Skin Deep, a new video game from Blendo Games, combines elements of Looney Tunes cartoons and ’80s action movies with the immersive sim genre. The game involves rescuing cats from spaceships and using unconventional methods like banana peels to thwart guards. Brendon Chung, Founder and Creative Director of Blendo Games, explains their inspiration: “We decided to go in the direction of a Looney Tunes cartoon or an ’80s action movie and use those as our touchstones.”
The game is built on the id Tech 4 engine, originally used for Doom 3. Chung and Programmer Sanjay Madhav adapted this engine to create a slapstick comedy filled with intentional mayhem. Players can expect scenarios such as throwing banana peels to make pirates slip or using hand sanitizer fumes for explosive effects.
One unique feature in Skin Deep is the Skullsaver device that pirates possess. Once incapacitated, a pirate’s head detaches and floats back to a portal for revival. This mechanic adds complexity to dealing with enemies. “There’s something nice about the ritual of doing something with an object,” says Chung.
The game’s design also challenges genre conventions by incorporating physical obstacles like sneezing in dusty vents or slipping on soapy floors. Chung elaborates on their approach: “In first-person games, we choose what to abstract and not to abstract… But there’s something funny and interesting about making your body a real physical thing that can be an obstacle.”
Blendo Games had to overcome technical challenges due to the age of the id Tech 4 engine. Despite its limitations, Chung appreciates its utility: “It’s designed to do one thing and it does it really well.” The team reintroduced John Carmack’s shadow system after its patent expired.
Character design in Skin Deep differs from previous Blendo Games titles by moving away from cube-person designs for more conventional characters. However, cats retain their cubic style. The game also uses cinematic techniques like quick-cuts and vignettes between missions.
Chung believes in the value of older technology: “Old technology is worth continuing to use… If they made an interesting game with it before, you could probably do it again.” As for future projects, he mentions exploring different technologies but hints at interest in open-source versions of modern titles.
Skin Deep is currently available on the Epic Games Store.
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