Fast Travel Games’ promising VR horror title, Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife, hits Oculus Quest and Rift next month, with other platforms to follow soon after.
The game, which is the first VR title set in the World of Darkness universe, will arrive on Facebook’s headsets on April 22nd. There’s full cross-buy support, so buying one version on the Oculus Store nets you the other one too. A SteamVR launch will follow on May 25 and the PSVR version is scheduled to arrive later this year. The game will cost $29.99.
Wraith Release Date Revealed
In Wraith, players take on the role of a recently-deceased photographer that returns to the place of their demise, Barclay Mansion, to investigate the mysterious events surrounding their death. As a wraith, you’ll have access to special powers that allow you to manipulate the environment, walk through walls and more.
We just got our first taste of the game in an hour-long preview. We think it holds a lot of promise, but it’s greatest potential still likes in the unknown.
Wraith is also our first ever Upload Access game of the month! Announced on Monday, Access is our new series of month-long deep dive features, videos and exclusive looks at the biggest upcoming VR games. Check back later this week when we’ll be talking to Fast Travel about the horror behind the game and, all this month, we’ll be debut new gameplay and more interviews for the title. See the full schedule below.
Are you going to be checking our Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife? Let us know in the comments below!
Fast Travel Games’ upcoming virtual reality (VR) horror Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife has looked like an enticing prospect ever since the studio’s initial announcement last summer. Today, new details have been released regarding your companion on this journey into the World of Darkness universe, ‘The Shadow’.
If you’ve been following coverage of the videogame or you’re already familiar with the universe then you’ll know that this horror title is somewhat different from the rest. Rather than playing someone trying to survive, you are in fact already dead, playing a wraith looking for answers.
Trapped in the opulent residence of Barclay Mansion filled with Hollywood decadence and occult research, you play the recently deceased Ed Miller who took part in a seance which didn’t end well. As a wraith you now have special abilities like walking through walls, but you also have your Shadow. Unlike the sinister Spectres which you have to avoid and hide from that’s impossible with the Shadow as its part of you, a manifestation of Miller’s dark subconscious.
The Shadow can both help and hinder your journey through the mansion, that voice inside your head which can point you in the right direction, provide context at certain points and help you understand the power of being a wraith. He also relishes in your struggle and will complicate things as well, so you have to judge what to and what not to believe.
This will be the first VR title set in the World of Darkness as well as the studio being the first to make a videogame based on Wraith: The Oblivion.
Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife will support Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift/Rift S, HTC Vive, Valve Index and PlayStation VR. The launch window has now been narrowed with Fast Travel Games confirming Spring this year. That may cover a few months but at least it’s something. Check out the new trailer for ‘The Shadow’ below, and for further updates, keep reading VRFocus.
While 2020 may have been rubbish when it comes to almost everything, virtual reality (VR) developers have provided some awesome content to fill the time. So now it’s time to look ahead and see what the next 12 months will bring.
There’s no shortage of VR titles already slated for 2021, some have moved over from last year whilst others are looking to make their mark. Those such as Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creedand Splinter Cell don’t make the main list as these aren’t expected anytime soon.
Hitman 3
The main videogame a lot of PlayStation VR players are likely to be looking forward to, Hitman 3 arrives in a few weeks, the only title on this list with an actual launch date.
Putting you back into the shoes of the infamous assassin, Hitman 3 is fully VR compatible across its main campaign as well as its four other modes. Developer IO Interactive is making it possible to bring the two previous instalment’s maps – if you own Hitman 1 and 2 – into the third edition so you can play them in VR. Plus, the PlayStation 4 version will freely upgrade to the PlayStation 5 edition, whilst the PS5 version comes with a digital PS4 copy so there’s no need to worry which console you own.
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR
Release date: 20th January 2021
Lone Echo 2
Announced as an Oculus Rift exclusive back in 2018, originally Lone Echo II had been slated for 2019. Over the course of 2020, a couple of updates were released noting that work was still ongoing as the team adjusted to working remotely but it was clear from the last one the videogame wasn’t going to make it this year.
