Pryzm Chapter One - The Dark Unicorn Interview
by The Badger

" She would rather light candles than curse the darkness, and her glow has warmed the world. " - Adlai Stevenson (1900 - 1965)

Such a quote is almost a perfect summation of Pryzm - the heroine of TDK-Mediactive's upcoming action adventure title for the PS2, Pryzm Chapter One: The Dark Unicorn. A malevolent force has overcome the good hearted unicorn Pryzm's world - a world she shares with elves, trolls, gnomes, and nymphs. Not only has this evil force brought darkness and strife to the lands - it has also twisted and corrupted the inhabitants into malignant shades of their former selves. The survivors of the onslaught flock to Pryzm's land, both with hope and suspicion, for her land seems unaffected by this plague. So, seemingly alone as a light against the overwhelming darkness, Pryzm takes it upon herself to venture to the heart of the evil - with a distrustful troll-mage, Karrock, as her only companion.

It's light vs. darkness on a grandiose scale. It has been some time since I have seen such an ambitious endeavor to bring to any form of media, let alone gaming, such a stark and vivid contrast to the eternal battle between the forces of benevolence and those of darkness. Even as the first details were released, I was fascinated enough to seek out more information on Pryzm - the endearing and powerful image of a unicorn as heroine in a setting so dire and dark that one can't help but look twice. It's a purity in fantasy rarely seen in many modern tales - a veritable "road not taken" which I had to know more about.

The development team behind Pryzm was kind enough to participate in an interview on their upcoming creation, and fantasy fans would do well to see what wonders they have in the works!

1. Tell us a little more about our hero, Pryzm and what happens to her world that leads her to start her journey. 
Pryzm is born into a world ravaged by a hideous plague; a plague that many of the refugees whisper is the fault of her people. She grows up in the Unicorn Valley; a haven from the plague, but it is no haven from the great hope of some and hatred of others. Her rare wings and even rarer markings set her apart as the "chosen one," the one to redeem the land and their peoples from the plague. This is a huge burden for her to bear. She develops a tough and sassy attitude to deal with the great pressure placed upon her, but despite it all, she manages to retain a compassionate heart. And yet behind this confident veneer is self-doubt. Is she really the "chosen one?" Will she really be able to heal the lands and their people? Or are the whisperings of the refugees right? Is she really doomed to become a dark unicorn? 

2. Pryzm and Karrock are mentioned to be a reluctant alliance. In many fantasy realms, dwarves inherently don't care for horses - is this the same sort of instinctual distrust which causes there to be tension in our two heroes' partnership? 
Of all the refugee races in the Unicorn Valley, the trolls are the most suspicious that the unicorns are behind the plague. Karrock, the chief mage of the trolls, manages to convince the Unicorn Council to have him accompany Pryzm on her quest. His intent is to not only lend his aid, but also to keep on eye on her. After all, there's no telling what evil she could do when left to her own devices. This distrust immediately sparks a very contentious relationship between these two allies. But if Beauty can fall in love with the Beast, perhaps a troll and a unicorn can become friends. 

3. What audience has your team most focused on targeting? For instance, what genre will the title be, and what age group do you think will most enjoy this title?
The folks who will most enjoy the game are teenagers and adults. That said, experienced younger gamers may be able to keep up with the game play, but will probably not be able to follow all the nuances of the story and character development. This is a Heroic Fantasy genre game with a heavy Gothic influence. After all, the light can only be as bright as the darkness is pitch black.

4. What kinds of attacks and items will Pryzm and Karrock be able to use to help defeat their foes? Will any of these attacks/defenses become more powerful as the game progresses, or will it be a matter of best utilizing the abilities you have?
It's all about the magic. At its core, the combat system is simple, but the numerous of parameters that affect the spells create a wide variety of magic. Who's cast the magic, Pryzm or Karrock? Are they in the land of the elves, trolls, gnomes, or nymphs? Are they on the ground or in the air? As you go deeper into the various plagued lands, the enemies become progressively more difficult to defeat, however, Pryzm's and Karrock's magic remains a constant. Players will have to rely on improving their skills and out thinking their enemies in order to win the game.

5. What kind of foes can the player expect to encounter? Will there be boss fights marking each stage of the game up until the final battle with the Dark Unicorn?
The player is up against a menagerie of mutated elves, trolls, gnomes, and nymphs. The various elves are wrath like. The trolls have a zombie influence. The gnomes are little demons. And the nymphs are vampire like, as they are both attractive and repulsive at the same time. Each land has a couple of very unique bosses, all of whom you will need to defeat before you face off with the Dark Unicorn. Everyone has a shadow. It is the fortunate ones who have the eyes to see and the will to heal their own shadows.

6. Will there be many hidden bonuses or secret levels/items scattered throughout the 5 realms of Pryzm's world?
I won't tell - after all, a secret's a secret.

7. Can players expect a number of puzzles and side quests as they clear each level of the darkness that plagues the world?
Well, from Karrock's point of view there ARE a lot of *#!@& side quests, but through Pryzm's eyes it is all one quest.

8. Pryzm provides a stark contrast between the forces of good and evil, combining the bright image of a good-hearted unicorn vs the evil which has warped and corrupted Pryzm's world. This is refreshing in a world which so often now opts to blur the distinctions, and shunning the virtually archetypal battle in your game. Was there anything in particular that inspired to you to tell this story, perhaps a need to give a gaming audience such a theme, or maybe an epic legend of your own memory/collection?
As a writer, I often paint from the palette of my own experiences. The doomed journey of the Dark Unicorn, which is the backdrop for the game, is a path that I once began to tread myself, but thankfully never completed. As the saying goes, "There, but for the grace of God, go I."

9. What are you enjoying most about working on Pryzm with the PS2 system? What kinds of things have really given you a sense of satisfaction as your work on the game progresses?
The PS2 gives us the freedom to create a much more vivid and engaging experiences for the player. J.R.R. Tolkien viewed himself as a sub-creator when fashioning his world of Middle Earth. It is that same kind of joy that we experience as we see the various fantastical creatures and environments come to life.

10. Is there anything else you'd like to tell our users about Pryzm that you're really happy with, or anything in particular you would like them to keep in their minds while they wait for the game's release?
Good things are worth waiting for, and Pryzm is well worth the wait.

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If I was not convinced before that Pryzm appeared to be a true "star in the darkness," the answers to my questions about this upcoming title did nothing less than restore my faith that there are indeed game-makers out there who have a passion for the art of creating game worlds that extend beyond mere level design. Such stories and adventures are not, and should never be, reserved for mere childhood - and this will be apparent with the deeper themes and characterizations being developed for the title. Not only is the Pryzm team dedicated to taking full advantage of the PS2 system to create a truly original fantasy realm for the eyes, but they are also committed to bringing gamers a world that is truly original in its concept and its ideals.