AestheticGamer1
Horror games have appeared on every platform imaginable since they became popularized in the mid-nineties, and they also have become infamous for pushing the limits graphically on the platforms they appear on. “The Dark Meadow,” is an upcoming first-person action-adventure horror game for iOS systems. The game has been developed by Phosphor Games over the last 3-4 months, and will hit somewhere next month in August, though no specific date or pricing is known at this time.
What we do know sounds interesting though. You awakens in a hospital with no idea why you’re here or what’s going on. Venturing out however, you meet an elderly man who warns of a beautiful witch who has casted a nightmare onto the facility and who’s minions roam the halls; only when the witch is slain will you be able to escape this torment. Players utilize a crossbow and a sword for combat, though a big focus is on exploration. They predict the title should take around 6-hours to complete, but there will be a lot left to explore even upon completion, trying to aim to make a game on the scale of Dead Rising for exploration. The game includes some RPG elements in exploring and collecting items, including money to purchase better equipment, as well as notes left behind that further explain what’s going on.
The graphics are of high quality for the device, almost reaching some console games. It uses Unreal Engine 3 to achieve this, as well as a fantastic art style. The developers are experienced with the Unreal Engine and using the system to it’s fullest even with limitations. They had previously worked on PS2 games, and as they say, compared to the graphic limitations on that they had a lot more availability for graphics and effects for the devices. The lighting and shadows are superb and mix well with the beautiful but isolated feel of the environment.
The developers have some plans for DLC on the title in the future to expand gameplay, and are interested to hear player demand. Such things, such as multiplayer or extended side stories, are not out of the realm of possibilities, and is completely reliant on what people want. This title, while taking inspiration from everything from Dead Rising and Silent Hill, to Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja, combines ideas in quite an interesting way that seems to work. We’re hoping this doesn’t escape under peoples radars.
While no release date or pricing is known at this time, it will hit sometime next month and will be available in English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Italian and should be available on platforms from the iPhone 3Gs up to the iPad 2, though specifics are yet to be unveiled.
