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Essays 17 August 2019, 18:09

author: Jakub Mirowski

Not Only Cyberpunk – The Polish Invasion at gamescom

The enormous progress that Polish gamedev's made since the release of The Witcher 3 is astonishing, even for the skeptical ones. Gamescom is an opportunity for Polish developers to showcase their projects to a wider audience.

Table of Contents

This is the Zodiac Speaking

All US investigative agencies tried to capture Zodiac and failed... but maybe you will succeed in capturing him. - Not only Cyberpunk 2077 - Polish games worth waiting for - dokument - 2019-08-17
All US investigative agencies tried to capture Zodiac and failed... but maybe you will succeed in capturing him.
  1. Release date: 2020
  2. Platforms: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
  3. In a nutshell: dark thriller, adventure, FPS, stealth and detective mode

One day we pick up the phone and hear: "Hello, this is Zodiac". This is how the adventure in the production of Punk Punch Games begins, which focuses primarily on the atmosphere and a truly cinematic presentation of history. Because it's not just any story: in This is the Zodiac Speaking you will follow the trail of the most infamous serial killer in the history of the United States, whose identity remains a mystery to this day. In addition to interesting script (written with the participation of a popular Polish writer, Lukasz Orbitowski), the developers intend to win the hearts of players with the evocative mood of the American 70s. Also, you will have an opportunity to test yourself as a detective and who knows – maybe even lead the investigation to an alternative ending, in which Zodiac is captured and imprisoned. After all, it's a perfect story to make your own suspicions and speculations.

Carrion

You don't have to be a psychopath to play Carrion – but it may help a lot. - Not only Cyberpunk 2077 - Polish games worth waiting for - dokument - 2019-08-17
You don't have to be a psychopath to play Carrion – but it may help a lot.
  1. Release date: 2020
  2. Platform: PC
  3. In a nutshell: "inverted horror" in which you are a monster

Carrion developers wanted to create the first alternative survival horror game, where the nightmare is played by the player and the question of survival is left to the artificial intelligence. Your goal is to kill (in the most gruesome way possible) every scientist and bodyguard who have trapped you in an underground labyrinth of research labs, canals and dark corridors. Of course, you will not begin this adventure as an unstoppable monster. As you progress – counted both in the number of locations explored, in decibels of agonal screams of the victims, and the hectoliters of blood smashed on the walls – the beast controlled by you will gain new skills that can make it an even more effective killing machine. We haven't heard about such a brutal and bloodthirsty production for a long time.

PHOBIA GAME STUDIO

It is worth mentioning that the team responsible for Carrion consists of people who previously co-created the Butcher game developed by Transhuman Design studio. Their new horror game promises to be so good that it won awards for best game at Indie Showcase 2018 and Grand Prix Pixel Awards 2018 even before its release.

  1. More about Carrion

Wanderlust Travel Stories

Virtual travel stories usually try to encourage players to explore the world. - Not only Cyberpunk 2077 - Polish games worth waiting for - dokument - 2019-08-17
Virtual travel stories usually try to encourage players to explore the world.
  1. Release date: Q3 2019
  2. Platform: PC
  3. In a nutshell: an interesting text game representing "slow gaming" genre

The holiday season is at its peak, however not everyone have time and means to make the trip around the world. Wanderlust Travel Stories will try to fill this gap at least to a minimum by offering an extremely simple text game in which your only task is to select dialogue options and take part in a virtual tour of the farthest corners of the world. The development team, inspired with passion for wandering around the world, prepared an adventure lasting several hours, during which players will discover many different stories, reach all continents of the Earth, and get to know themselves a lot better during their journey. It is well known that interactive entertainment can never replace a real hiking trip with a backpack and tent, but Wanderlust Travel Stories can become an interesting platform to share your experiences from the road.

#DRIVE

#DRIVE can't complain about lack of popularity. Now it is time to systematically update the game with new content. - Not only Cyberpunk 2077 - Polish games worth waiting for - dokument - 2019-08-17
#DRIVE can't complain about lack of popularity. Now it is time to systematically update the game with new content.
  1. Release date: for Android, iOS – 2019, Switch – TBA
  2. Platform: Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch
  3. In a nutshell: endless runner game

Not many developers who present their new game on gamescom can boast of such popularity as #DRIVE – the game of two Polish developers hit top of the App Store's download charts shortly after its release and in over thirty countries. It would seem that this is just another representative of the endless runner genre, and there is a plethora of such titles on app stores, but it has some rich car development features and a decent style of 70s. and 80s. Also, other features like the adrenaline associated with races, police chases and gas tank limits, were apparently enough to break out of the crowd. But getting popular is one thing and keeping it popular is another, so we're waiting for the Cologne trade fair to find out what are the further plans of the developers concerning this unexpected hit.

Jakub Mirowski

Jakub Mirowski

Associated with Gamepressure.com since 2012: he worked in news, editorials, columns, technology, and tvgry departments. Currently specializes in ambitious topics. Wrote both reviews of three installments of the FIFA series, and an article about a low-tech African refrigerator. Apart from GRYOnline.pl, his articles on refugees, migration, and climate change were published in, among others, Krytyka Polityczna, OKO.press, and Nowa Europa Wschodnia. When it comes to games, his scope of interest is a bit more narrow and is limited to whatever FromSoftware throws out, the more intriguing indie games and party-type titles.

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