Funcom has been in collaboration with Legendary Pictures from the beginning of the development process. The visual style of Denis Villeneuve’s two Dune movies has greatly influenced the game’s aesthetics. The iconic ring-mouthed Shai-Hulud is even prominently featured in the key art of Dune: Awakening. However, the game also introduces a different type of sandworm not seen in the recent movies. Joel Bylos discussed this decision in an interview with the German website Gameswelt.de.
While the colossal ring-mouth sandworm will lurk in the deep desert, the smaller, tri-mouthed sandworm will hunt the player, especially at the beginning of the game . Was the second design a homage to David Lynch’s movie adaptation from 1984?
According to the game’s Creative Director, Joel Bylos, it’s simply a gameplay decision:
The reason is quite practical actually, because the ring-mouth doesn’t read well in gameplay…it’s just a giant tunnel..
..This one (*tri-mouth gestured*) …we can animate the mouth to be kind of grabbing at you.
So we actually had a long discussion with Legendary about it, because hey want us to use the movie one, but they are also okay with us using this one as long as we kind of make sure they are both in the game.
Taming the sandworm
Funcom aims to make sandworms a deadly, immortal tension mechanic in Dune: Awakening, something players constantly must be wary of. Although they won’t be rideable at launch, there are plans for the future. Joel Bylos told Gameswelt.de that it’s important to give the sandworms a real purpose as a mount for players. They want it to feel as cool and exciting as in the movies.
I personally love that there are two types of sandworms in the game. The tri-mouth sandworm reminded me on Lynch’s movie and many Dune book covers I have seen over the years.
I am more concerned about sandworms as a ride. They are iconic and formidable creatures within the Dune universe. Allowing players to ride them as pets could undermine their significance and impact in the game world. Additionally, introducing sandworms as rideable pets could conflict with the established lore and themes of the Dune franchise, potentially alienating fans of the series. Since sandworms are not just rides, but also used as a weapon, they face massive balancing problems e.g. in a PVP battle between Atreides and Harkonnen. I would rather pass on sandworms as mountsand accept that I am maybe not one of the few lucky Fremen instead of breaking the rules of the world.
Link: Youtube.com – Gameswelt – Dune: Awakening – Felix zu Besuch bei Warner Bros. in L.A. | VOR ORT
