The next title from Giant Sparrow, developer behind the first-person exploration game, What Remains of Edith Finch, takes inspiration from Sony Interactive Entertainment’s 2001 classic, Ico.
In a new blog post, Giant Sparrow has shared some details regarding its next project. The What Remains of Edith Finch developer is drawing inspiration from sources like Ico, Windosill, Spirited Away, and David Attenborough nature documentaries, along with the spirit of early animators like Winsor McCay and Walt Disney who used (for the time) cutting edge technology to build something that didn’t feel technical at all but instead felt weirdly alive.
Giant Sparrow revealed that its next game is still early in development. The unannounced title focuses on exploring the wonders and horrors of biology. Players assume the role of a field biologist studying both mundane and fantastical urban wildlife.
While Giant Sparrow’s game has yet to receive an official announcement, fans can lean a bit more about it a recent interview. When the developer is ready to show more of the game, it will make a relevant announcement on twitter.
Concept art from the unannounced title does indeed give vibes of Team Ico’s 2001 action adventure game. The silhouette of a young boy can be seen at the entrance of what appears to be a barn. It’s unclear whether Giant Sparrow’s game takes influence from the game in terms of aesthetics and/or game design. Ico was designed by director Fumito Ueda as a minimalist experience around a “boy meets girl” concept. The player controls Ico, a boy born with horns, considered a bad omen by his village. Imprisoned in an abandoned castle by warriors, he soon frees Yorda, the Queen’s daughter, whom the Queen intends to use to prolong her life. Ico must cooperate with Yorda to escape the castle, defending her from enemies and assisting her in overcoming obstacles and puzzles. The game introduced various design and technical innovations, such as storytelling with minimal dialogue, bloom lighting, and keyframe animation, which have influenced many future titles.
