Last Updated on Jul 30, 2026 @ 12:40:26 PM.
The Relic: First Guardian is releasing tomorrow, and after we had the chance to discuss all things about the title with Director In-hyeok Park, we found out that the title almost had a massive mechanic we don’t usually see in the Soulslike genre. When asked if they had to remove or cut any weapons or systems from the final build, and why, Park was very honest, saying:
“We did not cut any of the major weapon types. However, early in development, we had a choice system that allowed players to make decisions while exploring. Properly implementing the changes and consequences of those decisions would have required a much larger production scope.
Considering the size of our team and the overall quality we wanted to maintain, we decided to remove it and focus on the core experience of exploration and discovering stories. Most of the other major weapons and systems evolved while retaining their original direction.”
We don’t get too many titles these days with choice and consequence mechanics, even less so when they’re fully fleshed out, open-world Soulslike titles like The Relic: First Guardian. In my review for the title, I praised the open world, exploration and ways of story-telling, and I just can’t see where this mechanic would fit in without some significant changes to the world itself, so personally, this is one of those times where I’m glad feature creep didn’t happen.
Park also went on to explain how he and the team are doing everything they can to make The Relic: First Guardian something different in the overly stuffed Soulslike genre:
“What mattered most to us was deciding what emotions and lasting impression we wanted to leave with the player. Through the records and traces they discover while exploring, players gradually glimpse the life a person once lived. In the end, they confront the boss who represents the conclusion of that life. We wanted bosses to be more than powerful enemies that must be defeated. We wanted each encounter to feel like coming face-to-face with another person’s life and emotions.”
With the review build including every boss the final build will, I can safely say that the bosses do feel unique to one another, and each one does have their own story, which in some cases can be genuinely depressing in nature.
The Relic: First Guardian releases July 31st on PlayStation 5, and PC, with XBOX Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 coming later in the year.
Will you be picking up The Relic: First Guardian when it releases? What do you think of the comments above? Let us know in the comments below!
For your next read, check out The Eventide, a new game announced from some ex-Bioware devs, or the well-received announcement of a WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers sequel.
Luke Addison is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thumb Wars. Having previously been a part of multiple outlets over the years, including building an entire gaming team from nothing to something, he thought it best to forge his own path and answer only to himself. As likely to be found playing the latest game as he is in the kitchen relaxing (by cooking), he always brings the same bold and brash attitude to everything he does, with a heavy leaning on sarcasm and dry wit!
