At Ludact Studios, every world we create is built on a foundation of inspirations—a blend of unique artistic styles, emotional storytelling, and immersive gameplay. As we approach the full release of My Monsters, we’re launching a new series of articles exploring the ideas, visuals, and concepts that helped shape our VR action-adventure.
Our journey begins with Tales of Soda Island, an animated series known for its mesmerizing visuals, fantastical atmosphere, and deeply expressive characters.
Produced by Studio Syro, Tales of Soda Island crafts a surreal world filled with wonder, emotion, and a touch of mystery—an approach that greatly inspired us while developing My Monsters. Its hand-painted aesthetic and fluid animations influenced the vibrant landscapes and whimsical creatures of Onirium, the dream realm where our game takes place.
The series is divided into seven chapters, each one exploring a different corner of Soda Island through its own mood, theme, and visual identity. From “The Multiverse Bakery” to “The First Ingredient,” every episode feels like a self-contained dream. Whimsical, sometimes unsettling, but always emotionally charged. The series also plays with contrast — light and shadow, joy and melancholy — to create a strong sense of atmosphere without using a single line of dialogue.
This mastery of contrast is beautifully evident in “The Fisherman’s Journey,” where a lone figure fishes in a swirling, colorful sea. As shadows lengthen, his expression shifts from quiet contemplation to palpable melancholy, casting his line not for fish, but seemingly for lost memories. This poignant, wordless scene perfectly encapsulates Soda Island’s emotional depth. It’s this same evocative power, this ability to convey complex emotions through atmosphere and visuals, that we strive for in My Monsters. We hope players feel the weight of loneliness, the pressure of fear, and the unsettling uncertainty of anxiety not only through exposition or dialogue but also through the design of Onirium itself and the enemies who embody these emotions.
One of the most captivating aspects of Tales of Soda Island is its ability to tell rich, emotional stories without relying on dialogue—using only movement, music, and striking visual design. This expressive form of storytelling deeply influenced how we approached My Monsters, encouraging us to create an experience where players can feel immersed in Onirium through atmosphere, animation, and the unspoken bond between them and their inner monster, Moti.
In My Monsters, players team up with Moti to explore this surreal world, blending third-person exploration, first-person interaction, puzzle-solving, and dynamic combat. Our goal is to craft an adventure that feels both visually enchanting and emotionally profound, much like the experience of watching Tales of Soda Island unfold.
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