The recently releasedHellboy Web of Wyrdis the newest game fromWest of Deaddeveloper Upstream Arcade and the first attempt at a video game featuring one of comics' most-beloved characters sinceHellboy: The Science of Evil, a sixth-generation tie-in game with Guillermo Del Toro’s secondHellboyfilm. With the benefit of modern hardware and an appreciation for the source material,Hellboy Web of Wyrdaccurately depicts the iconic and recognizable art style ofHellboycreator Mike Mignola. Outside mimicking the art of the comics, though, the game also aims to match the narrative tone and mood of the legendary series.
Since simply being able to replicate the dark and shadow-saturated art style of Mike Mignola in a video game wouldn’t quite be enough to appeaseHellboyfans in the character’s latest video game appearance, Upstream Arcade also enlisted the guidance of Mignola himself to help with the game’s story and general outline. Speaking with Game Rant recently ahead of the game’s release, the developer was candid regarding how many of the team arefans ofHellboyand the Mignolaverse, as well as how Mignola’s art and storytelling helped to ultimately shapeHellboy Web of Wyrd.
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Upstream Arcade Aimed to Deliver an Authentic Hellboy Experience
One of the greatest challenges present in adapting a comic with as iconic and original an art style asHellboyis figuring out how to render the original artist’s work in a digital format. Luckily for developer Upstream Arcade, the team already used a lot of its collectivelove for the Mignolaverse andHellboyin the art style and aesthetic of its previous game,West of Dead. It was actually the studio’s work onWest of Deadthat led to the team being presented with the opportunity to work on aHellboygame.
We were really lucky to get a chance at Hellboy. We were already huge fans, and couldn’t help but let his influence be visible on our previous game - West of Dead. Luckily for us, Good Shepherd spotted the heart we were wearing on our sleeves and asked “Would you like to work on a Hellboy game?”
From there, the team set out with the goal of implementing Mignola’s style and making it work in a video game.Mignola’s artworkis famous for its dynamic use of light and shadow and distorted figures, capable of providing an evocative mood while also not relying too much on intensive detail. The baroque shadows and bold lines have an immediately recognizable appearance that set them apart from other, more traditional comic art styles, and translating this art directly into a video game ended up presenting some challenges regarding the gameplay being too dark. Of course, this is something the team set to fix, but it was not without its challenges.
We were very excited to slap a load of black all through our levels before stepping back from the game editor and saying “Ladies and Gentlemen, we give you Mike Mignola’s Hellboy…!” We then sat and played through those levels and no one could see the walls on the other side of the room.
Outside the game’s accurate depiction of the comics' art style, it was also important to the team to get the input of the series' mastermind and namesake behind the Mignolaverse.Hellboycreator Mike Mignolais no stranger to assisting with adaptations of his work, and his approach is one of providing guidance while recognizing his own areas of expertise as a creator.
Mike Mignola is very happy to state that he is a comic guy and that there are people who make films that are film people and people who make games who are games people. He understands that there are requirements within video games, such as failing often before a success, where the traditional linear comic storyline doesn’t quite chime with the requirements of a video game. With his blessing, he was happy for us to create a Hellboy story that fit around the game structure we designed.
Hellboy Web of Wyrdis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
