The good folks over at Lightbulb Crew are a busy bunch these days. Not only has the studio already put out one major release this year, Nova Hearts, but their next game has also just been revealed. As I’m talking about it here, you can safely assume that it’s a roguelite.
This particular studio first crossed my desk back in 2020, when their debut title launched to universal acclaim. That game was called Othercide, and it’s highly relevant in this instance because there is a strong connection between that title and the studio’s next.
A big part of the connection between the games is simply down to the striking visual design that is being deployed in this bloody turn-based tactics game. As you can see from the screenshots attached, both games use contrast and bold splashes of red to create a unique atmosphere.
With the studio’s track record firmly in mind, and based on Ex Sanguis making a strong first impression, I was eager to find out more when offered the chance to put some questions to the developer…
Q. First of all, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions! Before we get started, please introduce yourself to our readers.
AL: I am Anders Larsson, creative director on Ex Sanguis, and before that on Othercide. I am also the founder of the Lightbulb Crew studio.
Q. Ex Sanguis is your new game. Please describe it to us in general terms. The elevator pitch, if you like.
Ex Sanguis is a dynamic tactical turn-based RPG where the player needs to recreate life on a desolate planet through recovering stolen memories and blood from the agents of Stasis. The game is all about creating your unique plan and seeing it come through and generate chain reactions with a lot of focus on replayability.
Q. Your previous release was another striking strategy game: Othercide. For those who’ve encountered your work before, what are the connecting threads that join your games together?
Ex Sanguis is a spiritual successor to Othercide, building on its timeline-based combat with a lot of additional options for players to create unique plans for unique situations. We aim to make the game more accessible for players, while keeping it a very tough challenge for those that look to have that itch scratched!
Q. Ex Sanguis is not one for the squeamish. What is the origin story behind the creation of this bloody tactics adventure?
The setting for Ex Sanguis is a planet that is basically already dead, with all life sucked out of it by Stasis. The player sets out to regain the blood of life, together with its memories of life and struggle.
Q. What are the most interesting mechanics in your opinion, in particular concerning replayability and keeping players engaged past the first couple of loops?
The core combat turns around the Timeline and positioning, and the mechanics that let the player anticipate and prevent the enemy‘s actions, interruptions, reactions, and delayed actions. Combine that with random unlocks as you level up; there are a lot of things to keep the player‘s mind occupied to create unique synergies.
Q. Your EA timeline suggests that you plan around six months of Early Access for Ex Sanguis. Where is the game now, and what are your key objectives for the EA period?
Early Access is always tricky to predict in advance, it is about giving the game the chance to learn from players’ experiences and make the game as good as it can get, as well as developing the end game content. We have already started working with our fans through playtesting and on our Discord server
Q. Before we go, is there anything else that we need to know about Lightbulb Crew and Ex Sanguis, such as how people can get involved now, and maybe some sort of hint as to when you plan on launching into EA?
We are really committed to working closely with everyone interested in making Ex Sanguis a fantastic experience. Everyone is invited to sign up for playtesting on Steam, as well as participate in our Discord server: https://discord.gg/8eeaBfk6ar
There you have it, folks. Head over to Steam and request access to Ex Sanguis, and hit the Discord link to join the community.
