ɪnˈɪʃəli ðə ɡˈeɪm wʌz dɪzˈaɪnd fɚðə plˈeɪ stˈeɪʃən tˈuː, wɪððə fˈɜːst tɹˈeɪlɚ ʃˈoʊɪŋ ðə nˈuː pɹˈoʊɾɐɡənˌɪst ænd ɐ fˈiːmeɪl kəmpˈæniən ɛksplˈoːɹɪŋ ɐ wˈɪntɚɹi fˈɔːɹɪst ɪn ɐ tɹˈɑːtməbˌiːl bᵻfˌoːɹ bˌiːɪŋ kənfɹˈʌntᵻd baɪ lˈɑːɹdʒɚ tɹˈɑːtməbˌiːlz, fˈɑːloʊd baɪ ɐ mˈɔntɑːʒ ʌv ɡˈeɪmpleɪ ˈɛlɪmənts ɹˈeɪndʒɪŋ fɹʌm dˈaʊnhɪl kˈɑːmbæt, fˈaɪɚ fˈaɪɾɪŋ, lˈoʊdɪŋ ænd ʌnlˈoʊdɪŋ ʃˈɪps, ænd pɚfˈɔːɹmɪŋ ɪn ɐ bˈænd.
Initially the game was designed for the PlayStation 2, with the first trailer showing the new protagonist and a female companion exploring a wintery forest in a Trotmobile before being confronted by larger Trotmobiles, followed by a montage of gameplay elements ranging from downhill combat, fire fighting, loading and unloading ships, and performing in a band.