Modern Myths
In the latest Polygon Treehouse dev blog we discuss why we’re taking a modern look at the gods of ancient Greece.
MODERN DAY MEETS MYTHOLOGY
Mythwrecked is set in the present day. You play as a backpacker taking a much needed vacation from the pressures of modern life who is shipwrecked on a mysterious island that is home to some rather strange residents, the long-lost gods of Greek mythology!
In our last dev-blog we spoke about contrast and when we were coming up with the idea for the game we really liked the idea of someone from the modern world meeting the gods of ancient Greece. It’s a classic ‘fish out of water’ set-up that we found really playful, exciting and couldn’t wait to explore from a story and gameplay perspective.
My face when I get an idea.
You know when you have a good idea because your brain will start firing and the ideas and questions will start to flow. We were asking ourselves:-
‘Why have the gods been absent from the world for so long?’
‘How have they changed over time?’
‘What do they look like and how do they act?’
‘How are they relevant in today’s modern world?’
WHAT IS MYTHOLOGY
We’re getting a little ahead of ourselves though! In order to answer those questions it’s first good to look at the concept of ‘mythology’ and its purpose.
Mythology is broad but generally speaking is the stories of gods, their exploits and the origins of the world. You might think these tales of supremely powerful divine beings wouldn’t be relatable to us puny mortals but think again.
The role of these Mythical stories is actually closely linked to the human condition. They can be interpreted to distill an ancient society's culture, moral code and values. They can be tales of caution (looking at you Icarus) or to inspire greatness. They brought a sense of meaning and comfort to the chaos of the ancient world.
Today, myths and legends fade away from our modern world of technology and science.
A not-so-subtle visual metaphor who’s modesty has been protected.
MODERNISING MYTHOLOGY
There have been many modern takes on the Greek Gods across films, comics and video games, everything from Lore Olympus (which is soon to become a Netflix series) to the Marvel Universe’s Eternals (which itself has had a few different versions!).
A few examples of modern takes on mythology from my bookshelf
Each interpretation varies a great deal and it’s this ‘spin’ that gives each creation its own character and message. So what was the thinking behind our take on modernizing the gods of ancient Greece for our next game?
MYTHICAL MAKEOVER
Earlier we talked about myths and their role in bringing a sense of meaning to a chaotic ancient world. Well, dear reader, have you watched the news recently? Even after all the scientific and technological advancements we have today, the world is a pretty chaotic place, even more so in recent years. So maybe it’s time for the gods and myths to make a comeback, but this time to give an insight into the modern world we find ourselves in today.
For Mythwrecked we wanted a cast of gods that were kinda goofy, entertaining and ultimately relatable. We spoke earlier about how myths can give an insight into the human condition and the culture of the day. To achieve this it was essential that the player could connect and emphasise with our version of the gods. We want them to be able to connect with them on a human level, rather than looking up at all-powerful flawless beings on a plinth. In short, we want these to be characters facing relatable problems that you want to help, even the grumpy ones!
It is this humanity that we’ve tried to capture with our own take on the gods of ancient Greece and we look forward to introducing them to you next year.
FOLLOW THE ADVENTURE
That’s all for now, but don’t forget you can keep up to date on Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island by following our Twitter, joining our Discord or subscribing to the Polygon Treehouse Newsletter and if you get the chance wishlisting and following Mythwrecked on Steam would be amazing.
Until next time,
Alex & Team