CLOSE TO THE SUN
When safe spaces go very, very wrong…
WE USE THAT TENSION AND SUSPENSE TO TELL OUR STORY.
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”What sort of nutjob builds a museum to themselves in their own house?” asks protagonist Rose Archer, clearly losing patience with her unseen tormentor, one Nikola Tesla. The statue in question is a gaudy gold monstrosity sitting amid display cases filled with the famous inventor’s creations.
It’s just one of the stunning set-pieces in indie horror Close To The Sun that surprises and delights. Made by 15 devs at Storm In A Teacup, you’d think this narrative-led art deco thriller was the product of a larger team, it’s that beautiful.
Set on board a vast 2.5km-long ship called the Helios, a safe space created by Tesla where scientists can push the boundaries of what’s possible without government intervention, this is a horror game that recalls BioShock. However as it lacks combat, and focuses on story, puzzles, and escaping the nasties inside the ship, it’s one that more accurately echoes thrillers such as SOMA and Outlast.
“We have ‘run or die’, ‘think on your feet’, ‘make split-second decisions and survive’-type gameplay,” says designer Joel Hakalax, adding: ”We want to keep the player on their toes. We’re not leaning into horror as much as SOMA, for example, but we use that tension and suspense to keep you engaged while we tell our story.”
It’s a balance that works perfectly. In our hands-on we’re able to take time to explore the wonderfully crafted world of this alt-universe, but the blood trails and damage suggest we should stay alert. Keep an eye on this one. Read our in-depth hands-on with Close To The Sun next issue, on sale 9 April.