When Belgian cartoonist Hergé first introduced the intrepid reporter Tintin in 1929, the eager adventurer was already accompanied by his beloved white fox terrier, Snowy. Since then, Snowy has joined Tintin on dozens of adventures through comic books, TV shows, feature films, and more. Now, Snowy will once again be traveling alongside Tintin in Tintin Reporter - Cigars of the Pharaoh, an upcoming game by Pendulo Studios and Microids. Game ZXC recently had the opportunity to chat with product manager Charles Leveugle about adapting the iconic Snowy into a video game medium.
As Cigars of the Pharaoh is one of Tintin's earliest adventures, it takes place before the reporter encountered many of the series' recurring characters such as Captain Haddock or Bianca Castafiore. Thus, Snowy plays a large role in the game as Tintin's primary companion. According to Leveugle, they were "[left] with the one and only Snowy as a trustworthy supporting character." Snowy is clever, loyal, and oftentimes just as good a puzzle-solver as Tintin himself, making him an ideal companion for this puzzle-filled game.
Snowy Will Solve Puzzles And Find Objects Alongside His Master
When speaking to Game ZXC, Leveugle confirmed that Snowy's role Cigars of the Pharaoh will be that of a full-fledged sidekick with his own role to play:
"He can unlock some perilous situations, find objects, and/or solve riddles...among other very useful canine skills!"
The initial trailer for Tintin Reporter confirmed this, showing Snowy exploring a tomb, investigating a mural using his canine nose, and even piloting a vehicle alongside his master. Unfortunately, Leveugle could not share Snowy's full role in the game, as it would be a "major spoiler."
The presence of Snowy will help contribute to the overall atmosphere of an adventure-filled game littered with tricky puzzles to solve. Leveugle predicts that even skilled puzzle gamers will have some difficulty unlocking the secrets of Pharaoh Kih-Ohsk's tomb. In this faithful adaptation of Hergé's original comics, Tintin and Snowy's adventures will lead them throughout Egypt, Arabia, and India as the iconic pair take down a massive drug smuggling ring. In this early adventure, the amateur young reporter Tintin would never have been able to defeat the smugglers, escape various perils, and solve the mystery of Kih-Ohsk without Snowy's keen nose, unflagging courage, and unwavering loyalty.
There Is No Tintin Without Snowy
Animals helping the protagonists during their adventures is nothing new in the world of video games. Some of gaming's most iconic animals include Link's loyal steed Epona, Mario's adventuring companion Yoshi, and the various Pokemon who have accompanied their trainers throughout several generations of games. Snowy might not yet have that level of popularity or notoriety among game fans, but his role in Cigars of the Pharaoh and potential future Tintin games could definitely make him a worthy addition to this list.
When asked which animals Tintin would adventure alongside if Snowy wasn't an option, Leveugle was initially stumped. In his mind, the duo is absolutely inseparable, and there simply is no Tintin without Snowy. However, he did suggest that Tintin could team up with characters from other games published by Microids, such as the lasagna-loving cat Garfield or an entire "army of Smurfs." Perhaps if Cigars of the Pharaoh is successful, future Tintin Reporter games could include crossover titles where Snowy is able to meet some of these other gaming animals. This puzzle-solving fox terrier would definitely be able to hold his own even among some of gaming's best-known canines.
Tintin Reporter: Cigars of the Pharaoh is scheduled to release on November 7, 2023, for PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
