ABOUT

Concept

Ultros might borrow its main verbs from the ‘Metroidvania’ genre, where players traditionally explore a labyrinthine environment gated by abilities, but in every other sense it is as distinctive a vision as you’ll see in a modern video game. Built by a team of artists and thinkers, it offers both psychedelic spectacle and philosophical depth: in a genre where you’re often invited to kill to progress, here’s an alternative that says farming rather than harming can be a new way forward.

Assembled in collaboration with developer Hadoque and publisher Kepler Interactive, Ultros: Design Works was conceived with a view to capturing both the singular visual style of the game and its more thoughtful ecological underpinnings, celebrating every facet that makes it unique. Author John Rogers would interview all five members of the core team, documenting a journey that stretches from the calm environs of Stockholm and Gothenburg they call home to the wilds of the Peruvian rainforest, where Ultros’s captivating soundscape was born. The aim was to provide a comprehensive examination of this fascinating game’s six-year development, and what it means to make an independent game in an age where the tried-and-trusted dominates, and original ideas strain to make themselves heard.

Execution

A game like Ultros demands special treatment, and so we set out to offer a luxurious package for its most dedicated fans, through deluxe presentation and a generous array of extras. The hardback book is housed within a pantone neon and matte finished slipcase that spotlights the game’s distinctive psychedelic aesthetic from the moment you open the box.

Befitting a title that showcases its extraordinary artistry in every frame, we included a series of stunning concept art prints, as well as postcards, posters, and a scratch art print, all helping provide a clearer, fuller visual picture of the development process, with the book’s edge-printed pages adding a psychedelic finishing touch.

Alongside these, we produced a book of verse by poet, writer and Ultros narrative designer Pelle Cahndlerby that evokes the ethereal ambience of the game’s setting. Another booklet covers the fascinating origin story behind Ultros, designed to be read while listening to a CD of selected tracks from its indelible soundtrack. In each case, careful attention was paid to the ways we could best represent these elements that are so integral to Ultros.

The editorial component of the main book features a series of thoughtful, in-depth conversations between John Rogers and the team, covering all aspects of the game’s development journey. Predominantly printed in coloured text on black paper – all the better to reflect the game’s impeccable sense of style in book form – Ultros: Design Works also features an extensive section on the game’s Dwellers, marrying insights into the game’s multifarious characters with explorative sketches from legendary artist and creative figurehead Niklas ‘El Huervo’ Åkerblad. This provides an incomparably clear picture of how these characters were conceived and evolved throughout development, and provides a striking visual contrast with the rest of the book.

Results

The pictures tell their own story, but Lost In Cult’s most expensively assembled project to date has also received stellar appraisals from customers and critics alike. Described as “a superb book… delivering engaging details and interviews into its history and creation, as well as spectacular artwork that you will want to revisit time and time again” and “a joy to read through” with “production quality [that] highlights Lost in Cult’s commitment to doing right by collectors of physical media”, this labour of love is a must-own for both fans of Ultros and anyone invested in the creative challenges involved in making a cult classic.