Anamorphine

August 27, 2018

Anamorphine Gets A Shot in the Arm With New Update

Narrative virtual reality (VR) experience Anamorphine has a few delays on its way to its release on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR at the start of August. Despite holding the title back so developers Artifact 5 could ensure the best experience, there is still some more polish to be applied, as demonstrated by the announcement of a new patch.

According to the developers, a number of bugs and glitches are being corrected with the new update, which should improve the experience for both VR and non-VR players alike.

Anamorphine - Screenshot

Some of the issues covered by the patch over both PC and VR problems, including:

All Menus now appear in Vive as they did with Oculus.
VR can now be toggled if you’re using the Vive
Full support for VR motion controllers (cursor/no cursor, step/smooth) throughout the game
Fixed gamepad issues in VR
Fixed a portal issue that caused double vision in VR
Fixed issues where quick movements would cause out-of-sequence loads in both VR and Flat

VR-Specific issues fixed by the patch includes:

In-Game Trigger warning has a font rendering issue. Looks garbled. (this will be fixed promptly)
Toggling VR on and then back off with Oculus will crash the game
Fastest and Fast quality modes have a LOD issue making the game unplayable
Some portals and thresholds are difficult to traverse in VR with a cursor
When entering areas with distorted gravity, the VR cursor will have an offset orientation
One of the VR captures does not fade quickly enough
VR players can still move during loading
VR Menu is stretched a little
Mindscapes have a strange floor collider at the start location
In VR when the player goes through a choice portal, they land inside the floor

Anamorphine is a somewhat surreal adventure, which follows protagonist Tyler, who struggles with his mental health, consumed by guilt and deniable after an accident befalls his wife. Tyler’s wife, Elena was a professional cello player, and her accident robs her of her ability to play, leaving her to sink slowly into depression. Tyler needs to overcome the painful memories and learn how to reconnect his relationships.

Anamorphine - Screenshot

A PlayStation 4/PlayStation VR optimisation is also being worked on, though a release date for this is yet to be confirmed. For further news on Anamorphine and other updated or upcoming VR titles, keep checking back with VRFocus.

August 5, 2018

Something For The Weekend: Welcome August With SteamVR Discounts

It’s time for another entry of Something for the Weekend, the weekly series where VRFocus bring you a number of deals on virtual reality (VR) titles. This time we return to the Steam store to hunt down some of the best deals on immersive videogames that are sure to offer countless hours of fun. Want to drive a tank? Maybe use a sword? Or just make friends with young lady. There is a title for everyone. As always, be sure to check back every weekend for even more deals right here on VRFocus.

Voxel Tank VR

Every wanted to know what it would be like if you combined tanks with anime girls in VR? Well, in this title you get just that. Get ready to jump into the driving sea of a tank and do battle against large numbers of enemies and bosses in this intense title. Featuring accessible controls, a number of gamemodes and levels, plenty of cute girls and hours of fun. Voxel Tank VR is a title that is sure to keep players entertained for some time and that is before unlocking all the different outfits.

Voxel Tank VR is available now for £1.99 (GBP) down from the usual £3.99.

Tabletop Simulator

If tabletop gaming is your poison then this is the title you for. Create your own original games, import custom assets, automate games with scripting, set up giant role-playing adventures and so much more. With VR allowing you and friends to come together and play some tabletop games, Tabletop Simulator removes the need for everyone to meet in one room and leverages the internet and VR to create the same real-life experience. With workshop support meaning there are hundreds of games to be downloaded and played, Tabletop Simulator is a gateway to some brilliant content.

Tabletop Simulator is currently available for £7.49 (GBP) down from £14.99.

Killing Floor: Incursion screenshot

Killing Floor: Incursion

“So is Killing Floor: Incursion still worth getting? Damn right it is. The videogame does have its faults but they aren’t gameplay breaking. Killing Floor: Incursion’s single-player campaign is a glorious action romp that’s easy to play through in one sitting. One thing not mentioned so far is the fact that there’s a co-op option, and as every gamer should know, bringing a mate along to cover each others back only increases the fun factor.” – Read VRFocus’ Senior Staff Writer Peter Graham’s review of Killing Floor: Incursion.

