A closer look at 15th IMGA Global nominee: DERE EVIL EXE

Having more than a hundred games at this years IMGA Global, it can be hard to stand out among such awesome games. We asked Darius Guerrero of AppSir, Inc. a few questions about their game,  DERE EVIL EXE. 

What is your game about?

DERE EVIL EXE is both a terrifying thriller with a gripping story and an unorthodox retro platformer with unique puzzles and obstacles.

In DERE EVIL EXE, you step into the tiny shoes of a silent hero named ‘Knightly’. Knightly must jump, run, and manipulate environments in order to survive the heart-racing journey through a stunning pixel art world.

Within surreal structures lurk dangerous creatures known as ‘corruptions’. They take the form of their creator’s greatest fears. Their creepy creator, sporting a cunning visage of cheerfulness, hides in plain sight as she watches her prey fall deeper into her traps.

A GAME LOST IN TIME

Modern 2d side-scrolling game with levels inspired by the simplicity and aesthetics of 16-bit arcade classics of the 80s and 90s.

MELODIC MADNESS
The game plays either catchy retro chiptune music or ominous orchestral music, depending on the situation.

IMMERSIVE TALE OF HORROR
A completely new meta story that bends the genre in ways unseen in the video game world.

What makes your game unique?

There aren’t any games quite like DERE EVIL EXE. It is a self-aware platformer that shifts from retro to humor to meta-horror with plot twists and turns as the terrifying thriller unfolds. It is unique not only because of the narrative but also because of the way it is told. Everything from the game field to the pause button is utilized in its unorthodox storytelling.

The game isn’t all horror though, as it pokes fun at and toys with its NES platformer influences along the way. Coins kill you, jumping on enemies kill you, and tombstones are checkpoints. The robotic AI’s deadpan delivery of compliments and crabby comments add to the humor as well. Sometimes, the comments only serves to frustrate the player further. It is a difficult game but beatable with practice and a lot of patience.

Throughout the game, DERE EVIL EXE subverts the expectations of players not only from a gameplay standpoint but in the storyline aspect as well. The fourth wall is broken early on, and the game uses its meta storytelling consistently in its entire run. DERE EVIL EXE culminates in a meta plot twist ending that rivals even M. Night Shyamalan movies.

Why do you think you will win the grand prix this year? 

DERE EVIL EXE is a celebration of the creative freedom that indie game developers have. It is an original marriage of multiple genres and caters to fans of platforming, single player adventures, meta storytelling, visual novels, and horror games.

The story is inspired from a young gamer’s fears; a game about playing something you aren’t supposed to. We wanted it to reflect the kind of horror people pass on, the kind of story gamers will tell each other while camping late at night while waiting for the monsters to spawn. People will connect with this game as soon as level one ends. Be it because of the nostalgia, the level of trolling, or that unshakable feeling of dread in your childhood as you figure out how electronic glitches happen.