The single-player sci-fi adventure, Lone Echo II continues the story where you play a robot called Jack who needs to help Captain Olivia Rhodes survive the perils of space. Exclusive to the Oculus Store, it’s worth taking a look at the original even if titles like Half-Life: Alyx have now surpassed it.
As there’s no actual release date just yet, Lone Echo II could well arrive after Oculus Rift S is discontinued so there’s little doubt it’ll be Oculus Quest (via Oculus Link) compatible.
A horror title with a twist, Fast Travel Games’ Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlifelooks to be quite an intriguing experience. Set within the World of Darkness universe, you play as a wraith stuck in the mysterious Barclay mansion with the ability to walk through walls and pick items up remotely.
This being a horror videogame, just because you’re a wraith doesn’t mean to say there aren’t nasty beings lurking in the darkness. In fact, they’re called Spectres and they stalk your every footstep. Suspense is key here, there doesn’t look to be any combat just exploration, puzzle-solving and hiding when appropriate.
Supported headsets: Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index & PlayStation VR.
Release date: Early 2021
Maskmaker
From the team that brought you A Fisherman’s Tale, InnerspaceVR is working on a puzzle adventure called Maskmaker. Set in a realm ruled by the titular character, you’re his apprentice, learning his secret, magical ways of making masks. These are no ordinary masks, allowing you to freely explore 8 levels ‘biomes’ and discover their secrets.
As an apprentice, you’ll have to learn to build various masks from blueprints using materials you find. Eventually, you’ll be given free rein to make your own designs, although the studio hasn’t revealed what will happen when you do. Grander in scope than InnerspaceVR’s previous projects, Maskmaker is expected early next year.
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive & Valve Index
Release date: Q1 2021
Low-Fi
Iris VR Inc. – the team behind Technolust – held a successful Kickstarter back in 2019 for its ambitious cyberpunk project Low-Fi, which supports both VR and non-VR gameplay. An epic sci-fi adventure where you play a cop patrolling the dark crime-ridden streets of city-block 303, you’re able to choose between keeping law and order or exploiting its seedy underbelly.
While the Kickstarter offered backers access to the development build depending on which tier they purchased, that early access was then made available to everyone. Low-Fi is available on itch.io for $35 USD, once the videogame is ready to launch you’ll get a Steam key.
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index & Windows Mixed Reality.
Only a few teasing details of the gameplay have been revealed so far such as the image below and that the action will be a mix of melee combat and powerful, motion-based spellcasting. One aspect Carbon Studio has been detailing is the storyline through a selection of dev blog’s over on Steam. If the team’s recent The Wizards – Dark Times game is anything to go by Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall is in good hands.
Supported headsets: PC VR & Oculus Quest
Release date: 2021
After the Fall
Another videogame falling foul of remote working in 2020, Vertigo Games’ After the Fall is its next big blockbuster shooter. Originally unveiled during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2019, the studio has released few updates over the past year, the main one being the delay.
A promising action-packed FPS from what’s been shown so far, the studio behind Arizona Sunshine is heading for chillier climes for this adventure. Not to some northern outpost, rather Los Angeles set in a desolate future consumed by climate change and where most of the population have turned into monsters because of a designer drug. Survival will require scavenging for parts to build deadly weapons and other tools.
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive & Valve Index
Release date: Early 2021
The Climb 2
Revealed during Facebook Connect in September, Crytek’s free-climbing sequel was slated for an Oculus Quest launch by the end of 2020. Nothing has been heard of The Climb 2 since then including a reason for the delay.
Just like before you’ll need a head for heights, assailing cliff faces whilst looking for the best route up. This time around, however, it won’t just be scenic views of the ocean and countryside you’ll be able to enjoy, it’ll take you into cities to scale massive skyscrapers like you’re Tom Cruise in a Mission Impossible movie. Hopefully, more news will come available in early 2021.
