Why Sword of the Sea's animation looks so silky smooth

An image of Sword of the Sea game animation
(Image credit: Giant Squid)

Sword of the Sea is a high-speed adventure inspired by skateboarding games in which players, as the Wraith, surf on a 'hoversword' over landscapes like sand dunes, lava and ice to find a lost ocean. The trailer has been knocking people for six thanks to the incredibly smooth animation, which has many wondering how it was done.

Well, the developer Giant Squid, the people behind Pathless, has shared some insights into just how they achieved such dynamic surfing over the moving terrain (for other kinds of animation, see our pick of the best 2D animation software).

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Joe Foley

Joe is a regular freelance journalist and editor at Creative Bloq. He writes news, features and buying guides and keeps track of the best equipment and software for creatives, from video editing programs to monitors and accessories. A veteran news writer and photographer, he now works as a project manager at the London and Buenos Aires-based design, production and branding agency Hermana Creatives. There he manages a team of designers, photographers and video editors who specialise in producing visual content and design assets for the hospitality sector. He also dances Argentine tango.

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