Virginia

Virginia is an adventure game, created for PC, PS4 and XONE. The game was developed by an independent studio Variable State.

Plot

We assume the role of a female FBI agent, having only recently started service. Joined by a partner, we visit a drowsy city, to investigate a case of a young boy’s disappearance. The titular state of Virginia has been presented in a fictional version, full of subtle supernatural occurrences, and light science-fiction threads. The developers do not try to hide their inspiration: TV shows from the 90’s, including Twin Peaks.

Mechanics

Virginia, released on PC, PS4 and XONE, is a narrative-driven adventure, so it mainly focuses on telling a story, rather than solving riddles. Making difficult moral choices with different outcomes is also not a part of this production. The developers had one, exact story to tell, and wanted to achieve their goal in the most spectacular way possible.

We observe in the events from the position of the female protagonist, but the whole process plays out in a rather unusual way. Variable State’s developers went for a more cinematic way of conducting narration, placing a special emphasis on montage, which results in many cinematic shots. The other solution rarely observed in this genre is lack of dialogue. The scenes begin once the conversation had ended, or conclude before a conversation begins. At the same time, such solutions give the game a very strange and eerie atmosphere, as wherever our character goes, all we hear is dead silence.

Technical aspects

Virginia for PC, PS4 and XONE has been created in full 3D. The authors used an unusual visual style, with simplified objects and a dark palette, which results in a look imitating a grim comic.

Last updated on 28 July 2016