News
Monochroma to Launch This April
Istanbul, Turkey, March 3rd, in the year of our Lord
2014 - Independent developer Nowhere Studios, today
announced that its 1950’s influenced cinematic puzzle platformer
“Monochroma”, will launch on Windows PC, Mac and Linux on
digital download distribution service Steam in April 2014. Set
in an alternate dystopian state during the 1950’s, Monochroma
follows the story of a boy and his brother who witness a
horrific crime committed by an evil corporation. Narratively led
with no cut-scenes, text or spoken words, Monochroma offers a
deep visual, intellectual and emotional attachment, as the
brothers work together to progress past devilishly clever
puzzles to save their world from tyranny.
“Monochroma mixes the paranoia and dreading forbode of the
1950’s with the recent geopolitical landscape of protest,
upheavals and revolutions, and builds an alternate universe that
places gameplay, atmosphere and narrative above everything
else,” said Burak Tezateşer, Executive Producer of Monochroma.
“We’ve been inspired by a mix of influences, from classic video
games from our childhood including Abe’s Oddysee and Heart of
Darkness, to classic tales such as Red Riding Hood and the
Wizard of Oz and the urban architecture of the 20th century”.
Inspired by the developers’ childhood memories of moving from
the countryside to urban Istanbul and the “Gezi Protests” of
2013, the most violently oppressed protest in modern Turkey,
players discover the environment and follow the story through a
carefully constructed black-and-white palette with splashes of
red. As a result, the story is instantly understandable by
players of all nationalities – without any localization
required.
Spread over four chapters, discover vast ghettos built upon
thousands of sheds reaching into the clouds, a labyrinth of
sewer tunnels, factories bellowing out industrial smoke and a
city sized zeppelin hovering in the sky. The puzzles encountered
in Monochroma are realistic and use physics to naturally blend
in with the environment.
Another Monochroma trademark is the relationship between the two
brothers. Early in the game, the younger brother injures his leg
after an accident, and must be supported by his older sibling.
At times, the player needs to temporarily stop carrying him in
order to solve puzzles. However he can only be placed near safe,
bright areas—because like most kids, he’s scared of the dark.
This gameplay mechanic defines Monochroma as a cerebral,
methodical puzzle game that rewards players who are caring and
brave at the same time. Being a responsible older sibling is
mandatory—just as in real life.
Family Friendly Gaming has a positive outlook/opinion on the
1950s.