Jakarta-based game developer Rizero Studios has collaborated with Indonesian comic publisher BumiLangit to develop The Blind Warrior, a video game adaptation of the iconic Indonesian comic Si Buta dari Goa Hantu. The game will be released for PC via Steam, with the detailed release date has not been announced yet.
Set in 1860s West Java under Dutch colonial rule, The Blind Warrior retells the legendary story of Barda Mandrawata, a warrior who loses his sight but gains new strength after being trained by an ancient spirit within a mystical cave. The game is designed as a cinematic third-person, single-player action-adventure, with Barda emerging as a symbol of resistance against colonial oppression.
The game story follows Barda’s transformation into the feared Blind Warrior, beginning with a personal tragedy that drives him to uncover a vast conspiracy involving colonial forces and supernatural legends of the Javanese archipelago. Along his journey, Barda encounters rebels, sages, and oppressed villagers, all of whom play a part in unravelling a deeper mystery from the past.
The Blind Warrior features intense and brutal combat inspired by pencak silat, combining weapon-based and unarmed fighting styles. Players can engage enemies using combos, parries, blocks, and stealth techniques. One of the game’s most unique aspects is its visual style, designed to represent how a blind warrior perceives his surroundings through heightened senses, allowing players to detect enemies and solve environmental puzzles in unconventional ways.
Created by Ganes Thiar Santosa, also known by his pen name Ganes TH, the original comic of Si Buta dari Gua Hantu tells the story of a blind warrior named Barda Mandrawata in his adventures in the world of silat. Barda’s fate was set in motion when his father and his fiance were murdered by a ruthless blind warrior named Mata Malaikat (lit. “Eye of Angel”), prompting Barda to seek revenge.
The comic was originally published in Indonesia between 1967 and 1989 across 21 issues. The comic was later adapted into a popular 1970s film starring Ratno Timoer and a 1993 television series featuring Hadi Leo. A new film adaptation has also been in development.
The Indonesian Anime Times
