Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy Q&A

Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is the upcoming third-person action game from THQ. The original title is being developed by veteran studio Eurocom, whose most recent claims to fame include James Bond 007: NightFire and Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds. The action game features varied gameplay--framed by an Egyptian theme. You'll play as both Sphinx, a mystical being, and the mummy, a recently mummified Tutankhamen. We talked to Rob Loftus, creative manager at THQ, about the upcoming game to find out how things are going.

You'll play as Sphinx...

GameSpot: What kind of a game would you describe Sphinx as?

Rob Loftus: Sphinx is an action adventure game set in a world that is heavily based on Egyptian mythology and iconography. We have two protagonists in the game, with differing personalities, and the gameplay reflects these differences. Sphinx, our main character, is the strong-willed adventurer, and his gameplay is punctuated with arcade action--in the form of combat. Conversely, the mummy isn't able to take on enemies head on and must help Sphinx along his quest by solving intricate puzzles, which involve him being put through some pretty torturous situations.

GS: When did development start on the game?

RL: When we finish up, it will have been about three years creating the engine and the game.

GS: How close has the game come to what was originally envisioned? Did it take any interesting detours? If so what?

RL: While the type of gameplay in the game didn't largely change from the original design, the role of the mummy was increased during development. Reaction to the mummy character was very positive, and his gameplay is very unique. We decided that it would be a good idea to give him more of a share of the limelight with Sphinx.

GS: What previous games has the team worked on?

RL: Eurocom has worked on many titles in the past, and they've had some great experience working with licenses, like James Bond, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Harry Potter.

GS: Where did the technology for the game engine come from? Does it reuse something existing, or is it all new?

RL: The engine powering Sphinx was designed by Eurocom, specifically with this project in mind. Eurocom has had a lot of experience working with the console platforms, and that experience shows through with visual quality in Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy. Throughout the development of the game there has been a big emphasis on feature-quality presentation, and Eurocom's engine has allowed us to achieve that goal.

...and the mummy.

GS: What can you tell us about the game's story?

RL: The story follows Sphinx as he stumbles upon the Prince Tut being betrayed and then mummified. It's up to Sphinx to find out who is behind the betrayal, and he gets wrapped up in the more sinister dealings going on behind the scenes of that betrayal. Along the way, the mummy provides a lot of investigative assistance as well.

GS: How did that affect gameplay?

RL: It made the gameplay more cinematic. When creating the game, Eurocom had to keep in mind that they were still creating a narrative. Characters couldn't just be set pieces, since the player had to be able to interact with them--both through action sequences and in cutscenes.