Killing Floor: Incursion is available now on for £6.66 (GBP) down from £19.99.

Voxel Shot VR

“Shoot Voxel zombies in VR! Utilize an arsenal of weapons to eliminate the approaching brain-hungry zombies. Don’t be fooled by their cute appearance! Resilient zombies, helicopters and huge bosses are closing in to seal your doom. Can you survive the Voxzombocalypse?”

Voxel Shot VR is only £6.49 (GBP) down from £9.99.

Smashing The Battle

Smashing The Battle VR

“So while Smashing the Battle isn’t necessarily a showcase for VR, it highlights that not every videogame needs to be from a first-person viewpoint. It’s got loads going for it – great action, varied gameplay mechanics to stop it being mundane and a deep progression system – avoiding becoming boring too soon. If there’s an alternative to the big name launch titles you should consider, it’s Smashing the Battle.” – Read VRFocus’ Senior Staff Writer Peter Graham’s review of Smashing The Battle VR.

Smashing The Battle VR is available now for £6.39 (GBP) on sale from the usual £7.99.

“Explore the past as you resolve the present in Anamorphine, a surreal adventure of rendered emotions.Tyler, a young man in post-traumatic denial, revisits a succession of milestones that define his relationship with his wife Elena, who falls victim to an accident that robs her of her livelihood and emotional outlet. Tyler’s mental turmoil warps his past as he struggles to come to terms with his guilt and inability to help Elena when she quietly slips into depression.”

Anamorphine is available now for £13.94 (GBP) down from £15.49.

Rise of Insanity

“Looking great in some scenes and rather basic in others, Rise of Insanity is still a solidly put together experience. The storyline, sound effects and voice acting are all of a decent quality, but the English translation on some of the in-game literature needs some work. Difficulty is virtually none existent so it’s a breeze to play through in around two hours. If you’re looking for a short, digestible horror then Rise of Insanity is a sound bet, just watch out for those rubber ducks.” – Read VRFocus’ Senior Staff Wrtier Peter Graham’s review of Rise of Insanity.

Rise of Insanity is currently £4.67 (GBP) down from £7.19.

Together VR

In this VR title players are able to experience everyday life with Hoshihara Mei in their own private den. There are a number of different things players can do ranging from interacting with their new friend, including playing mini-games with her, enjoy couple-like interaction and even turn into digital warriors and engage in intense space battles. If you are looking for a title that offers a truly immersive experience, allowing you to escape the real-world, then this might be the one for you.

Together VR is currently on sale for £7.20 (GBP) down from £10.29.

Preta: Vendetta Rising

“Enter the world of Akirion, a once peaceful land on the brink of extinction by a deadly epidemic that transforms the living into flesh-craving beasts called Pretas. Survivors are now organizing into militias to defend their home, but due to the lack of capable warriors, Akirots are desperately hiring mercenaries, someone like you. Explore the forsaken continents, collect materials, craft powerful weapons and defeat blood-thirsty pretas in order to save Akirion and reveal the dark truths of the plague’s origin. Inspired by video games such as Dark Souls, Diablo, and Monster Hunters, Preta: Vendetta Rising is designed to be a challenging hack-and-slash action game featuring various multiplayer gameplay!”

Preta: Vendetta Rising is currently available for £12.39 (GBP) down from £15.49.

Samurai Sword VR

Why not pick up a samurai sword and cut your way through a number of different enemies and to complete challenges with? In Samurai Sword VR you can do just that. With a number of different gameplay elements to keep things fresh, including setting your sword on fire, this title is sure to give players plenty of enjoyment. Not only that, but there is a cute Samurai girl in this title as well, so what more could you want?

Samurai Sword VR is available for only £3.49 (GBP) right now on sale from £6.99.

That is all for this week but remember that VRFocus gathers all the best sales and deals every week, so check back next weekend at the same time to discover more.

