
Release Date: June 5, 2018
An experimental, first-person adventure game created by Hollow Tree Games – an independent, Canadian developer. Shape of the World does not offer a plot as such; rather, it focuses on delivering a certain visual experience. The player takes on the role of a nameless traveler who introduces different changes to the world around along his way.
Shape of the World for PC, XONE and PS4 is an ephemeral, first-person adventure game requiring the player to explore a procedurally generated game world and observe it as it changes. The game received a crowd-funding support on Kickstarter and it was created by Hollow Tree Games - an independent Canadian studio founded by experienced gamemakers.
Shape of the World for PC, XONE and PS4 does not offer a plot as such - rather, the gameplay here delivers the player with a distinct visual experience. Assuming the role of a nameless traveller, the player explores the game world, which changes as an effect of one's presence. The changes are both passive (taking place simply as the player follows the designated path) and active. In the latter case, the player shapes the surroundings by giving different colors to places and deciding how much vegetation should there grow.
When revisiting in-game places the player has once been to, they can notice that for instance, trees grow in a completely different manner now. Additionally, special obelisks are scattered throughout the game world - the player is led to these objects by small spirits. Activating one such obelisk changes the scenery the player observes. Despite that, the player is not forced to follow the designated path. Instead, the game rewards the player for wandering off the beaten path and thinking on their own.
As an experimental product, Shape of the World for PC, XONE and PS4 offers unusual and relatively minimalistic visuals generated by the Unreal Engine 4. The game world combines contractual, grey objects and contours with bright colors, which adds a layer of artism to the experience playing the game comes with. Thus this title aims to spark the interest of those searching for something new and original in gaming. Shape of the World offers an interesting visual experience accompanied by atmoshperic music.
Platforms:
PC Windows June 5, 2018
PlayStation 4 June 5, 2018
Xbox One June 6, 2018
Nintendo Switch June 6, 2018
PlayStation 5 July 13, 2021
Developer: Hollow Tree Games
Publisher: Dear Villagers / Plug in Digital / Playdius
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System Requirements for Shape of the World Video Game:
PC / Windows
Minimum System Requirements:
Dual Core 3.0 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GTX 750 / Radeon R7 260X or better, 2 GB HDD, Windows 7 64-bit.
Recommended System Requirements:
Quad Core 2.4 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 3 GB GeForce GTX 780 / Radeon R9 290X or better, 2 GB HDD, Windows 7 64-bit.
Game Ratings for Shape of the World Video Game.
PS3Blog.net: 80 / 100
Shape of the World is an interesting release that is almost more of an experience and not what you'd expect or are used to playing when you hear the word video game. Some of you might call this a walking simulator, which is not that far off, but the way the game is presented and how the music complements the experience, shifting as new shapes and colors come into play, makes this one a game you have to try.
AusGamers: 8 / 10 by Kosta Andreadis
Brief and wonderful, and something to savour.
GearNuke: 6 / 10 by Muhammad Ali Bari
Despite being short, Shape of the World can easily start to feel lackluster if it fails to develop a mood altering connection with you. As such, it’s more of a hit or miss.
Average score from votes.