Hiya. 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 a number of themes—some straightforward to identify, others much less so.
Though taking a threat and creating a totally totally different recreation after releasing a profitable first title (Name of the Sea) is just not one thing that occurs usually as of late, we gladly accepted the problem: we wished to develop new recreation mechanics, inform new tales, and preserve 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 growth progressed, the dystopia turned a utopian metropolis. And that introduced a number of questions. The primary one was: if every part is so good inside this metropolis, why is that this man escaping?
The reply was that there needed to be one thing mistaken with town. One thing horrible. And we didn’t must look a lot additional than our day by day lives.
Within the final two years, these of us who develop video video games have skilled firsthand what occurs when unbridled ambition turns artistic, idealistic corporations 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 large knowledge. These days, privateness is sort of against the law. In order that’s what Trevor was meant to be: an odd man, a sufferer of an enormous company. Somebody who values his non-public life.
To sum up: Trevor’s life was not good American Arcadia materials. And he was punished for it.
An Escape Sport 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 skin serving to Trevor?
That’s how Angela, the engineer working behind the scenes, got here into play.
And impulsively, this recreation about one man’s escape developed into a mirrored image on how the necessity to cooperate—even in opposition to forces that typically appear undefeatable—helps us develop collectively and turn into higher folks. Doing the best factor is difficult, nevertheless it’s at all times rewarding.
All Sorts of Gameplay
We tried to replicate all of our themes within the gameplay.
Trevor strikes by means of side-scrolling sections, strolling and working alongside a path kind of laid out for him, which represents a managed and predetermined existence. Alternatively, once you play as Angela—who helps him from the skin—you play from a first-person perspective. She’s free to maneuver, suppose in a different way, 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 track on the finish.
—and if none of what we’ve instructed you hooks you, American Arcadia can be a visually gorgeous, tremendous enjoyable puzzle-platformer, out there on Xbox Sequence X|S and Xbox One.
Give it a attempt.
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 reside 24/7! Arcadia is just not an odd metropolis, however essentially the most watched actuality present on the planet – the place a drop in reputation rankings comes on the highest price: loss of life.
For a median man with an uninteresting life like Trevor Hills, this might imply critical hassle – however fortunately Trevor is being helped by a mysterious voice who will information him by means of American Arcadia’s backstage to his freedom. However is that this all actual, or simply one other present gimmick to boost viewers rankings?
American Arcadia combines two gameplay types, a 2.5D platformer and a first-person puzzle recreation, to disclose a singular 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 might be offered as a documentary with interviews and police interrogations of the characters as you progress by means of the sport.
TWO EXPERIENCES, ONE GAME
American Arcadia provides 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 components, and extra puzzles to unravel.
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.
