Sheltered

Sheltered for PC, AND and etc. is a survival-strategy game set in a gloomy, post-apocalyptic world. The player's task is to protect a family hiding in an underground fallout shelter. This is the debut of a small Unicube team consisting of three members. The project was finished with the support of a crowdfunding campaign carried out on Kickstarter. The game was published by Team 17 (Worms series), as part of their program to promote independent game makers.

Story

The story in Sheltered for PC, AND and etc. depicts a gloomy vision of the world after a nuclear catastrophe. Survivors hiding in underground shelters suffer from shortage of supplies. It is extremely risky to leave the shelter in search for anything, because hungry mutants can quickly put an end to one's life. Other human survivors will not hesitate to obtain supplies the hard way, for survival has become the last thing to fight for. Additionally, being isolated for too long will result in the deterioration of mental health - anxiety, suspicion and other unusual feelings occur. The main character has to take care of a family of four, trying to ensure their safety and obtaining supplies for the most basic needs in these harsh circumstances.

Gameplay

The action begins just before the first bombs bringing a catastrophe to mankind are dropped. Within a couple of minutes, we have to gather supplies in a supermarket, in order to sustain underground existence during the initial weeks. Later on, we have to monitor certain important data about health of the characters or the amount of supplies we have left in the shelter. We also have to maintain the shelter itself - it needs repairs and maintenance in general. A failure of any of the basic systems can result in terrible consequences for the family. Food, water and a variety of useful items can be found outside of the safe zone that the shelter is. The player does that alone at the beginning, but later on, more survivors join our efforts. On the surface, the player often has to face different enemies. The combat system is interesting, for it requires the player to approach the fight in a tactical way. But the combat capabilities are defendant on the individual features of the particular family member.

The storyline in Sheltered for PC, AND and etc. is entirely non-linear and player-dependent. Thus if the player does not make any serious mistakes, the gameplay will last as long as the family is safe and sound. To increase the realism, the developers have put a significant emphasis on the psychological aspect by simulating mental conditions of the characters. More than once, the player will be obliged to make a morally difficult choice. Before the player trusts a survivor, they have to consider if it is worth to risk the lives of the family. Survivors the player can encounter fall into two categories: those who can become our valuable allies, and those who are capable of doing the worst things in order to obtain shelter and supplies.

Technology

The post-apocalyptic stylistics of Sheltered for PC, AND and etc. perfectly match the old-school graphics - this brings memories of classic and equally original games from the early 90s. The pixel art graphics are combined with an atmospheric soundtrack that bears a resemblance to B-Class cinema stylistic.

Last updated on 28 July 2014