Tales of Kenzera: Zau Developer’s Next Game is Project Uso, an Afro-Gothic Isometric RPG

Tales of Kenzera: Zau Developer’s Next Game is Project Uso, an Afro-Gothic Isometric RPG

As an avid fan of RPG games and someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the rich, imaginative worlds they create, I can hardly contain my excitement for Surgent Studios’ upcoming project, Project Uso. The prospect of a darker, grittier RPG set within the same universe as Tales of Kenzera: Zau is already tantalizing, but when you add in the inspiration from Planescape: Torment and the intriguing concept of an android cradling the spirit of Eshu, the God of Chaos, it’s hard not to get swept up in the anticipation.


Speaking to VGC, the creator of “Tales of Kenzera: Zau,” released earlier this year – Surgent Studios – has shared some insights about their upcoming project. In conversation with Abubakar Salim, the studio’s founder and head, we learned that their next venture will be a role-playing game (RPG).

In other words, the upcoming studio release is an Afro-Gothic, isometric action RPG. According to Salim, it’s currently being developed under the title “Project Uso“, and it takes place in the same universe as “Tales of Kenzera: Zau”.

The game is being marketed as a “grittier, more intense” version compared to the studio’s initial Metroidvania release, and it draws inspiration from the role-playing game, Planescape: Torment. Salim from Surgent Studios is actively seeking a funding partner to help bring this project to fruition.

In conversation about the game, Salim disclosed that players will take on roles as androids bearing the essence of Eshu, the deity symbolizing disorder.

The author proposed an intriguing twist for the narrative featuring Zau: “In this story, as a shaman, you’re confronting the God of Death to examine the concept of managing grief effectively. A fascinating idea that came to me was, what if one reader decides to challenge death itself? This leads them to build an android designed to comfort the souls of the deceased. Now, consider this: instead of a human spirit, the android cradles the soul of a God – Eshu, the God of Chaos. The combination of these contrasting mindsets within a single setting is something I believe would make for an exciting exploration.

As per Salim’s explanation, Project Uso is set to include live-action combat and an innovative system called the “Crucible” system, where players will compete against one another.

He emphasized that we should primarily concentrate our efforts on perfecting the mechanics, the gaming experience, and overall ambiance, as these aspects are crucial for making the game truly shine.

With a fervor for “Dungeons and Dragons”, the Surgent team and I felt compelled to develop our own role-playing game system. To infuse “Project Uso” with an intense, real-time dynamic, we conceived the Crucible system, where players challenge themselves instead of each other in their rolls.

Surgent Studios has also shared concept images for the title. You can view them below.

Tales of Kenzera: Zau Developer’s Next Game is Project Uso, an Afro-Gothic Isometric RPG
Tales of Kenzera: Zau Developer’s Next Game is Project Uso, an Afro-Gothic Isometric RPG

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2024-10-25 00:11