Akella's working on a new PC Action-RPG called NUMENKlecha (Gry.o2.pl): To begin with, let us know a little bit about your development team and its previous involvements in the game industry.
Irina Semenova (Akella): The team behind Numen consists of developers who released PC adventure game Daemonica and others, who have developed Inquistor - dark PC RPG that is yet to be released.
Anyone know anything of Inquistor?
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): How would you describe the gameplay of Numen and what are the team's main goals in creating this game?
Irina Semenova (Akella): When we designed Numen we wanted it to be different from the usual hack'n'slash Diablo clones. We wanted the player to become much more engaged in every fight he has. We want him to look for the best way to kill each unique enemy, to look for the weapons that hurt it more that the rest, to react to changes in its strategy, to counter it's attack with his own special talents and skills. With such a approach to the combat our gameplay is closer to what you can experience when fighting solo in World of Warcraft than, for example, in Titan's Quest. We also believe that every RPG has to have a really good and strong story that should be far more than just a way how to link together different game zones and quests.
Okay.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): What is your opinion of current computer RPG games?
Irina Semenova (Akella): It's quite hard to speak of RPG games as a whole because there are so many different kinds of them. Oblivion, Gothic, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Fable... they all bring something new and unique. They all, however, seem to have a common "enemy" - MMORPGs. It will obviously become more and more difficult to stand up to the expanding online worlds for all the singleplayer RPGs.
I think we will see more MMO's pop up, in the next few years, I bet. WoW and Guild Wars have definitely started this trend.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): Who is the main character and what is the storyline behind his involvement in the game's opening events?
Irina Semenova (Akella): Nine of the Olympian Gods made a wager who’s follower would be the most able, the most brave. The main character (either a male or a female) is, based on his/her actions, chosen in young age by one of them to be his/her hero. From that time on he/she will represent that God in series of quests through the storyline and will try to become a winner amongst the other eight heroes who pursue the same goal.
Interesting.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): How will characters "level up" in the game?
Irina Semenova (Akella): Player gets experience points for killing monsters and completing quests. When he reaches a new level, several points become available for him to distribute. Some of the points are allocated automatically, for some of them he has to choose where they should be put. Also, by such deeds as duels won, tournament achievements and sacrifices he pleases his God. Based on how happy the God is with his progress he can get special talents or items from him.
Okie dokie.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): What sort of skills and professions we can expect?
Irina Semenova (Akella): The skills are determined by the selection of the God. The nine Gods are divided into three groups, each group favors another type of combat (melee, magic and ranged). However each of the three Gods in every group is different, giving the hero different unique talents and skills.
Cool.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): What can you tell us about weapons and spells that will be available in the game?
Irina Semenova (Akella): There are numerous different magical and non-magical objects and weapons in the game - some are available only when playing the game on second level of difficulty, that becomes available once the game is finished for the first time.
It seems some RPG's games seem to be making you go through a 2nd go around to get some sort of extra content/features. Like in DS2, to unlock more party members to have in your party at once into the game, you have to complete another diffuculty.
Irina (Akella): There are many spells - in addition to some usual ones such as fireballs, healing spells or magic missiles there are some that are unique and are not usually available in RPG games.
Okay.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): What enemies will be a part of the single player game and how are you developing their AI?
Irina Semenova (Akella): Although most of the enemies are quite common in Greek lore and myths and therefore known to average player (like Minotaurs, Harpies and such), there are also some that are unique (damned Nubian warriors, forest people, mad followers of Hephaestus and more).
Yuh, from the screenies, it does look similar to TQ -- since it looks like it has that Greek-style and look to it.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): How big will be the world of Numen for the players and what sorts of locations and settings they will be able to explore? Can we go everywhere freely or you plan to make some restrictions?
Irina Semenova (Akella): The game takes place in Mediterranean meaning that the main characters travels across the different islands. Some of them are available early in the game, some become available later, as the story unfolds. There is however more to see than the usual Mediterranean landscape - the hero will travel to snowy mountain tops, hot deserts, green forest and, of course, to many dusty tombs and crypts.
Okay. So, some locations are open early and some as you progress the story. Sounds like many PC RPG's.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): How are quests handled in the game and what kinds of them can we expect to see?
Irina Semenova (Akella): Some quests are mandatory and have to be completed in order for the story to move on. For all the others it's up to the player to chose which one he/she wants to complete.
Okay.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): Approximately how many hours of play will the single player take? What about replayability?
Irina Semenova (Akella): We estimate that an average players should be able to finish the game in about 30 hours. We also believe that the game is going to be highly replayable due to the facts that there is some randomly generated content and the game will feel different when following different Gods.
Good.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): What elements of gameplay you are planning to put into Numen that you think are unique and important?
Irina Semenova (Akella): We feel that the most important is the aspect of player's God. Hero is being watched, he can please or anger his/her God by his/her heroism or cowardice. The important and not quite usual game content is also Arena tournaments where the hero can participate. There is also several smaller unique game aspects that we want to leave as a surprise for the players to find out 
Okie dokie.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): Are you using an established game graphics engine for the game or are you using your own? Tell us about it features.
Irina Semenova (Akella): We are using CPAL3D, an engine made by Centauri Productions. It's older versions powered Gooka: The mystery of Janatris and The Evil Days of Luckless John. As for the features - we believe that we will be able to deliver pretty much every eye-candy that the players expect from a game of this type
Never heard of that engine or those games.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): Let's talk about the sound and music portion of Numen. What were the goals for those areas of the game?
Irina Semenova (Akella): We know that the sound effects and the music make up a very part of the game atmosphere. We can promise that the players won't surely be disappointed by many of those.
Okay.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): Are there any multiplayer modes planned for Numen and if so what can you tell us about them?
Irina Semenova (Akella): Due to several unique gameplay elements that wouldn't work in the multiplayer, the usual kind of multiplayer is not planned at this moment.
Okie.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): At the moment, what is the current status of the game's progress and when will it be in stores?
Irina Semenova (Akella): We're working hard to make sure that the game will become available early in 2007.
Boy, seems like all the RPG's are coming out this year, too.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): Are there plans to release a demo of the game?
Irina Semenova (Akella): It is highly probable that a demo will be released but we cannot specify any date at this moment.
Okay.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): What has posed the biggest challenge to the development team so far?
Irina Semenova (Akella): I guess the biggest challenge has been the incorporation of the God elements. It's something pretty new and unique so it takes a lot of work to make it right.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): Finally is there anything else you wish to say about Numen before we finish this interview?
Irina Semenova (Akella): Everyone who likes RPG spiced with a strong storyline and some unique elements, keep eye on Numen 
Okay.
Screenies below...
