Rune: Ragnarok Interview

We’ve heard very little about Human Head Studios’ upcoming open world action-RPG Rune: Ragnarok since its initial announcement, and so the good folks over at WCCFTech have decided to remedy that and have a chat with the game’s project director Chris Rhinehart. As a result we now know a bit more about the game’s premise and its connection to the previous Rune from back in 2000, along with some other assorted tidbits of Rune: Ragnarok knowledge. An excerpt:

Do you consider this to be a direct sequel or otherwise?

It’s not a direct sequel in that it doesn’t continue Ragnar’s story from the original Rune. This new game is set a long time after the original during the end of days, Ragnarok. If you’re not familiar with the mythology, Ragnarok begins and a great war breaks out between humans, giants, and beasts. The Gods themselves fight and many of them die. At the end, the world is consumed by fire and reborn anew.

In Rune: Ragnarok, the world has not been reborn anew. The battle has raged on for seven years. Most people have perished. You’re one of the remaining humans, trying to survive and bring about an end to Ragnarok.

Will there be any characters, maps etc. from 2001’s Rune?

Maps aren’t directly copied, but we are looking at what aspects of maps we can use as inspiration and possibly bring forward. Characters: There will definitely be interactions with the Gods. Which ones, exactly, will be revealed soon!

Which engine are you using for Rune: Ragnarok? How long has the project been in development and how many developers are working on it?

We’re using Unreal Engine 4. Seems fitting since the original Rune was developed using Unreal 1!

We publicly talked about reviving Rune 2 in 2012, but we officially started development this year. We’ve had a lot of time to come up with ideas since the original Rune, though.

Ragnarok is a fairly common theme in Norse mythology fiction. Do you intend to add any particular twist to your game?

Yes, but if I revealed them now, they would cease to be twists. One twist we’ve already talked about: Ragnarok started but for some reason has not ended. It’s frozen in place, metaphorically and literally. You’re one of the last surviving humans. You must find a way to end Ragnarok.

Where does the game take place? Is it one of the nine Norse realms and if so, which one?

It takes place across realms that have merged when Ragnarok began. Most of the game takes place in Midgard.

You stated that the game will be a sandbox open world RPG. Can you disclose the main features?

Not yet, but soon! I can say that Brutal Melee Combat is a key pillar of the game….