A new indie horror game coming soon toSteamis a unique mix ofFatal FrameandAlan Wake-like concepts. The game is developed by Here Below, a solo team led by Walter Woods. This is Woods' first game coming toSteam, with the release also coming to Xbox.
Walter Woods cites thevisual storytelling of A24 movieslikeThe Lighthouse,Midsommar, andEverything Everywhere All at Onceas inspiration for his studio. Based in Savannah, Georgia, Woods is the solo developer on his upcoming project, with some help from Jason Scalfano, Thai Liuu, and Eric Albaugh. Each of which works on illustrations, concepts, 3D modeling, animation, and voice-overs, respectively.
Walter Woods' first published game,Dark and Deep, providesa unique spin on the horror genre. Following the footsteps of a mysterious podcast about various conspiracies, the player takes on the role of Samuel Judge, who becomes plunged into a horrific landscape. Sam must navigate this unfamiliar and dangerous environment by solving puzzles using strange picture frames.
Dark and Deep Gives Cosmic Horror a 19th Century Look in a Modern Setting
Dark and Deepuses a unique aesthetic inspired by 19th-century artist Gustave Doré. His artwork is used in many of the textures in the game. Doré’s black-and-white illustrations depict mythological and historical scenes, which share a theme withDark and Deep. The game tells a story ofsurreal cosmic horrorwith a warped sense of reality.
Initially conceived as an experiment,Dark and Deepuses an innovative method to use existing art to createunique textures. Woods states that he felt the process was meaningful for him, as the project seems to be fueled by a passion for art and mythology. “There is not a game that looks like mine,” Woods mentions on hisSteam storepage. ”My art process is unique, bringing the illustrations of 19th-century Century Artist, Gustave Doré into a new dimension.” Woods goes on to mention his lifelong fascination with conspiracies and mythology as he states his love for the “strange and ancient” in the horror game community.
The player can solve some puzzles by using embers of light that they gather to power ancient machines, reveal important objects, and uncover a dark conspiracy.Dark and Deepmay be on its way to becoming amemorable cosmic horror gameand will release in August 2024 on Steam and Xbox.
Steam
Steam is a digital video game storefront and program developed by Valve that allows gamers to purchase, play, and mod their titles all through one convenient program.