July 31, 2018

Anamorphine Review: A Distressing Tale Of Depression With Little Redemption

Gaming is more open than ever, and that’s an amazing thing. Slowly but surely we’re seeing a much more diverse, vibrant industry emerge, one that thrives on the joys of our differences but also one that isn’t afraid to tackle tough subjects that we all face, like mental health. Some games, like this week’s stunning VR port of Hellblade, navigate this tricky territory with aplomb. Anamorphine, though, isn’t able to tackle it with the same eloquence.

Developer Artifact 5 is clearly speaking from the heart with this distressing tale of a couple that succumbs to depression following a tragic accident. And, through striking imagery and inventive design, the team does find some interesting ways to talk about these struggles. But a handful of missteps leave Anamorphine feeling cold, misguided and ultimately even a little irresponsible.

Other than movement and gaze-based interactions you’re simply a spectator in Anamorphine. You follow protagonist Tyler and his wife Elena as they struggle to come to terms with an incident that leaves the latter unable to play her cello, clearly a strong source of her livelihood. There isn’t a single spoken word; you move through Tyler’s increasingly distorted memories on what very much feels like a descent into the very recesses of mental anguish.

Artifact 5 mines the topic for some memorable and disturbing moments. The workmanlike halls of the hospital in which Elena rests stretch on like an increasingly frustrating maze, while some sequences have you endlessly walking through the couple’s apartment to hammer home the vicious cycle that poor mental health can lock you in. Flies fester, garbage piles up, lights drip and the wind howls. It’s literally stepping into the state of someone at their lowest.

Recurrence is, ironically, a recurrent theme within the game itself and perhaps a little too much at times. Some sequences stretch on a little too long without having much to say, and what impact they can make is diminished by frequent returns. This is a story that’s at its best when it encapsulates the strain of depression in ways that only gaming can express, by literally transporting you into someone’s mind and playing with the supernatural, so it’s a shame the ideas can’t stay fresh even for 60 minutes.

That said, there are moments that will stay with me, more for how cleverly that define the difficult juggling act of staying positive. At one point the music that Elena thrived upon appears to completely swallow her whole, which Tyler’s struggle with alcoholism is brought to life in one particularly visceral scene. Earlier moments in the game have happier sequences too, like exploring a world Elena builds with her music.

One of Anamorphine biggest missteps, though, is with its ending. Without spoiling anything, it’s important to note there are two possible conclusions to the game, and it’s very easy to miss the action needed to achieve the ‘good’ ending. I did the first time and, as a result, the game really rubbed me the wrong way. It simply didn’t have an ascent to lighten its at times crushing weight. Of course, for some there really isn’t much that can lighten that load, but in stretching out its exhibition of depression and leaving you in the same place it started, it feels somewhat exploitative. When the credits unexpectedly start to roll I was simply left wondering why I had been taken on a journey that had simply stretched out a message it made clear in its first third.

There’s definitely a point to be made about neglect and the need to accept help here, but the inclusion of a ‘bad’ ending, especially one that people could easily take as the only conclusion, is the game’s biggest blunder. It betrays its otherwise delicate handling of the subject matter and left me feeling far colder than may have been intended.

I also have to stress that the game simply shouldn’t be played in VR, as it’s lacking proper optimization. While the really rooting yourself in the experience can be compelling, the basic gamepad controls require you not to move your body when playing, and I couldn’t get Touch controls to work at all. Most importantly, though, many of the game’s transitions are jarring and uncomfortable, completely taking you out of the experience. Even on a flat screen there are bugs and kinks to iron out, but the VR implementation simply left me hazy, and not in the intentional sense.

Final Score: 5/10 – Mediocre

One fatal foot wrong meant that Anamorphine made a strong impact on me for the wrong reasons. While it has some interesting ideas on how to present mental suffering, the innocent act of overlooking one crucial moment meant it ultimately failed to justify its tour of misery and left me with too sour a taste. By the time I discovered there was a sunnier conclusion out there, the damage had been done. That, coupled with the poor VR optimization, make it hard to recommend to anyone with an interest in its subject matter and I would advise people suffering from depression to actively avoid its troubling depictions. There may be some that applaud this unflinching approach to an impossible situation, but a lighter touch may have been the better approach.

Anamorphine is available now on Oculus Rift and HTC Vive for $19.99. A PSVR version is also in development. Read our Game Review Guidelines for more information on how we arrived at this score.

