ARCTIC AWAKENING
Telltale signs of mystery and intrigue
Developer/ publisher GoldFire Studios Format PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series Origin US Release 2023
Above all, a good mystery story needs to raise questions; in its introduction alone, GoldFire Studios’ game poses several. It’s 2062, and en route to a supply drop at a remote location in Alaska, your plane is sheared in half by unknown forces. You survive the crash and set off through the snow to search for your co-pilot, who bailed out before impact, as well as to uncover the cause of the crash. Oh, and your only companion is an earnest court-mandated therapy bot.
Perhaps the most intriguing mystery of all is that last one: why has a court ordered protagonist Kai to be followed by a therapy bot? Alfie, the robot, could either be the worst or the best ally in such a situation, depending on how much you enjoy talking about your feelings. How you respond, whether you rebuff Alfie’s questions or open up, will influence how things develop, says James Simpson, studio founder and creative director.