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American Arcadia is a genre-flipping cinematic feast from the Call Of The Sea devsPlaying both sides
Playing both sides
I did a lot of talking at Gamescom, whether that be to developers or muttering to myself deliriously as I typed stuff up in the evening. Talking to devs especially is a wonderful thing, especially when you’re playing their game and it resonates with you. But getting hands-on with an early portion ofAmerican Arcadiarendered me virtually silent, to the point where I had to apologise to the devs for being so quiet.
And I wasn’t being rude; far from it! I was just so engrossed in the game’s mixture of side-scrolling platforming and first-person puzzling. Keep this under surveillance, because I think it’s going to be a real hit when it lands.
American Arcadia | Announcement Trailer | Coming soon to PC and ConsoleWatch on YouTube
American Arcadia | Announcement Trailer | Coming soon to PC and Console
Without spoiling too much, Trevor discovered that his mate was mysteriously axed from work, and an unfamiliar voice warned him that if he didn’t escape, his life would be in danger.Some We Happy Fewvibes, here. The early sequence I played was shot like a documentary, with cutscenes of Trevor in an interrogation room, which would then flit to him running for his life, before a switch back to the present, all without being a confused mess. It was a slick operation, which was shot beautifully, as the camera panned or zoomed out to accentuate Arcadia’s scale.
All the while, I was practically silent as I bounced between the platforming sections as Trevor and first-person puzzles as his mysterious ally. From what I’ve played, American Arcadia is shaping up to be one of those experiences you’ll devour in a session or two. It’s a clever, cinematic take on a puzzler with real heart and a story I’m desperate to complete.
