14.39<\/span>&#13;\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mspb-right-container\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\tInspired by classic sci-fi movies, Beyond Galaxyland is an intergalactic, 2.5D adventure-RPG set among the stars. Step into the sneakers of high-schooler Doug, as he\u2019s whisked away to \u2018Galaxyland\u2019 \u2013 a zoo-like solar system of planets \u2013 on an epic quest to save Earth itself. &#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\nAn all-new take on the beloved RPG adventures of old, prepare for a journey like no other, skyrocketing through teeming jungles, neon-lit cities, and cybernetic casinos, with each new planet brimming with intriguing characters, fiendish adversaries, and many other surprises. &#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\nAccompanied by Doug\u2019s pet guinea pig \u2013 the pistol-wielding Boom Boom \u2013 and a sentient robot called MartyBot, together you must defend the world against an all-powerful entity known only as \u2018The End\u2019, before it conquers the Universe itself\u2026 &#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\nNo pressure. &#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\nA Bold New Take on the Classic Sci-Fi Caper! &#13;<br \/>\nExperience firsthand all the thrills and spills of a retro sci-fi adventure, in an all-new take on the fish-out-of-water tale that sticks you right in the centre of the action! Laughter, loss, peril and friendship, Beyond Galaxyland has it all and then some, dipped in a dazzling layer of neon-tastic pixels. &#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\nExplore a Solar System of Extraordinary Worlds&#13;<br \/>\nFrom the blizzard-swept planes of Arcos to the tropical jungle ravines of Erros, the neon-buzzing cities of Neo to the arid sand dunes of Xalm, explore a cosmic cluster of unique worlds, each with its own quests, environmental puzzles, and out-of-this-world characters. &#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\nOvercome Cosmic Foes in Tactical Turn-Based Combat&#13;<br \/>\nEngage in strategic turn-based battles against a vast range of galactic nemeses, with time-responsive defensive gameplay to minimise damage. Each party member has a range of unique abilities at their disposal, but for an additional tactical advantage, sneakily scan your enemy pre-battle to discover their strengths and weaknesses. &#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\nExperience Epic Boss Battles &#13;<br \/>\nEach planet boasts its own distinct perils, but none more so than the epic bosses you\u2019ll encounter throughout your extraterrestrial travels, including colossal space dragons, flesh eating flowers, and the all-knowing bionic behemoth that is Mother Brain. &#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\nCapture Enemies to Use in Battle &#13;<br \/>\nSuccessfully capture the many weird and wonderful creatures you encounter, to later unleash them in battle, with each possessing a number of exclusive abilities. Will you acquire every last one?\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/news.xbox.com\/en-us\/2024\/09\/23\/beyond-galaxyland\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] Summary Take to the stars in this planet-hopping adventure-RPG. Battle strange creatures and bosses in active turn-based combat. Beyond Galaxyland launches for Xbox Series<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":260503,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/260502"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=260502"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/260502\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/260503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=260502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=260502"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=260502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}