Tagged with: Anamorphine

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July 26, 2018

Anamorphine erscheint am 31. Juli für Rift und Vive auf Steam; PSVR-Support folgt

Das emotionale Indie-Abenteuer Anamorphine von Entwicklerstudio Artifact 5 soll offiziell am 31. Juli 2018 für Oculus Rift und HTC Vive auf SteamVR erscheinen. Zeitgleich wird eine PS4-Version im PlayStation Store veröffentlicht. Allerdings müssen sich Besitzer/innen einer PlayStation-VR–Brille etwas länger gedulden, bis sie in die virtuelle Reise in den menschlichen Verstand immersiv eintauchen dürfen.

Anamorphine ab Ende Juli für Oculus Rift, HTC Vive und PS4 erhältlich

Das surreale VR-Abenteuer Anamorphine lädt die Spieler/innen auf eine introspektive Reise in den menschlichen Verstand ein. In der Rolle des psychisch kranken Tyler müsst ihr ein schwerwiegendes Erlebnis eurer Vergangenheit aufarbeiten: Eure ehemalige Ehefrau Elene wurde Opfer eines tragischen Unfalls, was beim Protagonisten eine posttraumatische Belastungsstörung auslöste.

Anamorphine-Oculus-Rift-HTC-Vive-PS4

Seitdem ist der junge Mann nicht mehr derselbe, denn die psychische Erkrankung verzerrt sowohl seine Realität wie auch die Erinnerungen an die Vergangenheit. Um die zahlreichen Schuldgefühle loszuwerden, gilt es in die verworrenen Erinnerungen an den Schicksalstag einzutauchen und die Ereignisse zu sortieren. Und dabei erwarten euch jede Menge Emotionen und tief greifende Gefühle.

Anamorphine-Oculus-Rift-HTC-Vive-PS4

Der VR-Titel basiert auf Unity und soll narrativ keine Dialoge nutzen. Stattdessen wird die gesamte Geschichte durch das Zusammensetzen der Vergangenheitsrückblicke erzählt werden. In Egoperspektive erkundet ihr eure Umgebung und stoßt dadurch auf stets neue Gedankeninhalte, die euch einen weiteren Schritt zur Lösung nach vorne bringen.

Das Entwicklerstudio verkündete kürzlich einen offiziellen Release-Termin für das VR-Erlebnis. Nach dem die ursprüngliche Veröffentlichung zu Beginn des Jahres verschoben wurde, soll das Indie-Abenteuer nun am 31. Juli für Oculus Rift und HTC Vive auf Steam erscheinen. Zudem soll zeitgleich eine Version für die PS4 erscheinen. Der VR-Support für die Konsole lässt allerdings etwas länger auf sich warten, so wird die VR-Adaption für die PSVR-Brille erst zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt veröffentlicht. Ein Release im Oculus Store ist ebenso geplant.

(Quellen: Anamorphine | Video: Artifact 5 Youtube)

Der Beitrag Anamorphine erscheint am 31. Juli für Rift und Vive auf Steam; PSVR-Support folgt zuerst gesehen auf VR∙Nerds. VR·Nerds am Werk!

July 25, 2018

Explore the Inner Workings of the Mind When Anamorphine Arrives Next Week

When a videogame gets delayed it can come across as a bad omen, that the developers were naive in their initial estimations as new problems arose. That’s not always the case though, with some studios wishing to add extra polish and shine to a title to make it just so. That seems to have been the case with Artifact 5 and its introspective adventure title Anamorphine which now has a new launch date.

Anamorphine image1

Anamorphine comes across as a surreal title of sorts, with a story about mental health, relationships, and reflection that focuses on experience over traditional gameplay.

The main protagonist is Tyler who struggles with guilt and post-traumatic denial after his wife Elena falls victim to an accident leaving her unable to play the cello―an activity that represents both her livelihood and emotional outlet. Elena quietly slips into depression as Tyler revisits the milestones of their relationship and attempts to overcome painful memories warped by his troubled psyche.

