Gamescom wasn't just about big games, but also about interesting indie titles of all kinds, which I was personally looking forward to a lot. Since there were quite a few of them, I'll try to divide them into several articles and bring you two games at a time.
This time, we'll take a look at two adventures that I'm really looking forward to. The first is The Mystery of Oak Island, a German adventure game from Visionaire Studios, and then a title from our homeland, Two Realms: Whispers from the Rift, by MOD42 Studio. We've already covered this one in the Czech Republic as part of our impressions from the demo and an interview with the creator himself, Jaromír Janisch, so I'll start with him.
Two Realms: Whispers from the Rift
The meeting took place in a section closed to the general public, where Czech games had their own stand and various interesting titles from our country were represented. Due to the rather packed schedule, however, I headed straight for a pre-arranged meeting with Jaromír Janisch, who walked me through the news that had happened since our last meeting and at the same time answered a few more questions.
During our chat, which, in a typically Czech fashion, took place over a beer, I learned that the game had approximately eight thousand wishlists on Steam as of the current date. The studio is also exploring distribution options, which could only be a big plus for them and an opportunity to functionally expand the reach of the title itself. However, nothing more is known yet.
We also delved into the topic of genres, for example, horror, of which the creator is a big fan, even in its film form. So, in the game, we can expect horror elements that will seep into psychological horror. Corruption is a significant theme, as it is, after all, one of the main motifs of the entire story.
The main protagonist, after obtaining a purple crystal, discovers that with its help, he can, for example, force other characters to submit to his will. Although he doesn't want to use this power, he will gradually be forced to resort to it more and more often to save his little brother.
This was also demonstrated in the extended version of the original demo, which I was able to try out and which directly follows it. In it, you have to convince the stagecoach owner to give you and your brother a ride. Even in this part, the approach to puzzles, which go hand in hand with the story itself, is clearly visible again. It is clear and logical what you need to do next, so it really is a very cinematic adventure, as promised. In addition, the story should also allow for calmer passages that further develop individual characters.
My task was to get something to pry open a piece of wooden floor in my dwelling, and at the same time to get money for the guy who would give us a ride. This was solved relatively easily. Even after handing over the money, we were not successful and finally, despite reproaches, had to resort to using the crystal.
Even during this part, I have to re-appreciate the art style and overall visual presentation, for which Tomáš Létal is responsible. The environments and the sheer amount of detail are truly breathtaking, and in my opinion, they easily match, or even surpass, some other pixel art adventures. I was able to appreciate this the most in a close-up sequence during the stagecoach ride. Not only the detailed shot of the main character's face stands out, but also various small details around him. I was truly thrilled with the entire scene.
Moreover, even from the very first meeting, it was evident that the creators are pouring their all into the game. The project is funded by private money and is a true passion project. I trust Jaromír even more because he is an active player of adventure and story-driven games himself. This is not some calculation like in the past, when adventures were made in our country primarily because they were popular. Here, you can truly feel the effort to deliver a quality adventure experience from fans for fans.
The Mystery of Oak Island
The same could be said for The Mystery of Oak Island, an adventure game from the German Visionaire Studios, which has been in development for several years. I had the honor of talking with its creator, Thomas Dibke, whose project I've been following since its announcement. I was about seventeen years old then (now 29) and have been regularly checking the game's website ever since.
The project originally started as an episodic adventure, but later transformed into a single, cohesive title. I witnessed its journey from the first information, through a practical silence in development news, to concerns that the game might never be released. It was all the more incredible for me that after so many years, I finally sat next to the creator himself, could talk to him about the game, and even try it out. And I was truly thrilled with the demo.
The development was certainly not easy. The game had an unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign, followed by a successful relaunch, and Thomas Dibke also faced personal hardships during COVID. Moreover, he financed the project largely out of his own pocket and it can be said that he put practically everything into it.
I have to take my hat off even more. At a time when some creators canceled their projects after problems, sometimes even after they had already raised money for them, Thomas Dibke continues and is aiming for a release later this year. And from what I've seen, there's really something to look forward to.
The demo I was able to try was specially modified and works a bit differently than the corresponding part in the full game will. I found myself on a ship that I had to escape from before the rest of the crew returned to it.
Right from the start, I must highlight the beautiful visuals. The hand-drawn backgrounds are detailed and very nicely lit, as are the character models. There are also occasional animations of individual actions or shorter cutscenes. Moreover, the characters themselves, with their design, reminded me quite a bit of the models from the adventure series Black Mirror, especially its second and third installments.
The demo also introduced me to several puzzles. For example, I had to arrange books according to the correct symbols, search for necessary items, combine them, or use them in appropriate places. I was pleased that everything made sense and the individual solutions naturally followed from the information you gradually discovered.
At the same time, some puzzles can make you think, which will surely please genre veterans. The rest of the game should work in a similar vein, and you certainly shouldn't expect illogical combinations known from some older adventures. After all, this is a significantly narrative title, in which you will also gradually play as three different characters. That in itself seems quite ambitious.
Despite the noise that filled the hall, I also had to appreciate the voice acting. Although only a limited number of characters appeared in the preview, their voice acting was really well done.
However, I was equally impressed by the entire demo, which strongly evokes the atmosphere of older mystery adventures. I immediately recalled the Secret Files series, games from Future Games, or Gabriel Knight. The latter in particular came to mind, as The Mystery of Oak Island similarly draws from real-life settings, which it then combines with fiction.
The basis is a real treasure hunt that has been ongoing for over 230 years. Oak Island is located in Mahone Bay in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and over the centuries, a whole host of theories and legends have emerged around the supposedly hidden riches. Furthermore, as the author himself noted, it's a surprisingly underutilized theme for such a well-known mystery.
However, I don't want to reveal too much. The demo was, as I already mentioned, quite short, so it will be best to try it out for yourselves during the upcoming Steam Next Fest, where it should be available.
I am really looking forward to The Mystery of Oak Island, and after discussing it with the author and playing it myself, I believe that after all these years, Thomas Dibke can truly deliver a quality adventure game.