The video game studio 2.21 is reviving a classic 90s game!
The first game from a studio based in the Hauts-de-France region: this was the challenge that Benoît Limare, founder of the [2.21] studio, set out to meet in 2021.
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Taking on a classic and making it the first signature project of a new studio is a bit like tackling Mont Blanc straight after having merely practised climbing Mont Cassel, which is 176 metres high. It can make your head spin…
Yet this is the challenge that Benoît Limare, founder of the [2.21] studio, set out to tackle in 2021. In this case, ‘Everest’ refers to a classic 90s gaming title. Little Big Adventure, released in 1994, is an action-adventure game conceived by Frédérick Raynal (also the creator of the equally legendary Alone in the Dark), which enjoyed resounding success worldwide. It was not only a commercial success (in total, nearly 500,000 copies are said to have been sold worldwide) but also a critical success, with Joystick magazine (the leading publication of the time) literally raving about it after testing it in a preview: “Coming soon: L.B.A, the most beautiful game in the world!”
As Benoit Limare said during a PIX round-table discussion on licences in March 2024:
“L.B.A is a huge deal, because it means so much to gaming communities in very specific countries, such as France, Brazil, and so on. It was a bit of a lifelong dream of mine; I’ve always wanted to create a new version of the game. And from a practical point of view, a licence like this allowed me to minimise the artistic risks involved in a debut game and to attract investors.”
A leading publisher: Microids
After 18 months of development by Benoît and his team, the French publisher Microids decided to back the project and add it to its catalogue. They announced it on 24 June with a reveal trailer and officially launched the marketing campaign at GamesCom in Cologne in August of the same year.
The remake therefore features a new art style, updated gameplay and brand-new music composed by Philippe Vachey; the aim is indeed to ‘rekindle the magic of the original game whilst drawing on today’s expertise’.
Release date? Autumn 24!
The [2.21] team is already active in this community of fans of the original version of the game, whilst aiming to attract young players who might be tempted by a title that has retained its originality and freshness.
A website is bringing this community to life, offering members the chance to test Chapter 1 of the game from 25 September at 10.21 am until 2 October at 10.21 am!
Little Big Adventure – Twinsen’s Quest will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC in autumn 2024.