Hello everyone!
During last week's post we talked about the core gameplay mechanics that our game would have. This week, we are going to show you the ideas we have had for the enemies that the player character will face throughout his adventures!
Since our game is heavily inspired by Japanese tradition and culture, we decided to explore Japan's folklore to look into what we could use as inspiration for enemy encounters.
Yokai are supernatural entities and spirits in Japanese folklore, which behaviour can range from being malevolant and mischievous to kind towards humans.
Image 1 - Nekomata from the Hyakkai Zukan by Sawaki Suushi
Image 2 - Kidomaru by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
One of the most well-known yokai is the kappa, and they are typically depicted as green-skinned and humanoid beings with webbed hands and feed, with a carapace akin to a turtle on their back. They are known to love cucumbers and sumo wrestling and tend to inhabit ponds and rivers.
Image 3 - Drawing of a kappa in Koga Toan's Suiko Koryaku (1820)
Another very famous yokai in the west are the tengu, which are typically shown as monstrous and anthropomorphized beings with a red face and long nose. Tengu often take the shape of a priest, in particular, the yamabushi, mountain ascetics who pratice Shugendo. Because of their priestly depiction, they often wield a distinct staff used by Buddhist monks.
Image 4 - Tengu and a Buddhist monk, by Kawanabe Kyosai
And last but not least, the oni. These yokai are known for their incredible strength and are usually associated with powers like thunder and lightning. They are usually portrayed as huge figures with horns, red, blue, black or yellow skin and wearing loincloths and carrying iron clubs.
Image 5 - An oni menaces the monk Kukai as he practices the tantra, by Katsushika Hokusai
See you all next post!
