Lantern

Release Date: November 15, 2016

Adventure, TPP, arcade elements, indie games, experimental/artistic, Meta Quest / Oculus, PlayStation VR, exploration games, SteamVR, VR, singleplayer

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Steam

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An unusual exploration game developed by Italian studio Storm in a Teacup. The plot of the game focuses on an Asian princess whose tears caused the world around her to lose its colors and start dying. The player assumes the role of a small lantern and is tasked with returning the life and colors to the realm by making everyone remember about the power of love. There are four areas to visit, each with different architecture and environment.

Plot
Mechanics
Technical aspects

Lantern is a third-person perspective exploration game released on PS4, XONE and PC. It was inspired by the culture and architecture of the eastern Asia. The title was created by Storm in a Teacup studio (the creators of the unusual adventure game N.E.R.O. and the intriguing survival horror ENKI) in cooperation with publisher 1C Company.

Plot

The plot of Lantern for PS4, XONE and PC focuses on an Asian princess who felt so unhappy and unloved that the world around her started to become dead and colorless. Luckily, a glimmer of hope appeared in one of the far away villages – a single, small lantern that the player controls. The lantern must make the whole world remember about the power of love and gradually return the life and colors to the surrounding areas.

Mechanics

The title belongs to the popular genre of exploration games that focus on traveling through and exploring the world. The main difference from other games in the genre is the fact that this time the exploration isn’t done on feet, but as a paper lantern transported by the wind. The main objective is to thoroughly explore four large areas and gradually restore the lost colors to them. The lantern can influence its surroundings in different ways as well: it can ignite other lanterns, bring petrified animals to live and activate various devices such as windmills. The mission ends successfully once the player manages to restore colors and happiness to the whole realm.

Technical aspects

Lantern for PS4, XONE and PC has unordinary graphics that, despite being very colorful, were created by using simplified models with visible curves and corners. The game has oriental tune and each of four visited worlds has different specifics and architecture. A calm, oriental soundtrack fits the relaxing tune of the game. Lantern supports virtual reality sets like Oculus Rift and HTC Vive thanks to which the experience provided by the game can be even more intensive.

Last updated on October 3, 2016

Videos and Screens

[1:59] Lantern trailer #1

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