Make some noise for this one-of-a-kind VR mystery.
In a market filled with colorful, high-energy VR experiences, it takes a fair amount of guts to develop a game that pushes visuals to the wayside in favor of a black-and-white, narrative-driven adventure.
That’s what’s so unique about Tiny Bull Studios Blind, an upcoming VR puzzle game for HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, and Open Source VR that pulls a switcheroo of sorts, using VR technology to actually limit the visual senses of the player for a unique gameplay experience unlike any other.
Stepping into the shoes of a young blind women, players awaken within a mysterious mansion where they’re forced to navigate a series of challenging puzzles conducted by a sadistic individual known only as “Warden.” Following the basic principles of echolocation, players must use their cane to tap on objects in their environment in order to produce sound.
This audio then creates a sound wave which will allow players to briefly view the outlines of various objects within their immediate vicinity. Players can also create visual “lighthouses” using special objects found throughout the area, such as gramophones and other noise-making devices. Using these techniques, players must navigate their way through the mansion and out from the clutches of the dastardly Warden.
“Most VR titles use the medium to flood players’ senses, but we wanted to do something special and restrict the senses in a way,” says Matteo Lana, CEO of Tiny Bull Studios. “But even as Blind inhibits our standard perception of sight, the echolocation mechanic and fully-encompassing environment engage the player and enhance the puzzle gameplay in a way that only VR can.”
The psychological thriller is actually based off a previous project from the team, Come to See My House; developed as part of the 2014 Global Game Jam and winner of the award for Best Game at the Turin, Italy jam site.
Blind will be available September 18th for $24.99 on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift (on sale for $20.00), PlayStation VR, and Open Source VR.
Image Credit: Tiny Bull Studios
