Just hours away, Taken Soul is set to launch on Steam. This action-adventure horror game is developed by a Vietnamese studio. Since its reveal on forums, the project has grabbed lots of attention and support from the community. Gamers are eagerly awaiting its official release on February 28.
Before the launch, we had an interesting chat with the team behind the project.
Hi Taken Soul team, can you introduce yourselves?
Hello readers, we are members of SOGA Studio. The Taken Soul team is all Vietnamese, mostly newcomers to game development coming from other fields.
Where did the idea for this game come from? What’s the story? What does the title Taken Soul mean? Any special details about characters or graphics?
In recent years, after many Vietnamese horror games have launched, players are craving a breakthrough title with high-quality graphics and strong special effects, so we worked hard to deliver that.
In Taken Soul, you play as Trung, who is on a family trip to Da Lat. Suddenly, his mother and sister mysteriously disappear. Trung embarks on a journey to find and rescue them, facing dark forces and uncovering hidden secrets within the city.
The title “Taken Soul” reflects a battle between life and death, where players must overcome challenges to protect themselves and their loved ones. It also hints at uncovering dark mysteries and spiritual forces that players must fight to reclaim their fate from evil.
The characters are diverse and deep: from the main player to locals and spiritual entities. Each has their own story, creating a rich world for players to explore and interact with.
The graphics are carefully detailed to realistically recreate Da Lat in the 2000s, featuring familiar spots like Pine Hill, Xuan Huong Lake, Da Lat Train Station, and the Pedagogical College. The visuals feel vivid yet eerie, adding to the immersive experience.
Why did you choose Da Lat as the game’s setting?
Our main inspiration came from Da Lat, a famous Vietnamese tourist city known for its dreamy beauty but also many spooky, spiritual stories. Setting the game in Da Lat in the 2000s helps players connect with a more familiar story.
How long did it take from concept to completion?
It took less than a year from idea to finished game.
What challenges and advantages did you face during development? How did you overcome difficulties?
Some challenges included:
Accurately recreating Da Lat’s geography, architecture, and culture from 2000 was tough due to limited research materials. We also had to tell horror and spiritual stories in a subtle way that sparks players’ curiosity while preserving Da Lat’s unique cultural identity.
Advanced graphics and gameplay tech were crucial to bring old Da Lat to life. Our team struggled with limited resources to create smooth gameplay and impressive visual effects. Crafting an engaging story and multi-dimensional characters was also challenging, as each needed a clear background, personality, and goals for players to connect with.
On top of that, meeting the high expectations of the community, especially Da Lat fans, was a big pressure. Collecting and integrating feedback to improve the game was no easy task. With a small team, everyone had to wear multiple hats to get everything done.
Still, we had many advantages: strong support from horror and adventure game fans motivated us. Choosing Da Lat gave the game a unique, fresh vibe. The city’s natural beauty and rich spiritual culture made a perfect backdrop for a horror story. Steam’s wide distribution helps us reach players both in Vietnam and worldwide.
Can you share anything about the game’s budget?
The budget was quite low, mostly contributed through the team’s own time and effort.
What are your hopes for this project?
Taken Soul is our first game, so we hope players at home and abroad will support it and share feedback for future projects. The game is not just entertainment but a spiritual journey and an adventure through Da Lat’s past, present, and future. Those unfamiliar with Da Lat will get a unique glimpse of its scenery.
The team revealed the game’s price will be announced on February 28 on Steam.
Thanks so much to the Taken Soul team for sharing these detailed insights! Wishing you massive success with the launch!
