Enhance Games: Forever on a Quest for the Divine Spark

Enhance Games: Forever on a Quest for the Divine S...

## Enhance: The Studio Forever Chasing "Kando" – and Finding God in Game Design Japanese studio Enhance, the creative force behind acclaimed titles like Tetris Effect, Humanity, and the recently released Lumines: Arise, isn't just making games; they're on a quest. A quest, according to founder and CEO Tetsuya Mizuguchi, to achieve "Kando," a feeling so profound and emotionally resonant that it's akin to experiencing the divine. This ambition isn't just marketing hyperbole. It's a deeply ingrained philosophy that permeates every aspect of Enhance's development process. The studio's unique brand of kinesthetic puzzlers, known for their focus on flow, feeling, and often transcendental experiences, are deliberately crafted to evoke this powerful emotional response. So, what exactly is "Kando"? Mizuguchi explains it as the perfect synchronicity between experience and synesthesia. For Enhance, it's the holy grail of game design, the ultimate validation that they've created something truly special. "They both have to exist, but only when they exist in balance and harmony is when you have the real thing, which is Kando—and Kando is God for us," Mizuguchi stated in a recent interview. Achieving this state with Lumines: Arise was a meticulous process. The studio emphasizes "tuning," a concept that begins in the "grand design phase." This initial stage involves intense discussions, conceptualization, and prototyping between Mizuguchi and art director Takashi Ishihara. Even at this early stage, music, a crucial element of Enhance's games, is incorporated in a rough form, with long-time collaborators Hydelic contributing to the formative process. This collaborative approach aims to forge strong connections that resonate with players. From there, Mizuguchi describes the development process as akin to sculpting, constantly making "very fine adjustments" to unearth the intricacies within the design. This requires an "instinctual" understanding from each member of the roughly 20-person team. The pursuit of "Kando" isn't about chasing technical perfection or adhering to market trends. It's about creating an experience that transcends the boundaries of entertainment and touches something deeper within the player. For Enhance, the journey is the reward, and the destination is nothing short of a spiritual awakening, one block at a time.