There are several game developers recently that seem intent on trying to simulate the outdoors. And while games like Obsidian Entertainment's Grounded are focused on shrinking humans to explore the wonders of the outside world, other games like AWAY: The Survival Series have decided to take that tiny exploration in a different direction.
AWAY: The Survival Series is the debut game from indie developer Breaking Walls. In the game, players will take on the role of a Sugar Glider, a small marsupial with the ability to glide, exploring an ecosystem full of prey and predators.
In an extended gameplay walkthrough, Anuradha Mallik, a programmer on the game, and Sebastien Nadeau, one Breaking Walls' co-founders, discussed how the game was inspired by nature documentaries. In fact, the game features a dynamic narrator that helps guide players in the natural world around them.
The gameplay video also showed off a feature called Instinct. This ability will allow players to see through the environment, highlighting animals and insects that surround them, similarly to the Batman: Arkham series' Detective Vision.
Although the game seems heavily based in reality, that doesn't mean AWAY: The Survival Series is completely straight-laced. At one point in the footage, the player needs to make their way into an area that is too small for the Sugar Glider to fit into. There's no need to fear, however, because the Sugar Glider can possess other creatures for a short period by consuming blue mushrooms.
AWAY: The Survival Series certainly seems like an exciting and ambitious new game for players to explore. According to Breaking Walls, players will have to survive an ecosystem full of dangerous predators as they climb and glide throughout the environment. Hopefully, there aren't too many owls looking for a little snack at night.
AWAY: The Survival Series comes to PC and PS4 in early 2021.
Source: Breaking Walls