Matt Stone, one of the creators of South Park, recently spoke with IGN about the upcoming game South Park: Snow Day. Stone mentioned that the game would differ from the previous South Park titles, The Stick of Truth and The Fractured But Whole, which were both RPGs. Most people following the game are curious about the complete shift, and we finally got answers.
South Park: Snow Day is a 3D adventure game with a co-op focus inspired by rogue-like games. Players assume the role of the New Kid and join the South Park gang to combat enemies in a snowy South Park. The storyline centers around the children having a snow day, but the continuous snowfall due to a mysterious event hints at a potential larger threat. This all comes from the interview.
You’ll be used to this if you’ve played the previous games. It always starts with doing some fun kid thing and then shifts to real adult and world-ending events. Stone highlighted the game’s emphasis on replay value, something he wanted to make sure was different in this one.
“We started talking about doing something a little different, more about replayability. More about being able to update characters. We always thought we wanted to do that thing where we do a thing in a show and then like, it’s in the game two weeks later, or three weeks, or whatever it is. And with The Fractured But Whole and Stick of Truth, it’s hard to do.”
Matt Stone
Unlike past titles, Snow Day has a more open structure, giving players the freedom to approach each playthrough in unique ways. The Stick of Truth and Fractured But Whole had set ways to do everything. It wasn’t very replayable. Moreover, the developers want to provide regular updates, which may include content inspired by current events in the show.
Jameel Saleem, a writer for both the game and the show, said the experience is like playing through a “long episode of South Park.” The game starts with a lighthearted premise of children playing, but a more serious threat emerges as the story unfolds. There wasn’t much given story-wise, as the interview focused on what was new, not what would be.
The transition to 3D graphics was purposeful and significant. According to Stone, the switch from the previous 2D format to 3D opens up new gameplay possibilities. He also mentioned that the $29.99 price point allowed the developers to experiment with 3D without taking on significant financial risk. If the game isn’t very expensive, more people will want to play because it’s cheap, so you can take more risks.
Stone ended the interview by discussing how other games, like Hades, influenced the development of Snow Day. He also mentioned his and co-creator Trey Parker’s different gaming preferences and emphasized the importance of finding a concept that appeals to both of them. To be honest, this makes me want the game even more.
