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In Midgar, the slums bustle with people, mako reactors smolder, and the soil turns to dust; carried by breezes flowing through smog-filled air. The whole place could use a good hose down. Through the fog, a new hero emerges, clad in blue, wielding… a powerwasher.
Okay, so, you might not be able to cleanse the world of the Shinra scourge, but you can just straight up cleanse the world! Whilst Avalanche deals with Shinra, you’ll deal with the fallout. The only power struggle you’re tasked with is keeping hold of that washer.
We are proud to have worked with the Final Fantasy VII team to transport PowerWash Simulator players to one of gaming’s most recognisable cities, in a fresh and authentic way. Players will fall in love with it once more in the new Midgar Special Pack, releasing March 2.
Free to all owners of PowerWash Simulator, the expansion features five filthy new maps to wash and explore, including iconic locations, vehicles and mechs. I’ll pass over to some of FuturLab’s designers, who worked on the Midgar Special Pack, to provide a closer look at the inspiration behind two of the levels, the Scorpion Sentinel and Seventh Heaven.
The Mighty Scorpion Sentinel
One of the most memorable boss fights in Final Fantasy VII is without a doubt the Scorpion Sentinel, making it a perfect job for the Midgar Special Pack. The player will encounter the Sentinel before its deployment against the members of Avalanche, and here it is seen to have been put through a series of tests by Shinra to evaluate its various defensive capabilities.
We’ve represented a variety of scratches and projectile ricochet marks via a new Battle Damage dirt type. Additionally, the Scorpion Sentinel bears the consequences of a test with one of Professor Hojo’s specimens, as seen from the splats of bio residue present all around the machine from this creature’s attacks. As the Sentinel is powered by Mako energy (my favourite new dirt type), we have deposited it in key areas to illustrate how the Sentinel had been pushed to its limits. The rest of the dirt is mostly grime that accumulated during the various trials the Scorpion Sentinel underwent.
“When recreating the iconic Scorpion Sentinel in PowerWash Simulator we really wanted to make the Sentinel feel alive, so various animations such as its roving eye and claws and can be seen. We also wanted to be able to interact with it, so players can move the Sentinel’s arms to get different angles for cleaning.”
– Federico D’Apote, Designer
The Charming Seventh Heaven
For the Midgar special pack, we absolutely knew we had to tackle the best bar in Sector 7 and home of Avalanche, Seventh Heaven. Not only does it give players the opportunity to hear from beloved FFVII characters like Cloud and Tifa (while also being able to clean some of gaming’s coolest weapons like Barret’s gun and Cloud’s buster sword) but our first-person perspective also offers the opportunity to take a closer look at Tifa’s decorating skills and explore areas of the bar players couldn’t see as easy before.
“Bars, especially dystopian fantasy ones, are often bursting with environmental storytelling and attract a variety of dirt. Tifa has had to teach Don Corneo’s disrespectful lackeys a lesson. So, we’ve completely covered the floor in footprints, splattered food and drink stains on the tabletops and walls, along with some general age and neglect build-up in those hard-to-reach places. This results in a very satisfying cleaning experience with a uniquely Final Fantasy finish!”
– Sam Jenkins, Designer
Alongside the Scorpion Sentinel and Seventh Heaven, you will also spray down the Hardy Daytona and Shinra Hauler, the Mako Energy Exhibit, and the formidable Airbuster.
Whether you’re a dirt detailer or a chaotic cleaner, each map will afford you the time and space to appreciate the captivating city and some of Shinra’s finest tech as never before… you know, as it’s not attacking you this time.
Whilst the fate of the city may be muddy, perhaps you can help clear a path for a few plucky heroes. The Midgar Special Pack for PowerWash Simulator releases on March 2.