How a Puzzle-Platformer Can Mirror Cooperation, Privateness, and Company Greed

Hi there. We’re Out of the Blue Video games.

On the finish of 2023, we launched American Arcadia. It’s a pleasant little recreation that explores fairly just a few themes—some simple to identify, others much less so.

Though taking a threat and creating a very totally different recreation after releasing a profitable first title (Name of the Sea) will not be one thing that occurs typically today, we gladly accepted the problem: we wished to develop new recreation mechanics, inform new tales, and maintain evolving as recreation builders.

That’s when our preliminary idea popped into our heads: an escape recreation. Somebody could be fleeing from a dystopia.

From Dystopia to Utopia

However as improvement progressed, the dystopia turned a utopian metropolis. And that introduced quite a lot of questions. The primary one was: if every thing is so good inside this metropolis, why is that this man escaping?

The reply was that there needed to be one thing incorrect with town. One thing horrible. And we didn’t must look a lot additional than our every day lives.

Within the final two years, these of us who develop video video games have skilled firsthand what occurs when unbridled ambition turns inventive, idealistic firms into soulless entities—managed by algorithms and dominated solely by revenue.

That’s how Arcadia, which was initially conceived as a prototype neighborhood for the long run, turned a soulless 24-hour broadcast actuality present.

However Why Him?

This led us to a different essential theme within the recreation. Why was this man (who now had a reputation, Trevor Clarence Hills, making an attempt to flee?

Once more, we didn’t must resort to science fiction to seek out a solution.

We’re already dwelling in a society obsessive about relevance and visibility, dominated by algorithms and massive information. These days, privateness is sort of a criminal offense. In order that’s what Trevor was meant to be: an unusual man, a sufferer of an enormous company. Somebody who values his personal life.

To sum up: Trevor’s life was not good American Arcadia materials. And he was punished for it.

An Escape Recreation of Two

However now that we had this setting, we knew this quiet, easygoing man would have a tough time making an attempt to get out of town. So, was somebody from the surface serving to Trevor?

That’s how Angela, the engineer working behind the scenes, got here into play.

And swiftly, this recreation about one man’s escape advanced into a mirrored image on how the necessity to cooperate—even towards forces that typically appear undefeatable—helps us develop collectively and develop into higher individuals. Doing the correct factor is tough, however it’s all the time rewarding.

All Sorts of Gameplay

We tried to mirror all of our themes within the gameplay.

Trevor strikes by side-scrolling sections, strolling and operating alongside a path roughly laid out for him, which represents a managed and predetermined existence. Then again, whenever you play as Angela—who helps him from the surface—you play from a first-person perspective. She’s free to maneuver, assume otherwise, and, crucially, assist Trevor.

American Arcadia is a first-person, second-person, and third-person recreation. It’s a documentary. It’s a recreation. It’s a satire of our world. It has speaking turtles and rainbow roads. And a brilliant catchy tune on the finish.

—and if none of what we’ve informed you hooks you, American Arcadia can also be a visually gorgeous, tremendous enjoyable puzzle-platformer, obtainable on Xbox Collection X|S and Xbox One.

Give it a strive.

American Arcadia

Uncooked Fury

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99

Welcome to Arcadia! A 70’s retro-futuristic metropolis the place all its residents take pleasure in a lifetime of luxurious and luxury… unaware that they’re being broadcast stay 24/7! Arcadia will not be an unusual metropolis, however probably the most watched actuality present on the planet – the place a drop in recognition rankings comes on the highest value: demise.

For a median man with an uninteresting life like Trevor Hills, this might imply severe hassle – however fortunately Trevor is being helped by a mysterious voice who will information him by American Arcadia’s backstage to his freedom. However is that this all actual, or simply one other present gimmick to lift viewers rankings?

American Arcadia combines two gameplay types, a 2.5D platformer and a first-person puzzle recreation, to disclose a novel story in an exciting single participant expertise.

Uncover the reality and escape together with your life in American Arcadia!

ESCAPE FROM A 70’S TELEVISED UTOPIA
The gripping story can be introduced as a documentary with interviews and police interrogations of the characters as you progress by the sport.

TWO EXPERIENCES, ONE GAME
American Arcadia offers you management over two characters in utterly totally different environments and distinctive playstyles: A 2.5D motion side-scroller together with difficult platform motion, breath-taking chases, stealth and puzzles. In addition to a full 3D first-person recreation, with hacking, exploration, stealth parts, and extra puzzles to resolve.

IMPRESSIVE VOICE CAST
Yuri Lowenthal (Spider-Man 1 & 2, Prince of Persia The Sands of Time, Name of the Sea), Krizia Bajos (Cyberpunk 2077, League of Legends) and Cissy Jones (Firewatch, Life is Unusual, Name of the Sea), amongst others, breathe life into the characters in American Arcadia.