"We want people to try and outsmart the game": No Law aims for Arkane-style reactivity within a dangerous walled city
Port Desire, the hemmed-in city setting of immersive sim No Law, is hard to place. At points, it reminds me of walking around Lisbon. It shares that Portuguese city's verticality, where hill-straddling streets shouldered by colourful houses and corner shops can feel like tiers on a wedding cake. The strong sunlight and bursts of foliage reinforce the mediterranean vibes. Yet, the port city's…
The game No Law, set in the mysterious port city of Port Desire, aims to deliver the same level of interactive reactivity found in Arkane Studios' popular titles. The city of Port Desire draws inspiration from two distinct locations - the vibrant, vertically-oriented streets of Lisbon and the densely packed, lawless Kowloon Walled City.
Kowloon Walled City, a unique enclave within British-controlled Hong Kong, thrived between the 1900s and 1980s due to the hands-off approach of the British government and the lack of regulation by the Chinese government. With a staggering population density of 33,000 people living within just 2.6 hectares, this area became a hotspot for those seeking a life away from the strict rules of society.
Gangs, refugees, and even unlicensed dentists made their homes in this frontier, creating an environment of freedom and unpredictability.
Port Desire embodies this spirit of lawlessness and freedom, offering players an immersive experience in a city that challenges traditional notions of order and control. Creative director Tor Frick describes Port Desire as "very similar" to Kowloon Walled City, focusing more on the overall atmosphere of isolation and disregard for authority rather than specific aspects like the presence of dentists.
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