“Juicy!”
Just because WASD Live 2024 is now over and the doors are closed until the next event, the fun is far from over. With many games played and lots of developers and publishers to speak to, in today’s interview, we’re joined by Alain Brunotte, the creative lead behind BattleJuicy Alchemist. From starting as a one man band to brining his passion project to life, here is our complete WASD Live 2024 interview:
Alain Brunotte | 6 Years in the Making with BattleJuice Alchemist:
Miketendo64: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your role with Alchemical Works?
Alain Brunotte: Hello, I’m Alain, the developer behind BattleJuice Alchemist made by Alchemical Works. ESDigital Games is our publisher, helping us to bring our game to a wider audience. I’ve been on this journey with BattleJuice Alchemist for about six years now, starting out as a solo dev and pouring everything I had into it. Recently, I’ve been fortunate enough to expand the team, bringing on board some talented folks to help take the game to the next level. It’s been an incredible ride, and I’m excited to see where it leads us!
Miketendo64: In what capacity are you involved with BattleJuice Alchemist?
Alain Brunotte: I started out as a solo developer for BattleJuice Alchemist, wearing all the hats from coding to art, animation, writing, and even composing the music. It was a one-person show for a while there! But as the game grew, I’ve been fortunate to bring on a small team. Patrick, our artist, has been instrumental in bringing our characters to life with his fantastic 3D designs. While I still handle many aspects of the game, having Patrick and the rest of the team on board has been a huge help in elevating the overall quality and creativity of BattleJuice Alchemist.
Miketendo64: What first attracted you to BattleJuice Alchemist?
Alain Brunotte: The initial spark for creating this game ignited from a personal source—my experience running a lengthy pen and paper campaign years ago. However, my creative journey didn’t exist in a vacuum, of course there are many external influences. Games like Diablo 2 and the RPGs from the Ultima series provided invaluable inspiration, offering insights into gameplay mechanics, world design, and storytelling. Beyond the realm of games, I drew inspiration from non-game media: The dark, gritty aesthetic of Mike Mignola’s Hellboy comics resonated deeply with me, infusing BattleJuice Alchemist with its atmospheric depth and visual style. Additionally, the whimsical and macabre worlds depicted in the movies of Tim Burton sparked my imagination, inspiring me to inject elements of eccentricity and intrigue into the fabric of BattleJuice Alchemist.
Miketendo64: Can you provide us with a brief overview of what BattleJuice Alchemist is about?
Alain Brunotte: Juice, the alchemist, answers the call to Caribou Creek, now a mere shell after a devastating accident. With spirits running amok, possessing both humans and animals, the survivors plead for Juice’s expertise. But as Juice delves deeper, they uncover darker secrets lurking beneath the supernatural chaos. In the world of BattleJuice Alchemist, where magic and mayhem collide, the atmosphere is gloomy yet playful, blending eerie occurrences with a touch of whimsy.
Miketendo64: Who is the main protagonist of BattleJuice Alchemist and what motivates them?
Alain Brunotte: In BattleJuice Alchemist, the main protagonist is Juice. Juice is called to Caribou Creek after their uncle, the town’s alchemist, tragically perishes in a massive explosion. Fuelled by a desire to honour their uncle’s legacy and make amends for past mistakes, Juice embarks on a journey to unravel the mystery behind the explosion and the spirit incursion plaguing the town. Their motivation stems from a sense of responsibility while striving to become a better alchemist than their predecessor, which turns out to be harder than expected.
Miketendo64: If you had to compare BattleJuice Alchemist to another game, what would be its closest match in terms of gameplay or theme? (Atelier?)
Alain Brunotte: I was not familiar with the Atelier series, but it looks interesting! When drawing comparisons, BattleJuice Alchemist shares visual inspiration with Don’t Starve, capturing its distinctive art style. However, in terms of gameplay mechanics, it takes cues from Diablo 2, incorporating elements like action-packed combat and exploration. What sets BattleJuice Alchemist apart are its unique additions, such as deck-building elements, which add depth and strategy to the gameplay experience.
Miketendo64: What are some of your favourite potions to concoct in-game and what are some of the most powerful ones?
Alain Brunotte: My favorite potion in BattleJuice Alchemist is the Frog Hop Flask, especially in the early stages of the game. It’s versatile, offering both offensive and defensive capabilities. You can swiftly evade danger by leaping away and deal damage upon landing by “juicing” up the flask. Additionally, I’m quite fond of the Smoke Flask. When juiced up, it creates a rift that pulls in enemies, making it excellent for crowd control. While each flask has its unique strengths, I believe they’re all equally powerful when used strategically. It ultimately comes down to how you navigate and utilize them in different situations to maximize their potential.
