The Long Dark for PC, PS4 and XONE is a survival simulator played from a first-person perspective. It was created by independent studio Hinterland, founded in 2012 by Raphael Van Lierop, who had been previously involved in titles such as Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, Company of Heroes and Far Cry 3. The Canadian development team also includes former employees of BioWare, Riot Games, Sony Santa Monica and Volition, Inc., who were behind, among others, Saints Row, Red Faction, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, God of War, Sly, Knights of the Old Republic, Baldur's Gate and L.A. Noire.
Story
The game presents the story of pilot William Mackenzie, a survivor of a geomagnetic storm, which caused all electronic devices to shut down. Access to water and food is becoming increasingly difficult, roads are no longer safe, and if that was not enough, a severe winter is coming. The goal of the player is to survive this apocalypse.
Despite the strong emphasis on freedom of gameplay and action, the creators also focused on creating an interesting story divided into episodes, which was written by Marianne Krawczyk (God of War, L.A. Noire), featuring memorable characters and the main protagonist who gives us insight into his actions, current physical state, or the events taking place in the northern wilderness.
Gameplay
The sandbox structure of the game provides many options. It’s up to us which direction we choose, and the freedom of exploration of the snow-covered area is not limited in any way. Moreover, throughout the game there is no shortage of significant moral choices, often influencing the fate of others or our survival in a world without any electronic devices.
The basis of the game is to explore the vast world and seek, among others, shelter from the cold, raw materials allowing us to light a bonfire, and useful items including weapons for protection against wild animals. Fight sequences are rare – above all, the developers wanted to tell a mature story and provide a real survival simulator. Thus, the player must keep in mind factors such as weather, temperature, fatigue, strength, energy and endurance of the equipment, as well as skillfully adapt to the currently prevailing situation. In case of bad weather, it’s a good idea to wait it out in a deserted house, warm up by the red-hot fire, and gather strength to continue our journey.
Technology
The graphic design of The Long Dark on PC, PS4 and XONE is the work of Hokyo Lim, whose art we could ire in League of Legends and The Unfinished Swan. Thanks to the of Oculus Rift, a virtual reality headset, the experience of the game can be further enhanced.
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