As a seasoned video game enthusiast who’s seen it all, from the days of Pong to the current era of VR, I must say that Funko Fusion has left me quite impressed! The intricate blend of action, puzzle-solving, and crafting mechanics is a breath of fresh air in today’s saturated market. It’s not often you come across a game that forces players to think on their feet and adapt their strategies, much like real life, don’t you think?
In essence, the Funko Fusion game, created and released by 10:10 Games, is a unique tribute to popular culture in all its forms. This co-op action-adventure title seamlessly blends original Funko figures with iconic adaptations of beloved characters from various media platforms, celebrating their respective fandoms.
Still, how this could look in a video game is far different from Funkos themselves sitting idly on collectors’ shelves, especially when it comes to Funko Fusion‘s narrative and translation of certain Funko staples. Game Rant spoke with 10:10 Games co-founder Arthur Parsons, as well as lead designer Wil Evans, about what players can expect out of Funko Fusion‘s story, gameplay, and overall world before they dive in. The following interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Funko Fusion’s Gameplay and World is Inspired by a Wealth of Popular Culture
Q: Can you describe how the story and world progression works in Funko Fusion?
At the beginning of the game, there are seven distinct worlds available for selection, each containing five individual levels. As you successfully finish each level, a crown is awarded to you. These crowns serve as keys to unlock additional worlds. The price for opening each new world fluctuates based on your progress in the game, but players have the flexibility to play any world in whichever sequence they prefer.
Extra crowns can be obtained by finishing puzzles and overcoming challenges within levels that utilize characters and gameplay elements you’ve previously unlocked through gameplay. Not every world requires completion to unlock the next; thus, each player’s experience will vary slightly. Progressing through the fifth level in each world advances the story, revealing more about why Eddy is evil, uncovering his motivations, and providing insight into how he can be defeated.
A: Could you discuss the atmospheric environment of Funko Fusion? How did it feel creating and collaborating on the Funko universe’s backstory?
The game Funko Fusion is based in Freddy Funko’s toy factory known as WonderWorks, where all the enchanting activities take place. Inside this toy factory, there are several distinct areas, and I wouldn’t want to ruin that surprise for players. It was truly delightful to animate Freddy, Eddy, and their fellow characters. Players should ensure they engage with all the characters and keep a keen eye out to uncover Eddy’s past, which gradually unfolds as one advances in the game.
Q: What was the IP selection process like when picking the 60 playable characters of Funko Fusion?
Selecting franchises and characters for Funko Fusion was an enjoyable process for us. We chose movies and TV shows that we personally liked, while ensuring a diverse selection to cater to various age groups of potential players.
In our game, we’ve blended timeless classics from the 70s such as “The Thing” and “Jaws,” with the latest hits like “Umbrella Academy.” During development, we also included some delightful surprises for players, hence titles like “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” “Invincible,” and “Mega Man” became part of the lineup. The result is a fantastic medley of characters, each one meticulously crafted in the Funko Pop! style.
Evans: Despite appearing simple, this led to numerous disagreements! There are certain characters that seem inevitable to select, but with so many Intellectual Properties boasting fantastic characters, it’s nearly impossible to favor one over another. We each have our favorites, hidden gems, and personal preferences influenced by various factors, all while attempting to guess the fans’ desires.
While it’s important not to let anyone down, there are boundaries to what we can accomplish. Yet, we believe that the final list we arrived at offers a balanced blend, catering to a wide range of preferences, ensuring there’s a little bit for everyone!
Q: How did you approach the gameplay styles of each of these Funko Pops?
As a Gamer: To truly immerse myself in the game, I need to grasp the essence of the character and animate them convincingly, ensuring they align with player expectations. For instance, He-Man, renowned for his immense strength, wouldn’t feel authentic if his melee attacks seemed feeble.
To ensure an enjoyable gameplay experience, it’s important to strike a balance among the characters, allowing fun for every one you pick. Some characters excel at close-quarters combat, while others specialize in ranged attacks. Each character within the party possesses unique strengths and vulnerabilities relative to others, but this variety also enables players to find a character that suits their preferred playstyle. No matter who you select, all the characters offer an exciting gameplay experience.
Funko Fusion’s Core Gameplay Loop Explained
Q: Can you describe the gameplay loop of Funko Fusion, in broad strokes?
Parsons: Designing the game required a flexible approach, as we aimed to cater to various playstyles rather than favoring one over another. Our goal was to make Funko Fusion accessible to as many gamers as possible, which is why players have the freedom to determine their own sequence for playing the main worlds.
The core structure of the game involves exploring various worlds, uncovering new mechanisms and characters to facilitate progression to new realms. From the outset, players can choose their own path, venturing into uncompleted worlds or jumping ahead to others as they prefer. As the adventure unfolds, they’ll amass a diverse assortment of mechanics, weapons, and power-ups derived from soda, enabling numerous playstyles when navigating levels.
