“A Puzzle Should Be Structured Like A Good Joke” – The Influences & Craft Behind ‘Lorelei And The Laser Eyes’

The Mysterious Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

You step into a dimly lit hotel, seemingly deserted. Needing someone to talk to, you cautiously venture deeper into the hotel, down a peaceful corridor, until you find yourself in a dimly lit library. Your attention is drawn to a book on one of the crowded shelves.

Curiosity leads you to reach for the possibly glowing book and carefully pull on its spine. As it falls open, you discover…

Image: Simogo

You are immersed in Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, the latest creation from Swedish developer Simogo.

Coming five years after the success of Sayonara Wild Hearts, Lorelei is a departure from the pop album aesthetic, offering a more subdued and tense escape room experience with a film noir vibe, showcasing Simogo’s signature exploration of the human mind over their 25-year history.

Unlocking the Mysteries with Simon Flesser

Alan Lopez for Nintendo Life: What was your role on
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes?

Simon Flesser: Iā€™m Simon Flesser. I contributed to various aspects of the project, including designing and building the world and its puzzles, writing the story, creating textures and effects, and managing camera placement.

Sayonara Wild Hearts was a major commercial success for Simogo, but Lorelei is a departure in genre, aesthetic, and color scheme, more in line with previous titles like Device 6.

Was there resistance internally or externally in transitioning from a successful action-arcade-musical to a black-and-white puzzle mystery game?

While Sayonara Wild Hearts was a significant project, the pressure of starting a new endeavor always looms. For us, the challenge was to create something novel, unexpected, and thought-provoking.

Exploring Perspective in Puzzle Design

The game delves into the intricacies of perspective, a concept carried over from Sayonara Wild Hearts. By relinquishing control over the camera, we aimed to integrate it seamlessly into the game’s design, emphasizing emotional resonance and gameplay elements through diverse perspectives.

The Process Behind the Puzzles

The puzzle creation process is iterative, focusing on concepts like symmetry, consistency, and series. Communication lies at the heart of Lorelei’s puzzles, conveying and concealing information to guide players’ problem-solving journey.

I thought a lot about how a puzzle should be structured like a good joke, with a good buildup that culminates in a surprising punchline.

The puzzles in Lorelei and the Laser Eyes evoke a sense of communication, presenting solvers with the right balance of hints and challenges to inspire creativity.

Delving into Narrative Themes

The game not only offers an array of puzzles but also extends these challenges to its characters. Exploring the impact of an observer’s presence on a narrative context, Lorelei prompts players to consider the influence they wield.

These discussions stem from the current entertainment landscape, which often prioritizes audience satisfaction over authenticity…

But much like the game’s narrative, I aim to let players formulate their interpretations, encouraging introspection and exploration.

Interacting with the Story Discourse

We occasionally observe online dialogues around the game’s story, finding various interpretations and analyses intriguing. It’s an engaging way to see how players connect with the narrative.

The Role of Music in Game Design

Music serves as a pivotal element in our creative process, often influencing early concepts and setting the tone for the game. Songs like Radio Waves and Laser Eyes were crafted before tangible gameplay existed, laying the foundation for subsequent development.

Reflecting on notable music integrations in other games, tracks like Gusty Garden Galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy and White Noiz from Silent Hill 2 stand out for their immersive and unique qualities.

Additionally, credits songs like those in Super Mario Bros. 3 and Yoshi’s Island hold a special place, providing a moment of reflection on the player’s journey.

Looking Back at Past Achievements

Looking back on Sayonara Wild Hearts’ success after five years, we acknowledge areas for improvement in workflow and technical aspects. However, we are content with the game’s reception and focus on injecting fresh ideas into new projects.

Regarding Queen Latifah’s Involvement

While I’m unsure if Queen Latifah played the game, she did review gameplay before recording her narration.

A Final Puzzle for Simon

Simogo / Lorelei And The Laser Eyes Interview
Image: Simogo

No, it’s too tough. I might never crack it!


Special thanks to Simon for sharing his insights from Sweden and enriching our understanding of Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. This interview has been edited for clarity.

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is now available on Switch and will be releasing on PS4/5 on December 3rd, offering a captivating experience for gamers.