The Duskbloods, an upcoming title from FromSoftware, features a diverse cast of characters, but one particular fighter has captured the attention of many: Zork. This sapient, armored bird hails from the deep ocean and attacks with an undersea cable and a speargun, capable of propelling himself forward like a rocket.
According to creator Hidetaka Miyazaki, Zork's design draws inspiration from Ultraman and Ultra Seven. The character was conceived as a departure from traditional vampire archetypes, aiming for a more unconventional and unpredictable presence within the game's world. Miyazaki explained that Zork represents an extreme on the thematic spectrum of the game's environments, pushing beyond the Industrial Revolution era and offering a stark contrast to Victorian Gothic aesthetics.
"I think Zork is basically as far off to the side as you can get, where he’s a bit of a wild card," Miyazaki stated. "It’s always fun to have characters like that, and there’s always people who like characters like that." He further elaborated on the desire for a chaotic, festival-like multiplayer atmosphere where vastly different characters converge.
Zork's unique method of celebrating victory involves sipping blood from a chalice with his beak, an action described as akin to a mosquito. Miyazaki confirmed this detail, noting that a win cutscene would likely offer a more explicit reveal. The extended beak acts as a straw, drawing up blood, a detail that may also stem from Ultraman monster designs.
During a recent network test for The Duskbloods, Zork was present, though other characters like Layla proved more popular among players experimenting with their abilities. The network test provided a cryptic glimpse into the game's eccentric lore, posing questions about characters like a senator who transforms into a dinosaur, Bloodhand Jan's pajamas, and Zork's own ambiguous nature as a bird, mosquito, or sea monster. The overarching narrative of why these disparate individuals are fighting in a gothic-inspired town remains a mystery, a characteristic often associated with FromSoftware's games.