A release date announcement trailer released today for the upcoming narrative-driven puzzle game, Call of the Sea, is coming out December 8, 2020 for Xbox One X/S, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.
In May of this year, developer Out of the Blue’s announced it’s debut game, Call of the Sea, during an Xbox Games Studios digital event. The game takes on the more “surreal” aspects of H.P. Lovecraft’s material, said Tatiana Delgado, founder of Out of the Blue, about the upcoming first-person puzzle adventure game. The game takes place in 1934, on an island in the far reaches of the South Pacific.
The protagonist of the story is Norah, voiced by Cissy Jones (Firewatch), as she searches for her husband, who mysteriously disappeared after going on an expedition for his research. Following his letters leads Norah to an island, of which fans know little. The trailer illuminates: “An island in the south pacific that the natives refuse to name . . . what did you find?” a frightened Norah gasps as she runs through the jungles and ruins in search of answers.
The story of Call of the Sea is the main draw here. Out of the Blue, when talking about the game, said it drew inspiration from Firewatch, Soma, Myst, and Subnautica. This list includes games that lean heavily on their ability to tell the player information about the world through environmental storytelling and meaningful dialogue and text.
According to the game’s website, the player will be able to “Explore a stunning tropical island, brimming with fantastic sights, lost ruins and occult mysteries.” With a video of the player having fishman-adjacent hands playing above, the text continues, “Dive Into The Deep: Immerse yourself in a story-driven adventure full of suspense and surreal surprises.” Though the game seems to be Lovecraftian in theme and environment, the developers stressed Call of the Sea was not a horror game. In an interview with GameSpot, Delgado said, “Call of the Sea isn’t a descent into madness but a rise to sanity. Losing your mind makes you see a dream-like, colorful world.”
Call of the Sea releases for Xbox One X/S, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows, December 8, 2020.
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