Shape of the World

Release Date: June 5, 2018

Adventure, FPP, crowdfunding, indie games, experimental/artistic, exploration games, singleplayer

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Steam

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An experimental, first-person adventure game created by Hollow Tree Games – an independent, Canadian developer. Shape of the World does not offer a plot as such; rather, it focuses on delivering a certain visual experience. The player takes on the role of a nameless traveler who introduces different changes to the world around along his way.

Mechanics
Technical aspects

Shape of the World for PC, XONE and PS4 is an ephemeral, first-person adventure game requiring the player to explore a procedurally generated game world and observe it as it changes. The game received a crowd-funding support on Kickstarter and it was created by Hollow Tree Games - an independent Canadian studio founded by experienced gamemakers.

Mechanics

Shape of the World for PC, XONE and PS4 does not offer a plot as such - rather, the gameplay here delivers the player with a distinct visual experience. Assuming the role of a nameless traveller, the player explores the game world, which changes as an effect of one's presence. The changes are both passive (taking place simply as the player follows the designated path) and active. In the latter case, the player shapes the surroundings by giving different colors to places and deciding how much vegetation should there grow.

When revisiting in-game places the player has once been to, they can notice that for instance, trees grow in a completely different manner now. Additionally, special obelisks are scattered throughout the game world - the player is led to these objects by small spirits. Activating one such obelisk changes the scenery the player observes. Despite that, the player is not forced to follow the designated path. Instead, the game rewards the player for wandering off the beaten path and thinking on their own.

Technical aspects

As an experimental product, Shape of the World for PC, XONE and PS4 offers unusual and relatively minimalistic visuals generated by the Unreal Engine 4. The game world combines contractual, grey objects and contours with bright colors, which adds a layer of artism to the experience playing the game comes with. Thus this title aims to spark the interest of those searching for something new and original in gaming. Shape of the World offers an interesting visual experience accompanied by atmoshperic music.

Last updated on June 16, 2016

Videos and Screens

[0:41] Shape of the World trailer #1

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