HIKE released the time-loop roguelite action game Project Tachyon for PC (Steam) on February 14. Although it’s a side-scrolling shooter, the game places a big emphasis on narrative, telling a gritty story.
In Project Tachyon, you play as a protagonist who can reverse time while keeping her memories intact. On a mission to stop a nuclear war from happening, you take on various battles, engaging enemies sent out by the enemy AI called Mainframe Omega. Levels are made up of different areas – including battle areas, event areas and shops. As the player, you choose which route to play.
Each time you’re defeated by the enemy and die, time is reversed, sending you back to the past. This looping mechanic is fairly orthodox for a roguelite game, but Project Tachyon aims to tell a rich story through it. AUTOMATON talked to publisher HIKE and developer STUDIO N9 to find out more about the game and its influences.
―Tell me about Project Tachyon. What kind of game is it?
STUDIO N9:
It’s a near-future sci-fi game in which Sigma, a special agent who’s lost her memories, goes up against Mainframe Omega, an AI that is waging war against humanity. As you progress, you uncover conspiracies and overcome crises.
The protagonist, Sigma, is an agent of the secretly launched “Project Tachyon,” who is responsible for using crucial time-reversing technology to study the future and travel back in time to solve problems.
HIKE:
To put it in simple terms, the story centers around Sigma’s launch of Project Tachyon, which aims to prevent the state from resorting to nuclear war with the enemy. In a bind, the country uses Sigma as a scapegoat, basically sacrificing her – that’s the premise. This means that Sigma finds herself in a “time travel hell” in which she is killed over and over (laughs).
―That’s quite a gritty setting. What inspired it?
STUDIO N9:
Actually, the worldbuilding of Project Tachyon is connected to that of STUDIO N9’s previous title Aria Chronicle. In the latter half of Aria Chronicle, there’s a story about the “fall of the ancient Tamageria civilization,” so I thought it would be interesting to base our new game’s scenario on that.
Also, the concept of returning to the past and events being reset is similar to that of the light novel All You Need is Kill. I drew influence from it, although I think it’s the kind of story structure you inevitably arrive at when dealing with time travel. My generation loved movies like Back to the Future, so I’m fascinated by such themes.
HIKE:
Another interesting point is that each time Sigma dies and gets sent back in time, she gets reset to “before the adventure,” so she starts to suffer because of the gaps in memories between her and her allies.
―That is harsh indeed. Have you prepared any gimmicks story-wise?
STUDIO N9:
The story progresses as the protagonist reverses time, and through this structure, a growing conspiracy and numerous plot twists emerge, so I think you’ll run into surprises in each new chapter.
―Should we be prepared for some grim turns of events?
STUDIO N9:
Rather than depressing developments, there are scenes that will make you experience sadness, sometimes anger. There may even be scenes where you’ll feel something akin to madness.
―Since the protagonist is the only one who can reverse time, does that mean her relationships with her allies gradually change?
STUDIO N9:
That’s right. As you progress through the missions, you build connections with allies who didn’t like Sigma at first, and even those who Sigma used to be suspicious of. I think it will be interesting to see how the characters’ attitudes towards each other change.
―Roguelites are sometimes considered to be not-so-compatible with storytelling, but what do you think about this?
STUDIO N9:
Actually, I wasn’t a huge fan of roguelites at first myself (laughs). However, I was completely stunned when I played Hades. I realized that roguelites can be used for developing narratives when I saw how the story unfolds within a repeating structure and how relationships are built with NPCs – it had a big impact on me. In Project Tachyon, the story unfolds through major twists and reveals, so I think you will always get a fresh experience as you progress through the chapters.
―Thank you for your time.
Project Tachyon is out now for the PC (Steam). You can buy it at a 20% discount until February 28.
