Toasty: Ashes of Dusk Aims to Elevate 'Overlooked' Elements of its Inspirations
The impact of Nintendo's Legend of Zelda series is hard to overstate. From iconic mechanics and sound design to imaginative dungeons, the series' influence is palpable and references are frequent. The indie scene has thrived with Zelda-likes, from early examples like The Binding of Isaac featuring dungeon layouts akin to the NES original to Andrew Shouldice's recent success Tunic. Games like A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening, and Majora's Mask are cornerstones that Pocket Llama's Toasty: Ashes of Dusk pays homage to.
This action-adventure RPG is seeking funding through Kickstarter — though it hit the initial $25,000 USD goal under three hours after its campaign launched on March 29. Zelda games are not Toasty's only inspiration; its crowdfunding page also names Pokemon and Final Fantasy, among others. Yet director Justin «Dooper» East said the idea originated from its team wanting to «scratch that itch» with Zelda-like RPGs. Game Rant spoke to East about Toasty's blend of influences contributing to a title fitting its team's personalities.
The Legend of Zelda Series' Legacy of Iconic Sound Design
Toasty: Ashes of Dusk is Pocket Llama's debut venture, starting with just two developers and fluctuating before landing on its current team of six: East, narrative director and concept artist Ivy Jade Weaver, art director Brian Farrar, composer Maya Oliveira, programmer Faulty Functions, and community manager Tanya «Tannyerz» Courtney. East said the group consists of friends, like him and Farrar who work on East's «low-poly Llama VTuber» night gig; or friends-of-friends, like Oliveira being brought in on a recommendation; but this is the first time they've done a bigger project. Pocket Llama's connection with publisher Top Hat
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