Miketendo64: How does the isometric combat compare to the “JRPG-style one-on-one fights” in BattleJuice Alchemist?
Alain Brunotte: In BattleJuice Alchemist, we aim to provide players with maximum freedom in their combat experience. That’s why we offer both an isometric top-down view for engaging in classic action RPG-style battles against multiple enemies, and a close combat option for those who prefer a more controlled environment. In the one-on-one fights, you have the opportunity to react to every single action your enemy takes with a precise response. While these battles still unfold in real-time, they incorporate slow-motion elements, allowing for more precise interaction with your potions. It’s all about giving players the choice to tailor their combat experience to their preferences.
Miketendo64: What do you find more appealing and can you give us an example of some of the ritual magics players will be able to learn in BattleJuice Alchemist?
Alain Brunotte: I actually find both combat styles appealing, and I tend to switch between them depending on the situation. When I’m underleveled for an area or haven’t found the right items for my build, I often opt for close combat. This allows me to rely more on skill to compensate for any equipment deficiencies. On the other hand, if my character is well-equipped and strong, I enjoy staying in the isometric top-down view, where I can take on multiple enemies without much risk.
As for our ritual magic system, it’s deeply integrated into the questing experience. Players learn recipes from NPCs or by solving riddles scattered throughout the world. For instance, one of the first rituals you can learn is the Good Fortune ritual, which boosts the chance of special items dropping. But there are also more unique rituals, like the Rain Ritual, which allows you to summon rain even in the desert. This ritual is tied to our dynamic weather system and can serve as a solution to certain quest-related puzzles as well. There are also rituals with repercussions, like the ritual Devil’s Bane, which grants a significant resilience buff while summoning a demon somewhere on the map, adding an element of risk and challenge to the gameplay.
Miketendo64: Lastly, would you be so kind as to list all platforms BattleJuice Alchemist is coming to?
Alain Brunotte: BattleJuice Alchemist is set to launch on PS4/PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Additionally, it’s already available in Early Access on Steam and the Epic Store.
For more WASD Live 2024 content, be sure to click on this link here:
About BattleJuice Alchemist:
BattleJuice Alchemist is a complex alchemy RPG that adds a unique item and skill system to the classic aRPG formula. Focus on isometric combat or opt for JRPG-style one-on-one fights. Explore the wilderness, learn ritual magic, build a tower and craft potions to fight the demonic hordes of Samhain.
Juice, the alchemist, is called to Caribou Creek to fight the demons that roam the lands. As your unique version of Juice you explore the wilderness that once was New England. Fight evil in classic action RPG isometric top down view and in bullet-time close combat.
Find and craft items with game-changing powers. Master BattleJuice Alchemist’s deck-building mechanics by arranging your compilation of flasks to suit your playstyle. Accentuate your character beyond character customization by using ritual magic as long-term buffs. Meet strange creatures from the Crossroads while the dark plot of BattleJuice Alchemist unravels.
UNIQUE ITEMS AND CHARACTER BUILDS:
- Loot and Craft – As an alchemist you wear no armor and wield no sword, but you rain down fire on your enemies. Find flasks with unique properties in the wilderness or craft them at your workbench. In deck-building style you create a compilation of flasks which you randomly draw from.
- Unique Skill System – In BattleJuice Alchemist, your flasks are your skills. Every flask can be used the normal way and at times in a supercharged, “jucified” way for stronger effects. Some flasks have powers attached to them that drastically change their effects when used, which allows you to develop your own playstyle.
EXPLORE A DARK WORLD
- Procedural Landscapes, Hand-crafted Towns – The world of BattleJuice Alchemist is separated into vast levels of procedural landscape. Every valley, sea, river, mountain, building, stone, tree and item is placed by a unique algorithm. This allows you to continue exploring after you completed the main story. Quest locations are still hand-crafted to tell compelling stories.
- Dark Lands to Discover – You are influenced by daytime and weather effects and so are your enemies. But they are also buffed by the evermore spawning demons’ presence. Find dark altars to hold their influence at bay and discover many other secrets.
ENGAGING COMBAT:
- Classic isometric ARPG action – Fight your enemies from afar in classic top down view. Throw explosive or freezing flasks at them, prepare ambushes of explosive barrels. Use the “Frog Hop” flask to jump away from danger or right into close combat.
- Close Combat with Bullet-time – Enter close combat with an enemy, where you can interact hands on by dodging or using smoke flasks to avoid being hit. Manage your resources and flasks during these intense one on one battles against your awe-inspiring enemies from the Crossroads.
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