NERO set to conquer Xbox One in early 2015

Written by Jack Allin — October 19, 2014 at 11:01

It's rare for Xbox systems to get adventure game exclusives, but that's just what will happen in early 2015 when NERO arrives on the Xbox One.

Described as a "magic adventure in an unknown world", NERO casts players in the role of a child travelling with a mysterious black-cloaked companion. While most story details are being kept under wraps for now, indie Italian developers Storm in a Teacup claim that: "NERO is about love. NERO is about faith. NERO is about feelings. NERO is about questions that need to be answered." If that sounds vague, perhaps it's because "the goal of this epic journey is to find something you really care about", which may be different for everyone – for one person it might be something material, for another something spiritual. The story is based around the simple question, "what are you ready to sacrifice for someone you really love?"

As seen in the early screenshots and trailers, NERO is a free-roaming, first-person adventure with "dreamlike visuals", an original atmospheric soundtrack, and a "rich interactive environment filled with puzzles". Inspired by the likes of Myst and Journey, the developers promise that "the world of NERO is wide, magic and varied enough to make exploring an ongoing challenge." Exploration will be paramount, as there are optional environmental details and bonus puzzles to find that will result in a better understanding of the story. Unlike either Myst or Journey, NERO's "complex" story will be fully narrated as the two protagonists progress in their journey.

There is no firm release date for NERO, but the game is currently on track for release sometime in the the first quarter of next year. In the meantime, you can follow its progress on the official website.