Prepare to nope the hell out
The derelict building was a sanctuary, a place to gather supplies and take shelter from the horrors of the outside world. I moved from one chamber to the next, anxiously investigating the structure, sighing in relief upon clearing the final alcove. No hostiles. It was safe. Or so I thought.
It charged through the door the moment I lowered my guard, almost as though it was reading my mind, just waiting for the perfect moment to strike. I attempted to defend myself, but it was too late. The hulking abomination had me cornered and wasted no time running me down.
This is the cruel world ofNoct, a nightmarish landscape from the mind of Chris Eskins.
Noctis set in an apocalyptic wasteland, an open-world teeming with horrors. It’s a desolate setting, one that dares players to survive and little else. Despite the straightforwardness of the objective, achieving it is no easy task. Just scavenging for ammo and supplies can be perilous work.
While the ever-present fear of death is certainly daunting, the eeriest facet of the experience is how it’s presented. The top-down camera paired with a monochromatic palette emulates a thermal imaging satellite, giving players a tremendous vantage point. It elicits an isolating feeling, imparting a voyeuristic quality that dissociates the player from the avatar. I couldn’t help but want to protect my character, though the prospect of doing so always seemed grim.
It’s a challenging experience, one I hope is a tad more forgiving when playing with others. Eskins conceivedNoctas something to play with his friends, and as such the experience features a heavy multiplayer component. Players will be able to create and connect to persistent online worlds, allowing survivors to interact in this harsh environment.
It’s a nascent project, though one with a great deal of promise. The good people at Devolver Digital certainly believe so, inkingNocttoa publishing dealfollowing its successfulKickstarter campaign. What’s next? A trip to PAX East next month and Steam Early Access soon after.
