How Symphonia’s Features Cater to Speed Runners

Symphonia hit the shelves for Xbox Series X|S on December 5, 2024, and quickly garnered attention. Its unique blend of custom level design, precise platforming, and special features makes it a gem for speedrunning enthusiasts. Delving into speedrunning through the eyes of players, the game offers some intriguing tips and insights.

From the moment Symphonia was conceived, the aim was to craft a game that truly rewarded those who mastered control and timing. Initially thought of as a vehicle to introduce classical music into gaming, it quickly became evident that its smooth mechanics and open level structure also made it a paradise for speedrunners. Countless hours were spent honing the character controls to perfection, with the vision of creating an experience that was just as rewarding for casual players as it was for competitive enthusiasts—a philosophy that became the backbone of Symphonia’s mechanics and collectibles.

To spice things up for those seeking a challenge, Symphonia features Philemon, a violinist on a quest to bring together the prodigies from each section of the orchestra. Equipped with his trusty violin bow, Philemon navigates the tranquil yet dormant world of Symphonia. Through the game, players unlock mechanics that allow Philemon to bounce creatively through levels; his bow transforms into a pogo stick, a catapult, or even a grappling hook. Mastering the art of leaping through the air with perfect timing is tough but immensely satisfying, capturing the spirit and skill required in speedrunning.

Our development team includes some speedrun lovers, and their experiences ranged from spectators at events to actually completing runs for games like Celeste and Katana Zero. Even back in its early days as a student project in 2020, speedrunning was a part of Symphonia’s DNA. The team would race against each other’s times and even sneakily exploit glitches discovered during these early trials. The initial demo released online drew in around 500,000 downloads, with impending entries cropping up on speedrun.net. This marked a pivotal moment, solidifying our belief in this venture. After rounding off our university project, we embarked on establishing a studio to bring Symphonia to life fully. It took four spirited years to reach the game’s full release.

To appeal to speedrunners further, we designed features that entwine with the speedrunning spirit and meticulously adjusted level elements down to a pixel to unlock innovative pathways. Challenges scattered throughout the game reward risk-taking and experimentation. Among these are collectible music notes, akin to the strawberries found in Celeste. Completing the various stages unlocks a unique Shadow Philemon character that trails closely behind with the intent of catching you if you stumble. Players can also experiment with numerous unlockable abilities, including double jumping or transforming surfaces, which were frictionless to begin—tailored initially as accessibility options, these features have opened new challenges for resourceful players.

Since the game’s launch, we’ve been delighted with the enthusiasm amongst speedrunners and have encouraged community engagement through a dedicated Discord channel for discussions and idea sharing.

Speedrunning has evolved impressively over the past twenty years, transitioning from a niche hobby to a universal phenomenon. We’ve experienced speedruns of genres as varied as first-person shooters and platformers to ones you wouldn’t traditionally associate with it, like RPGs and strategy games. Platforms like Twitch and YouTube have made it more accessible, enabling global audiences and raising significant funds for charities like Games Done Quick (GDQ), which hosts two massive charity events annually.

Talking to Queuety from GDQ shed light on why speedrunning is such a thrilling experience. He shared, “Speedrunning turns any game into both a puzzle and a competitive performance, something which fascinates me and keeps me coming back.”

The synergy with our publisher is quite unique, as the CEO Dieter Schoeller has a speedrunning background himself, having tackled Quake 3 and Sonic the Hedgehog in the ’90s. His belief in speedrunning is summed up by his phrase, “the person to beat is no one but yourself.” With such a like-minded approach, we collaborated with GDQ, thrilled to witness Symphonia showcased during a GDQ Hotfix episode. This collaboration brought us immense joy, and I cherished providing live commentary alongside community members who ran the game.

If you’re intrigued by speedrunning after reading this, now’s a great time to jump in. Engaging with our community or giving Symphonia a try would be delightful. Whether you’re a speedrunner or someone who enjoys a good adventure, Symphonia has something special for you. Dive in and explore the stunning, melodic world we’ve crafted.