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A new, beheaded, pixelated, side-scrolling adventure based on myths from the Basque Country is being built by solo developer Ibai, who told us all about Guillotine (and an update on Barraka) in Barcelona.
"Hi friends, I'm at the BCN Game Fest by IndieDevDay and this is my second interview of the day one.
And I'm here joined by Ibai, who you might know from last year's Barraka interview.
But this game is completely different. This game is pixel art and this game is all about a beheaded protagonist."
"So how did you come up with this concept?
I started this concept many years ago in a game jam, like many games.
And the theme was, you are the monster.
And we came up with this idea that the protagonist from Guillotine is a beheaded executioner."
"And he kills enemies, he chops the heads of the enemies and he can wear them, gaining different powers.
So it's, as you described before, off the record, it's kind of Kirby meets Blasphemous.
Before we talk the Blasphemous side of things, what sort of abilities are you acquiring from enemies?
Because some of them are pretty, you know, quirky and fun."
"Yeah, right now in the demo that you can find in Itch.io, you have the chicken head.
He flies a little bit, basically he has a double jump.
Also you can find the pumpkin head, the scarecrow head.
You can throw crows with it and open the path with it."
"And also you can find the zombie head.
With that you become a zombie, an undead.
And you are practically immortal, invulnerable to any damage.
And then it's sort of a platformer, some Metroidvania elements to it."
"So what can you tell me about that and the lore that is behind it?
Mechanically first.
Yeah, Guillotine is a mix between platformer, a puzzle game and some elements of Metroidvania.
Also the world of Guillotine is a little bit strange."
"Because it's located at the beginning of the 20th century, that the Basque Country is independent.
And the Basque people try to conquer the moon.
But something really bad happens with the cannon.
And the moon explodes and some fragments of the moon rain on the Basque Country."
"And everything is changed.
Right now in the Basque Country you can find many folkloric creatures.
In every town they are making fiestas.
You can find the giants, the big heads."
"Erraldoiak, Buruhandiak... And it's a really folkloric game.
And I wanted to create a really dark game mixed with tons of humor.
Because right now I consider that we are flooded with really grim dark games.
But I don't find the mix between humor and darkness."
"And I wanted to create a game mixing those ideas.
And as you said there is a demo, on Itch.io, And we can try it out, but you're progressing as we speak.
You have sort of a vertical slice and you're trying to talk with publishers?
Exactly. Right now I'm looking for a publisher, so you know."
"But also you can try the free demo on Itch.io.
And also you can add to your wishlist in Steam.
And you're the solo developer here?
Right now I am the solo developer of this game."
"But I have to admit that I have a musician, Gonzalo Sardón, that is really amazing.
In Barraka he made a really amazing job.
And in Guillotine it's making a really amazing score.
And I have to say that I honor it, that I have an amazing illustrator."
"Called Joseba Larratxe (Josevisky), That he made this amazing cover.
And this is the team.
All right, and you expect to release, if you can, find a publisher or finish the game next year?
2028. I think that's 2028."
"Right now it's in the first steps of the development.
And I think that if everything is going right, the game will release.
Two years from now.
Two years and a half."
"Two years and a half. And then let me ask you briefly about Barraka.
What is the status? We saw the game, we loved the game last year.
So where can we get our hands on it?
Barraka, I hope that it will release at the beginning of the next year."
"Because right now it's a little bit on hold.
I am looking also for a publisher or a PR to make the release bigger.
But right now it's a little bit on hold, so you will have to wait a little bit.
Thank you so much for your time, Ibai."
"Be careful not to be beheaded during the BCN Game Fest.
There's a lot of people, I've seen some swords, so thank you so much.
Thanks again for your time.
And lose your head with Guillotine."
