Chip 'n Clawz vs. The Brainioids is an upcoming blend of RTS and third-person action, directed by the creator of X-COM. Players will be able to take on the roles of the eponymous Chip 'n Clawz duo to fight off an alien invasion.
From the creator of X-COM, Chip 'n Clawz is an upcoming RTS game that will let players command their army in the field, taking control of the young inventor Chip and his robo-cat sidekick Clawz. Playable in either co-op or single-player, this duo is tasked with fighting the Brainioids, alien invaders that have stolen Earth's Brainium Crystals. The Best War Games sat down with some members of the Snapshot Games team, including game director Julian Gollop and game designer Nikola Petrov, who spoke more about the game's playable characters, including the quirky robot cat Clawz.
Chip 'n Clawz: Clawz Explained
Clawz' Role And Design History
The duo of Chip and Clawz is similar on the surface to other iconic gaming duos, like Ratchet and Clank or Banjo and Kazooie. Both characters will be playable throughout the game's adventure, in single-player and co-op modes. Chip and Clawz will be able to scour through the game's levels and fight the Brainioid armies directly but, in an RTS twist, will also be expected to muster up rival armies to fight the Brainioid hordes.
When it comes to the particulars of Clawz, Petrov spoke more about how the character developed. He discussed how Clawz's robotic aspects were blended with her animal elements, paving the way for a strong design in the tradition of the iconic duos in gaming.
"It was an iterative process. For Clawz, we wanted her to look awesome and quirky, but also emphasize her robotic features—two things seemingly at odds. She looked great from the very beginning, right on the concept art sheet, and then the animators managed to put grace and playfulness in her movements. One seemingly small detail that had a great impact was making her ears rotate around just like a real cat's."
Conveying character with the limitations of robot bodies, while keeping them cute and appealing, is always an interesting challenge in design, one faced by characters like R2-D2 and WALL-E. Clawz will also have the benefit of a voice, though, with Gollop adding, "You will certainly get to know Chip and Clawz quite well, often revealed by their banter."
Development History
One detail evident in the concept art for Chip 'n Clawz is that Clawz was initially a dog in early design versions. When asked about the subject, Petrov revealed that these dog designs were "leftover from a previous iteration of the game," and Gollop added that "In the dev team, the cat people won over the dog people." Gollop's addition suggests that this may be a simple aesthetic change, but there are definitely different connotations between the two animals. However, players will have to wait until the game's release to uncover how Clawz's traits truly manifest.
Another interesting detail, considering how Clawz opens up the game for co-op, is how the title was originally more tied to multiplayer. Petrov spoke on these multiplayer origins and how the game arrived at the solo/co-op focus it will have in its final incarnation:
"[T]he game was initially envisioned as a multiplayer-only battle. Early in development, we decided to also develop a story campaign, and this in turn quickly evolved into a co-op design. Solo playability was always a high priority, and we made sure the entire game can be played solo, and inviting a buddy creates different opportunities, strategies, and fun gameplay, but is never required. Each story mission can be completed solo or in co-op, allowing our players nice flexibility."
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence
- Developer(s)
- Snapshot Games
- Publisher(s)
- Arc Games
- Multiplayer
- Local Co-Op, Local Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