Certainly one of those titles that’s hard to describe, it was one of the few to make it into VRFocus’ Best HTC Vive Games Coming In 2018 list alongside Sprint Vector, Apex Construct, In Death and others. The entire story is told with no dialogue or action button, the narrative comes together through Tyler’s dream-like memories, contorting and bleeding into each other with his mental state.

Anamorphine image2

To get a better idea of what the hell is going on in Anamorphine take a look at the video below. NoClip’s Danny O’Dwyer sat down with Artifact 5’s Samantha Cook to talk about mental health in videogames and the route the studio took with Anamorphine’s own design.

If you like the look of Anamorphine then the title will arrive for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR on 31st July, 2018, priced at $19.99 USD. For any further updates keep reading VRFocus.

July 25, 2018July 26, 2018

Mental Health-Focused Adventure Anamorphine Finally Releases Next Week

Update: Artifact 5 has clarified that Anamorphine will not support PSVR at launch on PS4, though it’s possible the game integrates the headset later down the line. Original story is below.

Having been delayed back at the start of this year, mental health-focused VR experience, Anamorphine, will be releasing very, very soon.

Developer Artifact 5 today confirmed that the game will launch on PSVR, HTC Vive and Oculus Rift with optional standard screen support on July 31st. It’s set to cost $19.99. Originally we thought the game was still going to be arriving in late Q1 of this year but it looks like the team needed a little extra time.

In the game, you step into the shoes of Tyler and explore his relationship with his wife, Elena, who was left unable to play cello after a tragic accident. Tyler struggles to come to terms with these events, leading players on a journey through his psyche. The experience doesn’t use any dialogue and the gameplay is completely focused on the narrative.

We’re hoping that Anamorphine delivers a truly fascinating exploration of a subject not often touched in gaming. VR support should give us a chance to climb further into the mind of Tyler and hopefully bring us a deeper understanding of the game’s subject matter.

Tagged with: Anamorphine

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January 11, 2018

Anamorphine Delayed: “A little bit of extra care always goes a long way.”

When it came to writing our lists for the virtual reality (VR) videogame titles that we, at VRFocus were most excited about trying out this year, there were a few nominations that raised some eyebrows. Likewise, there was a number of titles, not necessary big videogames or experiences in the traditional sense, that to us leapt immediately to mind. ‘I want to see how that story plays out’, ‘I want to know how that mechanic is utilised’, ‘I want to see how different this is to other titles’, or even ‘This looks beautiful, I want to experience it’.

A number of those reactions could certainly be attributed to what we thought of Anamorphine, a deeply atmospheric title that uses music in creative ways as well as it being the central pillar to the title’s story. As you take on the role of Tyler who is struggles with guilt and post-traumatic denial after his wife Elena falls victim to an accident leaving her unable to play her beloved cello. Anamorphine focuses on pure environmental storytelling, that is to say there is no dialogue, no text, no sign of any user interface or buttons. Instead, you move through the story purely through movement and sight, learning about Tyler’s thoughts and Elena’s fate along the way.

The title had previously been announced to be coming to its platforms later this month on January 16th 2018, but unfortunately an update put out by Montreal based developers Artifact 5 has regretfully pushed that date back. There is, however a good reason – they want it to be done right.

“A little bit of extra care always goes a long way.” Explains the studio in an update. “We’ve been working on Anamorphine, our introspective adventure title, for quite some time now. Naturally, we’re excited to cross the finish line and let players experience the story of Tyler and Elena in full. As we draw near our intended launch date of January 16, we’ve decided that we need a few more weeks to polish Anamorphine. Thanks to all the members of our community for your patience.”

Anamorphine will now be available not in January but “Late Q1” this year on HTC Vive, Oculus and PlayStation VR as well as in non-VR on both PlayStation 4 and PC. VRFocus will bring you more updates on the title as soon as we get them, you can get a look at some of the gameplay of Anamorphine in this previously released video below.

January 4, 2018

The Best HTC Vive Games Coming in 2018

Over the last few weeks VRFocus has looked at some of the Best HTC Vive Games that have arrived over the past year as well as the Best Games You’ve Never Played. Now it’s time to look at what’s to come over the next 12 months, a brief rundown featuring some of the most interesting and exciting looking videogames developers have in the works for HTC Vive.