As you delve deeper into this game, you’ll discover that the more time you invest, the more tools become available for your use. This exploration will uncover hidden elements of fun, rewards for those who strive for completion. Additionally, it offers a heightened challenge for those seeking it. To cater to all types of gamers, we’ve designed some character-specific mechanics that can be accessed by any player if they discover the secret power-ups or wonder weapons associated with each character.
A: Could you discuss the broader philosophical aspects behind Funko Fusion? What types of puzzles might players encounter in this game?
Evans: From the beginning, it was important for us to create puzzles that test the player without causing frustration. We also aimed to make these puzzles seamlessly fit within the levels they appear in. If a level involves intense combat, we avoided including complex or time-consuming puzzles. Conversely, when there’s more room for thought, we made the puzzles more challenging and mentally engaging.
We strive to create puzzles that fit logically within their respective game worlds. Knowing the intellectual property (IP) might help you solve these puzzles more quickly, but it’s not always a guarantee. As for the funplay puzzles – the ones you can tackle with characters and mechanics earned from other realms – we aimed to provide a range of difficulty levels that would test your understanding of the game, using mechanics in innovative ways to help you solve the problems presented.
A: What is the strategy used by Funko Fusion when it comes to balancing ranged versus melee combat within the game, as this often differs between different characters?
Each character in the game possesses both melee and ranged attacks. Their weapons are frequently unique items associated with their characters, such as a gun that issues speeding tickets in Hot Fuzz. In terms of long-range combat, some characters may wield short-range shotgun-like weapons, others slower-firing grenade launchers capable of obliterating multiple enemies at once, and still others fast-firing but lower-damage SMG-style weapons – this is merely the beginning of the variety!
Our characters possess a skill to engage and overpower opponents when they approach, utilizing jump slams and powerful melee attacks. This combat style is integrated with enemies in the game that can be vanquished solely by melee strikes, but must first be disoriented using ranged attacks. As a result, players are compelled to adapt their attack strategies and stay alert throughout gameplay.
How Crafting Works in Funko Fusion
Q: How does crafting at large work in Funko Fusion?
Evans: Shaping is how we refer to creating things in our game. Although several characters come with built-in abilities, a good number of our puzzles can be solved only by utilizing tools called gadgets. These gadgets are customizable by players and can be obtained by discovering blueprints, or proto-parts, hidden within each level. To create these gadgets, players need to spend vinyl, which is the currency earned by defeating opponents and destroying objects in the game environment. As you advance through the game, more and more gadgets become available, enabling you to solve an increasing number of puzzles scattered across the world.
Besides gadgets, you can also shape various items. For instance, sodas enable a character to recover health, and they offer temporary abilities like super speed or invincibility, as well as special weapons known as Wonder Weapons. These powerful tools become available once the player collects their prototypes.
“Are there certain characters who possess special abilities when it comes to solving puzzles or uncovering hidden secrets? If so, could you give me a few examples of what those special skills might be?
Evans: Absolutely! Some characters in the game possess inherent skills that players would naturally assume they should have. For instance, if someone is blocking your path and refuses to let you pass, Allison from Umbrella Academy can use her rumor ability to make them move out of the way. If there’s a piece of red vinyl obstructing your path to a collectible, Childs from The Thing carries a flamethrower that can melt it away. Each world in the game features a unique character or tool for you to explore and master.
Question: Does the game offer any additional content or features for players to explore once they’ve finished the main storyline, such as discovering hidden spots or accessing unlockables they might have overlooked?
Parsons: Once you finish the story in Funko Fusion, there’s a wealth of additional content to uncover. This could be secret cameo quests that span various worlds, hidden cameo levels, or concealed secrets and characters, including variants. The game offers a lot to explore and discover once the ending credits start rolling.
As a Fan: Absolutely, and let me tell you, after the final curtain falls, the tale isn’t fully concluded yet! There are still many hidden gems and exciting adventures awaiting the player to uncover!
Question: Are there any unique benefits or drawbacks when playing a game cooperatively? What’s the underlying thought process behind this style of play?
Evans: The multiplayer mode offers an amazing time and it’s delightful to play alongside your buddies. Our aim was to ensure the fundamental essence of the game remained intact. While you’re progressing through identical levels, we aimed to present unique experiences and chances for enjoyment as well.
In our game design, we adjust the difficulty of opponents based on the number of players for an enjoyable and engaging experience. Additionally, a unique currency exclusive to multiplayer modes has been introduced. This currency can be utilized to acquire various skins, each with distinct methods to obtain them as you interact and compete with your friends. We acknowledge and reward both speedy and meticulous players – those who rush through levels quickly and those who prefer a more thorough approach. Regardless of your playstyle, there’s always something enjoyable in our multiplayer sessions.
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2024-09-12 16:24