Alisa is an indie survival horror title channeling the retro gameplay and asethetic styling of 90s-era PS1 games. Following successful funding on Kickstarter, it was first made available through Steam in October 2021. The full console port, titled Alisa: Developer's Cut, which includes all updated and additional content, was recently released in early February 2024, bringing its unique flavor to more audiences. With the indie scene thriving over the past decade or so (and growing ever more prevalent) by challenging traditional AAA industry standards and practices, solo and smaller developers are showcasing their creativity, and in many cases a fondness for visual design that eschews the ultra-realistic and lifelike graphics of most big budget titles for a more intimate and surreal experience.

Game ZXC spoke with Casper Croes, creator and lead designer, 3-D artist, and programmer for Alisa: Developer's Cut about the choice of incorporating what has been dubbed the "demake" graphic style in Alisa, and how it turned out to be the perfect fit for the title's sensibilities. Along with hearkening back to the height of the horror titles of earlier generations with full tank controls (although options for a more modernized scheme are included in the port), Alisa's demake graphics compliment its atmosphere, setting, and general tone, creating and building upon its creepy and unsettling vibe via their presentation​​​​​.

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Developer of Alisa: Developer's Cut Talks About Its 'Demake' Aesthetics

The Burgeoning 'Demake' Scene

The "demake" style is generally defined by the use of grainier, lower resolution polygonal models and rendering that were the hallmark of the PS1/N64 generation of consoles. At the time, they were seen to be cutting edge, but the march of technological progress shortly outpaced their use, with the search for ever-more realistic capabilities becoming an industry focus for years to come. Recently, though, "demade" games have made a noticeable presence in titles like the fan-made Bloodborne demake and El Paso, Elsewhere, with even the recent Dead Space (2023) remake receiving the "demake" treatment. The practice seems to be thriving in certain spheres, as a number of fans and developers find the often nostalgic yet simultaneously timeless quality demake graphics can impart on a title attractive for many reasons.

How Alisa: Developer's Cut's 'Demake' Graphical Choice Fits its Setup Like a Glove

When asked what the most alluring aspect of utilizing the "demake" look and design was for Alisa, Croes explained:

For me, it's appealing because even though it looks clean, [there's] barely any dirt or debris in those scenes, it has a very dead or uncanny atmosphere. Even the games I used to play when I was a kid that had those pre-rendered backgrounds that were meant to be family friendly had a very spooky atmosphere... And I love low-poly, so a classic survival horror style game was perfect for me to create...it was a coincidence that I created Alisa, actually. I wasn't following any trends, just making what I thought would be cool.

As the use of "demake" graphics seems to be on the rise, especially within the indie horror and related genres, it's likely no surprise that many developers of such titles are looking to variations of the technique for inspiration when it comes to choosing a fitting graphic style. They can lend themselves quite effectively to imparting an appropriately unnerving tone in these kinds of games, one that aims to be uncanny yet familiar at the same time via integrating a dreamlike mood and feel with demake visual and design elements.

Alisa: Developer's Cut is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.