With the headset due to celebrate its second anniversary in a few months studios are now settling into the hardware, coming up with evermore inventive, and engrossing virtual reality (VR) experiences, and below VRFocus has picked some of the best.

HTC Vive mixed image

Sprint Vector – Survios

First revealed during the Game Developers Conference 2017, LA-based virtual reality (VR) developer Survios took a different approach to its next title after the success of first-person shooter (FPS) Raw Data. Sprint Vector is an obstacle course style videogame where you have to race to the end by using a system which the studio calls Fluid Locomotion, essentially swinging your arms back and forth just like you would when running.

Those interested in getting an early look at Sprint Vector ahead of launch can signup for the free beta at the Sprint Vector website. The beta is slated to start in January 2018 with an official release still to be confirmed.

The American Dream – Samurai Punk

Samurai Punk, the studio behind the popular multiplayer first-person shooter (FPS) Screencheat revealed its next project, The American Dream, at PAX West 2016. Described by the studio as a: “Look down the barrel of a future where all your everyday needs are solved with guns,” The American Dream is a satirical trip through a 1950’s world’s fair.

No exact date has yet been confirmed, just that The American Dream will launch in 2018.

Vacation Simulator – Owlchemy Labs

Announced during the recent Game Awards ceremony, Vacation Simulator is the next project from Job Simulator developer Owlchemy Labs. Few details were revealed about the videogame other than a teasing trailer showcasing more fun and frolics, just this time you’re on holiday.

Vacation Simulator has been slated for release at some point in 2018.

Anamorphine – Artifact 5

Anamorphine focuses on pure environmental storytelling, with no dialogue, text, UI or action buttons to speak of. Instead, you move through the story purely through movement and sight, learning about Tyler who struggles with guilt and post-traumatic denial after his wife Elena falls victim to an accident leaving her unable to play the cello.

Having previously been confirmed for a Winter 2017 release, Artifact 5 delayed the launch until 16th January 2018.

Apex Construct – Fast Travel Games

Fast Travel Games’ first VR title in the form of Apex Construct, a first-person shooter (FPS) set in a futuristic sci-fi world of robots. With synthetic creatures on the prowl its up to you to save the human race using your trusty bow and arrow.

The studio will be bringing Apex Construct to PlayStation VR first, followed by PC releases including HTC Vive, although dates have yet to be confirmed.

Apex_Construct_image_1

Bebylon: Battle Royale – Kite & Lightning

Kite & Lightning’s Bebylon: Battle Royale has appeared numerous times on VRFocus although the last time was way back in 2016. The videogame’s core gameplay revolves around a multiplayer combat arena where you control babies who fight it out for supremacy. There’s more to the experience than just fighting however, with the studio an entire virtual world.

It’s been a long time coming but Bebylon: Battle Royale should be appearing early 2018.

In Death – Sólfar Studios

EVEREST VR developer Sólfar Studios revealed just last month that its next VR experience would be somewhat different to the educational, mountaineering videogame. In Death is a first person shooter (FPS) with roguelike elements and a distinctly medieval flavour, with a game world that’s procedurally generated.

Currently In Death only has a release window of 2018.

Alice’s Lullaby: Albino Lullaby Episode 2 – Ape Law

Last September Ape Law announced a slight re-brand of its horror videogame Albino Lullaby, calling it Alice’s Lullaby instead. Whilst keeping the same weird and wonderful design as before, the second episode will see improvements such as player driven pacing – so no cut scenes, more objects to interact with, five new characters, and ‘Buck’s Clicker’ which bends time and space.

Ape Law has confirmed that Alice’s Lullaby will launch on 22nd March 2018.

Space Junkies – Ubisoft

Continuing Ubisoft’s support of VR, the Star Trek: Bridge Crew studio announced during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2017 a low-gravity multiplayer VR shooter called Space Junkies. Described as a fast-paced arena shooter that lets players put on jet packs to fly around destructible environments so the arena can change and react to player actions.

The multi-platform shooter is currently running a beta in preparation for launch in Spring 2018.

Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner – Mars – Konami Digital Entertainment

Lastly there’s Konami’s Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner – Mars, a remastered version of the original title released for PlayStation 2 in 2002 where VR players will be able to enter JEHUTY’s cockpit for some first-person combat action.

The videogame is due to launch in Spring 2018 worldwide.

December 1, 2017

Anamorphine Release Date Confirmed For 2018

It was back in March this year when we first heard about Anamorphine, a somewhat out of the ordinary narrative-driven videogame from developers. In Anamorphine the player takes an introspective trip through the world of someone who is suffering from mental illness. Taking on both their perceptions and their memories.

It is unusual in that unlike most videogames it has no spoken or written dialogue, nor is there any kind of traditional combat. Instead you literally step into the shoes of main character Tyler, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and experience what it is to be him. You must journey with Tyler through his memories unlocking clues from what you’re shown in order to understand what has happened to him in his troubled past.

Having previously been confirmed for a Winter release, Artifact 5 have now revealed that the title will be released on 16th January 2018. Artifact 5 also confirmed that it will be showing off the PlayStation VR version of the title as part of the line-up at next week’s PlayStation Experience event in Anaheim, California. An event VRFocus will be bringing you all the news from relating to virtual reality (VR).

The addition of PlayStation to the list of supported VR head mounted displays (HMDs) came a month ago, bringing the total number of confirmed headsets to three and placing it alongside both of the main PC HMDs – the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive. The game is also due to come out for non-VR use on the PlayStation 4/ PlayStation 4 Pro, on PC and on the XBox One/XBox One X at a later date.

“Tyler’s mental illness begins to manifest itself when an accident leaves his wife Elena unable to play the cello―an activity that represents both her livelihood and emotional outlet.” Explains the developer, “Helpless as Elena slips into depression, Tyler returns again and again to the painful memories, his own mind against him. Told through pure environmental storytelling, Anamorphine eschews dialogue and UI in favour of uniquely surreal scenes and a breathtaking cello-focused soundtrack.”

VRFocus will be bringing you more videogame related VR news in the near future, be sure to check out the site throughout the weekend to keep right up to date.

October 5, 2017January 16, 2018

Mind-bending Adventure ‘Anamorphine’ Delayed Until Late Q1

Virtual reality is unique in its ability to allow you to immersively explore the interior of the imagination, including the darker sides of the psyche, the parts that we fear to confront, but inevitably wish to excise from the mind. That’s what Anamorphine is trying to accomplish with its deep, mind-bending dive into love, loss, and the mental anguish of seeing a loved one fall into depression.

Update (01/16/18): Artifact 5 has announced on its blog that the surreal adventure ‘Anamorphine’ will be delayed from its original January 16th launch date “until this Winter/very early Spring.” Here’s the full statement below:

“After putting the team through their paces and more, Anamorphine is looking excellent, but still needs a few final weeks of polish. After around three years of work, the last thing we want is to bring it out just a little too early, when the extra time will make sure a huge impact on the final product. So no, you won’t be able to get Anamorphine on January 16 as previously announced, but you will see it later on this Winter/very early Spring. We’ll put out an announcement when we have the new date! Thank you all for your support and patience. We can’t wait to put Anamorphine into your hands.”

Original article (10/05/17): Created by Artifact 5, Anamorphine follows Tyler, a young man in post-traumatic denial. Visiting his relationship with his wife Elena, you visit milestones of their relationship and experience the fallout of a tragic accident where Elena, a professional cellist, is robbed of her ability to play the cello, which compromises her livelihood and major emotional outlet.

In a reality-splitting feverdream, you experience Tyler’s mental turmoil as it warps his past and he struggles to come to terms with his guilt and inability to help Elena while she quietly slips into depression.

If you hadn’t already guessed, Anamorphine isn’t a game as such, providing no action buttons to allow for object interaction of any sort. Rather, you’re left with the choice to freely explore parts of Tyler’s past, and have to decide whether to move on, or let the overwhelming darkness consume you.

Artifact 5 will be showing Anamorphine at IndieCade October 6-8 in Los Angeles. The experience will be launching in winter 2017 on PC, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PlayStation 4, and Playstation VR.

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