Let’s get this out of the best way: Backbone is furry as all heck. Now I’ve stated it, we will transfer on. From what I’ve performed of its free demo, launched tonight, it’s additionally a well-written and gorgeously illustrated noir detective journey, developed by EggNut. Set in an alternate Earth the place the individuals are anthropomorphic animals, Howard Lotor is a raccoon P.I., on the path of what appears to be a dishonest husband. Of course, it’s by no means that straightforward. There’s medicine, intrigue, sassy dames and peril, and a beautiful soundtrack too. Grab the demo here, and take a peek on the trailer beneath.
It’s not day by day I can say I insulted a Squirrel (and his mom) till he agreed to assist me. I want it was, although. While I’ve not accomplished the prologue chapter but, I’ve acquired no complaints about what I’ve performed to date. The artwork is gorgeous, a mix of detailed, chunky pixel-art and subdued, hazy lighting. It’s just about an unofficial Blacksad game, though there’s an official one in the works, too. What steals the present for me is the writing. There’s a fantastic sense of this being Howard’s neighbourhood. He has historical past with plenty of the random of us you possibly can meet on the road. Long, meandering however believable branching dialogues construct his backstory.
Curiously, it’s not solely a point-and-click journey. For a lot of the demo, you’ll simply be strolling round utilizing the keyboard, hitting a single button to speak to folks, and quantity keys to choose dialogue choices. It’s solely once you zoom in on a probably clue-laden scene (or Howard’s messy desk in want of tidying) that you just’ll want your mouse pointer. It’s a curious method, however reduces pixel-hunting to successfully nil. If Howard spots one thing fascinating, you’ll get a pleasant clear interplay immediate, and once you zoom in, all the things within the scene is apparent. It’ll be fascinating to see if the complete game can ship sensible puzzles whereas nonetheless sustaining the streamlined controls. I do hope so.
The Backbone prologue is out now, free, and available here on Steam. The full game is due a while subsequent 12 months, though with no exhausting launch date.
