Phantom Doctrine is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing tactical strategy games of 2018. The Cold War espionage tale draws inspiration from the genre’s best representatives, like Firaxis’ XCOM reboot, while implementing unique ideas to keep the experience fresh. And the studio aims to put its own stamp on some staples of the genre, too.
Player.One spoke with CreativeForge Games Head of Business & Marketing Blazej Krakowiak earlier this month, and the discussion shed light on the studio’s efforts to bolster the player’s attachment to their operatives... but only to a point.
“We wanted to strike a balance between becoming attached to your operatives, as assets and people you’ve invested in, and treating them as expendable” Krakowiak said. “This is not one superhero team versus another. You recruit people who can help you. You recruit from former spies. You recruit underworld criminals and smugglers.”
Individuals from diverse backgrounds will make up your team. Some even appear to be everyday citizens. But like any intelligence outfit worth a damn, Phantom Doctrine lets players smother that individuality with an array of neutral-colored suits that wouldn’t look out of place in any government facility. But the player’s choice won’t be limited to whether their agents prefer grey or black jackets.
“There are quite a few options,” Krakowiak confirmed.
CreativeForge’s business and marketing lead says the studio had to “make peace” with the fact that offering an assortment of clothing options meant they would need to include wardrobe choices that didn’t fit Phantom Doctrine ’s theme and setting. But with character customization built into the story -- your HQ has a Forger’s Workshop used to alter the look (and passport) of your agents -- the player has full control of the team’s dress code.
“The only caveat here is that you, as the player, have to acknowledge (in the game) that you want to go all out and you’re OK with the fact that it will not be 100 percent plausible,” Krakowiak said. “If you wanted to blend in in the Soviet Union in 1983, you’re probably not a tall black guy in a pink ‘80s jacket and big hair. That’s just objective fact. But in all the game design debates, all the discussions, we always end up on the side of player freedom. As long as players acknowledge it, if they want to play like that, why not?”
“You don’t have to do that,” he added. “You can stick to the inconspicuous office worker look that every good spy has in every good movie. It’s up to you.”
For more on Phantom Doctrine , check out our hands-on impressions from PAX West, the dev team’s thoughts on the risks and rewards presented by PD’s reinforcement mechanic and the story behind CreativeForge Games’ decision to tell a Cold War espionage game.
Phantom Doctrine is in development for PC and scheduled to debut in 2018.
Be sure to check back with Player.One and follow Scott on Twitter for more Phantom Doctrine news in 2017 and however long CreativeForge supports Phantom Doctrine after launch.
