The Old City now open to visitors on Kickstarter

Written by Jack Allin — May 2, 2014 at 00:17

While most first-person adventures place a priority on puzzles, PostMod Softworks' upcoming The Old City promises to emphasize story, exploration, and the philosophical nature of knowledge if reaches its fundraising goal on Kickstarter.

The Old City casts players in the role of "sewer dwelling isolationist" called a Minotaur, who ascends to the world above to find the "shattered remnants of a civilization long past and the echoes of the few who remain." Since an integral part of the game is discovery, very few details about the story have been revealed, but the environment has been designed to be a living particant of its own that will "literally respond to the character in various ways. Whether subtly rearranging itself to open or close pathways, hinting at some larger meta-narrative, or actually communicating with the character using written words, the environment is a responsive entity that acts as the second half of the conversation. Your task is to act as an observer to this conversation and to pick up on the flow of communication between the two parties."

As seen in the game's early trailers, The Old City is a free-roaming, first-person 3D adventure that lets you choose how to explore – or even whether to explore. The developers estimate that about 75% of the game world will be completely optional, offering different experiences to those who make different choices along the way. In order to understand the game fully, therefore, it will be necessary to play the game multiple times to see everything it has to offer. The gameplay itself will be kept to a minimum, with interactivity serving to " further the story along. You can walk, jump, climb ladders, open doors, and move around key objects that communicate something about the world. There is absolutely no UI other than a main menu, and there are no objectives, death screens, or enemies to combat."

In order to complete the game within two years, the developers are seeking $40,000 by May 28 through Kickstarter. A minumum pledge of $15 will reward players with a PC download of the game upon completion, complete with Oculus Rift support. To learn more about The Old City and to contribute to the campagin, visit the game's Kickstarter page for complete details. You can also vote for the game on Steam Greenlight.