We want to show something intimate about the main character, to share a little more about the ideas behind her creation and the different versions she went through until reaching this moment.  

Early versions of Espada 

In the image above we have two early versions of Espada: on the left, the very first way we imagined her, and on the right, how we considered including her in the first version of the project. 

From the beginning, Espada has always had yellow as her main color. This color is important to us—it symbolizes the fight against depression and is inspiring to look at. She has always been accompanied by a weapon, in this case a sword, which represents courage and determination to face struggles. That is why her name, Espada (“Sword”), represents both the challenge and the journey she must endure. 

Although the early versions were interesting, the overall idea of the project was different, and the character felt a little out of place within this new approach. Once we finally decided what the game should be and the kind of message we wanted to deliver, we realized the style also needed to change. That led us to the conclusion that a single style wouldn’t be enough—we needed two versions to fully express the concept of the game we were creating. 

Since the game involves an artistic experiment with trixel art, our character had to exist in trixel. But on the other hand, we also needed a way to represent her with more detail and to bring out the expression of the girl we created for the adventure. That meant we had no choice: we needed both a trixel version and a digital painting version that could better reflect the idea. 

Sketches of Espada in her current version 

The image above represents the current digital painting version of Espada. It has far fewer details than the first version we presented before. That way, we could keep her closer to the trixel version, which, due to its limitations, makes it difficult to include many details. Interestingly, this version didn’t go through many drafts—we basically reached it as soon as we understood what the game should be, almost as if the character herself was already explaining how she wanted to exist. 

The trixel version below also had an early draft that represented that old version of Espada. But we quickly realized it wouldn’t work. Soon after, with only a few attempts, we managed to make the character much more compelling. 

Left: first trixel version. Right: current version. 

It’s important to remember that this art form is limited, and for the project, we imagined everything as if it were a board game—a more playful form of expression to deliver to the player. 

The image below shows another version of Espada, but this one doesn’t appear in the game. It was made only to inspire us during development. 

Mascot version, made in amigurumi. 

What matters is not the shape of the character, but what she means to the project and to our lives. Working on this game is not just fun, but also a reminder that it is possible to fight for the things we want. Even if many versions are needed, the most important thing is to keep trying. 

Created in a moment of chaos, when Adas Oliveira da Silva was either going to live his dream or sink deeper into a hole. When creativity becomes something professional and the very thing you rely on to survive, it takes on a life of its own. 

Espada came to life through dreams—and above all, hope. 

To better understand who the character Espada is, it’s important to understand her creation process. In the game industry, we often see formulas based on archetypes and other theories that are sometimes best left behind. Espada emerged through a unique process—we believe that those who truly live it, don’t need to explain it. It’s about existing. 

She exists. The main girl gradually took shape with each attempt along the game development journey. Every step contributed to who she became. Although Adas is the primary author, he borrowed some ideas from Ohanna, which helped bring extra charm to the character. 

During the pandemic, Espada took on her initial form, as many doors were closing for both Adas and Ohanna. At a critical moment in their lives, they decided: “Let’s fight for our dream—a game.” That’s when Espada’s universe began to form. The character’s adventure and greatest challenge were defined: to overcome and escape the Hole. 

Her color palette carries a message about the fight against depression—a condition that affects Adas and inspired many of Espada’s actions in the game. After a series of rejections in grant applications, waves of sadness became more frequent. But hope was always found in the dawn, and the project kept being submitted to other calls.  

When she puts on her hood, Espada regains her strength—just a moment to think and recharge. Many people need this kind of pause but don’t recognize it. Each time the project was rejected, there was sadness. But soon after, with a short break, they’d rise again and keep fighting—revising, understanding the feedback, and moving forward.  

The personality of the main character stands out even more in this adventure as she wields a weapon that symbolizes her strength: a sword. The journey won’t be easy. She must face challenges and hardships with kindness and faith. She’s willing to help friends and loved ones, but her greatest determination is to find a way out. 

Her bag is filled with items and dreams. Along the way, she chooses to surround herself with good people who will help her reach her goal. Even while dealing with conditions like depression and anxiety, she’s fortunate to find people who treat her with love and care—just as she does with others.  

Now that you know a little about Espada and her creation, are you excited to become part of her story and help her escape the Hole? We’ll dive deeper into her world in future blog posts—after all, we discover something new about her every day.