Tommaso Bonanni, CEO of Caracal Games on Star Overdrive – Interview Series

Caracal Games, an Italy-based developer, has finally lifted the veil on its latest project, Star Overdrive—an open-world game that will act as a “Sci-Fi ZBOT homage on a more indie scale.” Curious to learn more about the studio’s upcoming release, I caught up with Tommaso over at Caracal Games, who kindly filled me in on all of the juicy details.

We appreciate you for taking the time to speak with us today! Before we touch base on the latest chapter in Caracal Games’ anthology, please could you introduce yourself to our readers?

Tommaso: Thanks for asking! We started in 2015 as a three-person studio, working on our first game, Downward (which has recently been re-done and released on all consoles). It’s a first-person platformer parkour-based. In the years, we have done several other games, continually expanding and focusing on working with AAA publishers like Gearbox (we collaborated on Blanc) and smaller ones like Wired (Martha is Dead). Occasionally, we do passion projects like 2021: Moon Escape, a retro title we released in physical format for GAME BOY (cartridge) and digital on Nintendo Switch, just to keep our passion ignited. We are now a team of 10 super-talented professionals who can’t wait to share our next game!

Let’s shift our focus over to your upcoming sci-fi epic, Star Overdrive. Could you tell us a bit more about the idea behind the game, as well as what inspired the dive into a rich sci-fi setting?

Tommaso: We are great fans of classic sci-fi literature; Isaac Asimov and E.R. Burroughs are our main pillars. We are also in love with the last The Legend of Zelda open-world gameplay. So we decided to mix that into something scaled to our means. You can say that Star Overdrive is a “Sci-Fi ZBOT homage on a more indie scale”!

We’d love to hear more about this “alien” world and its origin story. Tell us, how did this planet come to be, and how exactly will we be involved in its evolution as players?

Tommaso: For now, what we can tell you is that the planet named “Cebete” is a relevant protagonist of the game since exploration and environmental narrative are strong aspects of the experience. We conceptualized the entire surface as a “giant skate/snow park,” using ancient alien structures left from the past and the general morphology as a tool to have fun with your hoverboard. Ancient structures are now ramps, pipes, caves and much more since the exploration will also be on foot. The base of our inspirations for the look and feel of the planet are the masterpieces of illustrations such as Chriss Foss and Roger Dean.

Journey to the galaxy's depths in this high-speed sci-fi epic!

🛹 Ride your stylish Hoverboard to traverse stunning alien landscapes
🎸 Face enemies by combining multiple powers@star_overdrive is coming in 2025 on #NintendoSwitch

👉https://t.co/KV9kB8TwrK#NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/nEYyBI5G8h

— Star Overdrive (@star_overdrive) August 27, 2024

It’s an open-world adventure game, so presumably, we’ll have the opportunity to explore numerous avenues and tackle swathes of different challenges. Could you tell us what else we’ll be tackling in Star Overdrive.

Tommaso: Star Overdrive is built around the thrill of exploration. From the very beginning of the production, we focused on creating a world that’s not only visually captivating but also packed with endless possibilities for players to discover.

Freedom is at the heart of this game.

Players will glide across vast landscapes on their hoverboards, seamlessly navigating through diverse biomes and environments. Along the way, they’ll encounter a range of unique activities like: enemies, each with unique creative combat strategies, environmental puzzles to solve, hidden collectibles to uncover, and secrets waiting to be found.

Beyond that, there are some exciting side quests, adrenaline-fueled races, and epic battles with the Dune Jumpers, the colossal worm that appeared in our teaser. Players will also have the chance to interact with gigantic alien structures and collect resources that will be very useful on this journey. We really worked hard to make the exploration of this world rewarding and fun.

Given the fact that the hoverboard is, in all fairness, one of the most important tools in our arsenal, it seems only right that we dedicate a separate passage to it. So, tell us about it. How will this mode of transportation be able to aid our efforts to explore Star Overdrive?

Tommaso: The hoverboard in Star Overdrive isn’t just a mode of transportation; it is the heart and the core of the experience. At Caracal Games, we worked very hard to design and deliver what we truly believe is an amazing traversal experience. The hoverboard is designed to be fast, responsive, versatile, and easy to learn but hard to master. It’s more than just a way to get from point A to point B; the hoverboard plays a central role in exploration and combat. Its speed helps players navigate difficult terrains, chase down enemies, and access hard-to-reach areas; the speed, jumping system and tricks allow the player to master it and show off his skills. We’ve also included a range of customization options, styles and colours, allowing players to modify the hoverboard’s appearance, making it personal and unique. Finally, the hoverboard stats and performances can be increased, making the hoverboard faster, more agile, and much more.

We’re real suckers for a few pro tips. Do you have any words of advice that might benefit future players with their planet-wide endeavors?

Tommaso: Yes! This game is about discovery, so you can take your time and explore or rush to your main goal. In any case, always remember that you have an arsenal of different physics-based powers that will always be able to help you in very creative ways, not only on your Hoverboard but also during melee fights and puzzles! Mixing these powers together will always generate an expected (or unexpected ;P) new outcome.

Follow us on all our socials!
It's the same tag, just a different place 🛹😊 pic.twitter.com/JJUnrce0uY

— Star Overdrive (@star_overdrive) September 29, 2024

Of course, with Star Overdrive due to launch as a timed exclusive on Switch, we can’t help but raise the question: will the game be heading to alternate platforms in the foreseeable future?

Tommaso: At the moment we are very focused on Switch, which will be in our opinion the best version of the game since it has been designed specifically for that console… But you can wishlist it on Steam in the meantime!

How can we stay up to date with Star Overdrive? Are we able to share any important social feeds, streams, or upcoming events with our readers?

Tommaso: We’ve kept Star Overdrive a secret for so long that we’re happy to start sharing our development adventure on social media. Our publisher, Dear Villagers, has also got us covered with a Star Overdrive presence on all major social networks. The Caracal development channels will feature dev blogs, some behind-the-scenes footage, and even a super cool manga that will give our future players a glimpse into our epic story. We’ll be sure to share the latest with you when they come up!

Is there anything you would like to add before we go ahead and wrap things up?

Tommaso: At Caracal, we've maintained a healthy and balanced approach while developing Star Overdrive. There's been no crunch—just a steady, thoughtful pace as we’ve worked together, ensuring every detail gets the attention it deserves. This game isn’t just another project for us; it’s a reflection of our passion, creativity, and belief in what we can bring to the gaming world.

We’ve meticulously combed through every element to make Star Overdrive as polished and impactful as possible. We did our best, and we hope it will be reflected in the final result. It’s a labor of love, and we truly believe it’s something special. We’re beyond excited to finally share it with the world and can’t wait to see how players experience this unique journey.

Thank you so much for your time, Tommaso.

For more information on Caracal Games’ Star Overdrive, be sure to check in with the team over on their official social handle here.