[Dev Update #3] Gameplay inspirations

I know many of you are already excited by Decarnation’s universe and style, but there’s still a question mark around the kind of gameplay it contains

Is it a survival-horror? A Point & Click? A Visual Novel?

We call it an “adventure horror game” but how does it feel when one has the controller in their hand?

Well, what’s for sure is that there isn’t one main gameplay style in Decarnation, but more of a collection of smaller gameplay types. Rhythm games, enigmas, puzzles, stealth sequences…

For each particular situation, we tried to utilize the gameplay that would best fit the situation and the state of mind of Gloria, our main character and as a result, Decarnation is a mix of over 15 different systems and types of gameplay!

Sometimes, it’s very clear and concrete, for example when Gloria must put on the best possible performance on the Black Swan stage:

Some other times, it is a bit more abstract, and the gameplay serves to express the mental state of the hero.

The game isn’t designed to present a significant challenge per se (Decarnation is meant to be an experience, not a stressful game that relies on your response time and twitch reactions), but some sequences might strain the player’s nerves. For example in this fantasmagorical manor, where Gloria is trapped by a strange chess game. There may be some struggle in overcoming the situation, but you’ll be fine eventually, we’re sure! (Well, we hope…)

Oh, and not everything is about effort! Sometimes, it’s important to let go of the pressure, as in this little sequence of cardiac coherence. Gloria calms herself, trying to manage her anxiety and if you feel like it, you can reproduce her actionss and enjoy the benefits of a deep and slow breathing.

But this is just a sneak peak to some of Decarnation’s gameplay and systems. We don’t want to spoil everything, we’re keeping some little surprises for you, and a lot of bigger ones!

See you soon in Decarnation!

Quentin De Beuk - Creative Director