Uncanny Valley

Uncanny Valley is a two-dimensional survival horror inspired by classic games. The title combines immersive story, exploration, puzzles solving and action sequences. It is a debut title of a Slovenian independent studio Cowardly Creations. The production was backed by funds gathered by using, among other ways, Indiegogo.

Plot

The title of the game is a term used in a scientific hypothesis according to which a robot (or a drawing or an animation that resembles it) that is too similar to human, yet noticeably distinguishable, creates an unpleasant feeling or even disgust in the observer. In the game, the player assumes the role of Tom, a night watchman who guards a mysterious factory in shifts with his lazy friend Buck. To kill some time, he starts exploring the building and discovers things he would rather not know.

Mechanics

Despite the fact that the title is a survival horror, the gameplay is quite unusual. In Uncanny Valley for PC, PS4 and etc. there are only a few sequences in which the player can die. The developers decided that repeating the same fragment of the game many times only frustrates the player instead of scaring them. So, instead of that, they implemented a consequence system. Each unsuccessful action will impact the plot and the gameplay of the game. For example, if Tom is hit by the enemy, he will start moving slower and it will become harder for him to escape from other opponents. Because of that, the game requires the player to be cautious and act wisely.

Technical aspects

The title for PC, PS4 and etc. resembles the genre classics with its pixel art graphics. Uncanny Valley has a dense and overwhelming atmosphere of danger and the title has many really scary moments. The climatic soundtrack inspired by movie horrors increases the immersion as well.

Last updated on 20 February 2017