Now, PS Weblog readers, for those who may simply place each fingers calmly on the planchette of the spirit board in entrance of you, we will start.
We’re very excited to disclose that there’s not lengthy till you possibly can be part of Vivian and Amy for a séance in Fear the Spotlight. However earlier than you enter Sunnyside Excessive, we wished to dive into how we’ve been impressed by traditional PlayStation experiences to convey our fashionable horror journey to life. As you’ll have simply seen in the not too long ago launched trailer, the aesthetic model, gameplay mechanics, and tone all come from a deep nostalgia over the video games of the previous.
Our studio identify, Cozy Recreation Friends, really took place lengthy earlier than we determined to make a horror sport, however we do suppose there’s something exceptionally comforting about the traditional, unique PlayStation artwork model. It’s nostalgic and reminds us of enjoying our first horror video games, in bedrooms round the TV with siblings, daring to courageous the unique Silent Hill. We really feel like Vivian’s journey in Fear the Spotlight is definitely a welcoming one in a world of excessive constancy horror graphics.
There won’t be 4K gore working down the partitions of Sunnyside’s halls, however that doesn’t imply you’re not going to be on edge. One other present of this specific artwork model and the purposeful dithering (the identify of that grainy retro look) is the indisputable fact that it provides you simply sufficient to let your creativeness run away with you. Was {that a} form between the stacks in the library? Did a head simply seem round the nook and disappear? Or are your eyes enjoying tips on you?
In Fear the Spotlight, all of the above is perhaps true however, like the finest horror film experiences, we wish to ensure you paint horror footage in your thoughts far scarier than something we may ever present you.
Not solely is the unique PlayStation artwork model comforting, nostalgic, and permits for significantly atmospheric scares, however it additionally fits us on a sensible stage. Cozy Recreation Friends is simply the two of us, Bryan and Crista (hello!). A lo-fi strategy to visuals has meant that we might be environment friendly and actually lean into crafting the ambiance and pacing all through the sport. We love enjoying together with your expectations and this artwork model suits that completely.
We perceive that this look might be intense for some gamers, so we’ve even made certain you possibly can select simply how ‘traditional’ you need the visuals to be. Now we have sliding scales for the TV filter, polygon wobble, and ambient digicam wobble to verify gamers can really feel as 90s as they need. Having a lava lamp subsequent to your TV is fully non-obligatory in fact.
Fear the Spotlight takes many cues from traditional survival horror experiences, however that is way more a scary teen journey than one thing like Silent Hill or Resident Evil. You’ll wish to make it possible for Vivian has her bronchial asthma inhaler simply in case, however we’re leaning into atmospheric puzzle fixing as you uncover the historical past behind a tragic fireplace in the college many years earlier than.
And right here too, we’ve been impressed by traditional experiences. We love the level and click on model puzzles of OG survival horror so we’ve got launched tactile first particular person puzzle fixing. Whether or not you’re dialing payphones quantity by quantity, or pulling open drawers, we wished Fear the Spotlight to be a contemporary evolution of the puzzles of these traditional horror experiences. We’re not right here to duplicate them – don’t mess with perfection! – however wished to make it possible for our love of those horror video games made its manner into our personal distinctive thriller.
Our want for Fear the Spotlight is that it could be an ideal sport for many who love the style and may spot the influences, but additionally gamers who’re new to horror video games. We wish our scary film loving buddies to enter Sunnyside even when they’ve by no means been hands-on with the classics.
We will’t wait so that you can expertise Fear the Spotlight and hope you’ve gotten as a lot enjoyable enjoying it as we did working on it. Simply don’t overlook the candles on October 22…