[EXCLUSIVE] Beyond Souls-like—How Enotria: The Last Song Blends Culture and Combat for a Unique Adventure

We were fortunate to speak with Edoardo Basile, Business Development Manager for Jyamma Games, about Enotria: The Last Song, a highly anticipated souls-like adventure inspired by Italian folklore. Created by Jyamma Games, this captivating title has garnered attention since its initial announcement.

Basile shared insights into the team’s intricate design philosophy, highlighting how the game introduces innovative mechanics that promise to engage both seasoned players and newcomers alike. With its rich cultural backdrop and immersive world, Enotria: The Last Song positions itself as a must-play for fans of the souls-like genre.

Here’s what we discovered about the inspiration behind this magical journey.

Celebrating Italian Heritage in Enotria

One of the key motivations for creating Enotria: The Last Song was a commitment to showcasing Italy’s cultural depth. Basile explained, “The will of representing our country and traditions to everybody in a never-seen way.” Through its vibrant environments and intricately designed characters, Enotria brings Italian traditions to life, blending them into the intense challenges of Souls-like gameplay for a truly distinctive experience.

Character Expression Through Masks

Masks play a central role in Enotria, each one contributing unique abilities and personality traits. When asked which mask stood out to him, Basile shared, “Pulcinella is my favorite because of the lovely acting and his character development throughout the game’s plot.” These masks serve as more than just tools for combat—they add rich layers to the story, giving players different perspectives as they progress.

Balancing Direct and Environmental Storytelling

Enotria: The Last Song strikes a balance between direct storytelling and environmental exploration. Basile described how the game encourages players to discover narratives hidden in the world itself, noting, “The main story is represented by NPCs and cinematics with main bosses and characters, but all the lore and behind-the-scenes events can be discovered through the environment, items, and the compendium.” This approach rewards players’ curiosity and invites them to dive deeper into Enotria’s intricate lore.

Standing Out in the Souls-like Genre

With many Souls-like games available, Enotria needed elements to set it apart. Basile explained, “I think the entire setting, character design, and plot are overall very inspired. There are many Dark Souls clones out there, and we tried our best to set this game apart from all of them.” The game’s Italian influences and distinctive character design bring fresh visuals and a unique atmosphere, appealing to both genre enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

A World of Hidden Bosses

For players who love exploring and uncovering secrets, Enotria is filled with surprises—including challenging hidden bosses. Basile hinted, “The game is full of hidden bosses; explore to fight them all!” This design adds depth to the gameplay, rewarding players willing to venture off the main path with intense, rewarding battles.

The Mechanics of Mask Switching

Enotria’s mask-switching mechanic lets players adapt their combat style mid-fight, offering a dynamic twist that keeps encounters fresh. Basile elaborated, “The idea is a representation of the main character being the only one able to interact with the Ardore and escape the Canovaccio’s rules, so, as a consequence, he’s able to act as every mask whenever he wants to. This led to the core system of our gameplay and the biggest twist that we gave to the genre. Being able to not commit to just one single build throughout the entire experience is something the people loved since the beginning.” The ability to switch masks freely allows players to approach each encounter strategically, adding flexibility to the game’s core mechanics.

High-Risk, High-Reward Parrying System

Combat in Enotria emphasizes a high-risk, high-reward approach to parrying, encouraging players to perfect their timing and technique. When asked if the fighting style was intentionally designed to prioritize parrying, Basile explained, “Same as for the roll, blocking is usually a lower pace move, and we wanted to avoid that. It was perfectly in line with our high-risk, high-reward and tradeoff mechanics.” This design choice keeps battles exhilarating, requiring players to master precise timing for success.

Future of the Franchise

Regarding possible sequels or downloadable content, Basile hinted at the potential for expansion: “Enotria is a very high-potential franchise with a huge world-building. There is still a lot to showcase and many more stories that could be told. But at the moment, our effort is on post-launch operations, let’s see in the future!” While future installments remain open, the team’s immediate focus is ensuring a polished launch experience.

A Message to Fans

Basile concluded the interview with a message for fans eagerly awaiting Enotria: The Last Song: “Hey everyone! I hope to see all of you in Enotria enjoying the sun. Just be careful—it might not be a relaxing stay!” With these words, he invites players to dive into Enotria’s sunlit yet challenging world, ready to embrace its many secrets and trials.

Enotria: The Last Song merges Souls-like intensity with the richness of Italian heritage, bringing fresh narratives and gameplay twists to the genre. As players prepare to explore this vividly crafted world, they can look forward to a journey that honors Italy’s culture while offering a deeply immersive and demanding adventure.

Fans can purchase and play Enotria: The Last Song on Steam, where it’s currently on sale until October 31. Don’t miss this chance to experience Enotria’s unique blend of cultural depth and combat at a special price. If you’re interested in the Italian-inspired, souls-like game, you can check our review on it here.

Enotria: The Last Song

Publisher: Jyamma Games

Developer: Jyamma Games

Release Date: 2024-09-19

Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox Series X|S

Set in a beautiful sun-lit world inspired by Italian folklore where the brightest sun casts the darkest shadow, become the Mask of Change and free a world of unwilling actors, stuck in an eternal script not of their making.

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