Developer Three One Zero aims to immerse space and survival fans this summer with its self-professed “First Person Experience (FPX)” ADR1FT (read “adrift”). Xbox One, PS4, and PC owners will brave the cold quiet of space, battling a scarce oxygen supply, zero gravity, and a hazardous environment in this deliberately nonviolent space adventure.
Your Circuit’s Dead, There’s Something Wrong
An astronaut awakes to discover that she is the sole survivor to the destruction of the fictional Hardiman Aerospace Northstar IV space station but cannot recall the nature of the catastrophic event. Players must take control of the unnamed spacewoman and tackle the game’s two objectives: survive and return to Earth. As the game unfolds, players will find audio logs and solve puzzles to help recollect the history that lead to destruction of the ill-fated station and makeshift a passage home.
ADR1FT’s most recent trailer portrays the tense drama of its patient gameplay, enriched by a cinematic approach to storytelling and design. A thick silence accompanies the spacewoman’s heaves as she delicately navigates the station, eventually encountering an intimate audio log of a man recounting a little girls piano recital. The log eases into a recording of Beethoven’s Sonata No. 8 Adagio just as the spacewoman finally comes face to face with a breathtaking view of the destroyed space station floating above the Earth. The finely crafted trailer boasts a compelling environment with minimalist however finely detailed designs and environments, juxtaposing pristine white 2001: A Space Odyssey-inspired technology, colorful plantlife (indicative the station’s biodome), and metallic debris.
It’s Lonely Out In Space
Players will be able to freely roam the open environment of the space station; however, limitations like the dwindling oxygen supply may keep players on task as they traverse the wreckage. Developers have yet to reveal any gadgets or gear usable in-game but have emphasized a focus on exploration and discovery. As explained in a recent interview with creator Adam Orth, one of Three One Zero’s proposed achievements was to properly capture and convey the feeling of weightlessness to players. Oculus Rift compatibility will allow an even closer perspective on the space journey for those seeking an even more virtual zero-gravity simulation.
In Another Place and Time
Three One Zero clearly wants to create an immersive and compelling gaming experience that does more than simply stimulate players. For those seeking a way to lighten their feet and lose the ground, ADR1FT may be one to keep an eye on. More news to come at E3 2015.