RedBull.com just published an article going over RiME's development and what to expect when it's released. You can read the entire article here.
It's been a long time coming, but finally, RiME, formerly known as Echoes of Siren, is nearly with us, and it's been worth the wait.
The indie darling was revealed back in 2013 as a console exclusive during Sony's indie presentation at Gamescom, and before that, it was even set to be a Microsoft exclusive – but developer Tequila Works has since bought back the IP, and is releasing it on both current-gen consoles, PC and even bringing the game to Nintendo's brand new Switch console.
The 35-strong Spanish studio has been hard at work on the game for years now, and while it looks a bit like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker or perhaps even The Last Guardian at first glance, there's a whole lot more under the surface of this 3D adventure title littered with puzzles. In fact, you have to look a lot further back in time to see some of RiME's direct influences, and to other mediums entirely.
"For RiME, the visuals were incredibly inspired by Joaquín Sorolla, an early 20th century painter, also known as the 'Master of light'," creative director Raúl Rubio explained. "A lot of his paintings deal with trying to recreate the breeze, the waves and the light – you can feel that everything is improved with light – it's bouncing off of all the clothes, for example."
Sorolla's bright, vivid paintings are echoed in RiME's equally bright design: the open world shows off a bright blue sky and dazzling white architecture, and as the day-night cycle moves into dusk, the game is still incredibly pretty, with gorgeous dynamic lights that show your path and hint at the direction the unnamed boy, your protagonist, needs to take.