Story-driven Puzzler Monochroma Releases New Cinematic Trailer
Monochroma is set in a dystopian state during the 1950’s and tells the story of brothers who witness a horrific crime committed by an evil corporation. The game sees you playing as the brothers as they work together to try to complete devilishly clever puzzles to save their world from tyranny. One of the unique features of Monochroma is that it is narratively driven, with no cut-scenes, text or spoken words. It offers a deep visual, intellectual and emotional experience.
With the release of the new trailer, Monochroma’s producer Burak Tezateşer hints that the trailer serves as a clue for viewers to delve deeper into the story. The campaign is spread over four chapters and each player will have to solve puzzles through multi-storied ghettos, a labyrinth of sewer tunnels, factories and a city sized zeppelin hovering in the sky.
Tezateşer says: “Monochroma is a game that questions the essence of playing a video game. A game might entertain players, make them feel good about themselves, or even help them socialize; but a good game should also be able to satisfy players emotionally and intellectually, make players think about their lives, society and the system they are living in the same way a good movie or novel does.”
The game is heavily inspired by real-life events as it reflects the childhood memories of some of the developers moving from the countryside to urban Istanbul. Monochroma also takes some inspiration from the “Gezi Protests” of 2013, which is the most violently oppressed protest in modern Turkey. With these real-life events, the developers have been able to insert life experience into the game as it questions the societies of control, disinformation of media, destruction of nature, child labour exploitation and the liberal economy; all of which have been inspired by movies, classic stories and games.
As an added incentive for players and to the credit of the development studio, Nowhere Studios also announced that they are donating $1 to the “Save The Children” organisation for every sale made via their own website. They are also donating 15% of their revenue made in Turkey to an organisation for homeless children.
It is intriguing to see what Nowhere Studios accomplish with this project. Puzzle games often involve playing one puzzle for a short time and going back to it days later. Monochroma suggests that hard-hitting realistic story will keep players glued to their screens and it’s fantastic to see that money will be donated to charity from each sale.
Keep your eye on this one as Monochroma could be one to watch.