Supported headsets: Oculus Quest
Release date: ‘Coming Soon’
Sniper Elite VR
Bringing its popular sniping franchise into VR, Rebellion has teamed up with Coatsink and Just Add Water on the production of Sniper Elite VR. A single-player, story-driven campaign takes you to Italy during World War 2, helping the Italian resistance to rid Sicily of the Nazi’s.
You’ll be exploring scenic locations, finding the best spots to snipe enemies or when necessary employing sub-machine guns, pistols and other weapons at close range. And let’s not forget about the infamous X-ray kill camera to really make those long-range shots standout. While no official release date has been mentioned, having demoed Sniper Elite VR in 2019 VRFocus has its fingers crossed this might appear in 2021.
Supported headsets: PlayStation VR, Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive & Valve Index
Release date: ‘Coming Soon’
Unplugged
Rhythm-action videogames can be awesome fun and Unplugged from Anotherway and Vertigo Games looks like it could be a blast. It’s also the only title here which uses Oculus Quest’s hand tracking feature for some air guitar rock and roll.
So far a couple of teasing videos featuring Searching for the Truth by The Electric Alley and Roadie by Tenacious D have showcased the gameplay no guitar controllers needed. You’ll score points and build combos when playing well or booed and beer hurled at you when you mess up.
If there’s one videogame virtual reality (VR) horror fans will likely be looking forward to in 2021 then Fast Travel Games’ Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife is probably it. Set to support most major platforms, the studio has released a new video showcasing footage from the Oculus Quest 2 version.
The video is split into five segments listing the title’s various plus points, from being a wraith who can walk through walls to its rich narrative and suspenseful gameplay. Narrated by Fast Travel Games Andreas Juliusson, each talking point is accompanied by development footage shot on the Oculus Quest 2. It might not be final launch quality but it gives you a good idea of what to expect.
As the footage takes you through various areas of the Barclay mansion, some such as the projector room have been seen before. Yet there are plenty of areas that have not, and it gives a much better impression of how large the mansion is and the amount of exploration involved.
You also get to see some of the special abilities and interactive elements you’ll be able to employ to help work out what’s going on as well as hiding from the Spectres stalking your every footstep. Abilites include Wraith Grasp to pickup distant objects or Insubstantiality – the walking through walls trick.
If you’re a World of Darkness fan, Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife shares the same universe as Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse. This VR version will also be the first time the Wraith’s perspective has been made available.
While the new video may concentrate on the Oculus Quest 2 version, Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife will also support Oculus Rift/Rift S, HTC Vive, Valve Index and PlayStation VR when is arrives early next year. As previously reported, the Oculus versions will support cross-buy via the Oculus Store.
For further updates on Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife, keep reading VRFocus.
It might be the festive season, but we’re always down for a good few scares. Today’s Winter Wrap-Up debut certainly delivers.
Fast Travel Games is stopping by with the first Quest 2 development footage of its highly anticipated VR horror game, Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife. Yes, this is the first World of Darkness game ever for VR headsets, and the first game in general to focus on the Wraiths. But what does any of that really mean? Fast Travel walks us through five reasons to enter the afterlife (in the game) below!
New Wraith VR Footage
Becoming a Wraith isn’t just a story feature. As you can see in the video, it will also grant you new powers, like the ability to manipulate objects from afar and pass through certain passages. Plus we get new info on the game’s story and setting.
On top of new details about how the game plays, the video also gives us our first look at Wraith running on Quest 2. This is still early development footage, so don’t take it as final, but there is plenty of new content here that you won’t want to miss.
Many thanks to Fast Travel Games for giving us the first look at Wraith running on Quest 2. Wraith’s due out on most VR headsets next year.
We’re now just about at the halfway point in our Winter Wrap-Up week! Check back later today when we’ll be live in our studio talking about our most anticipated games of 2021. And be here tomorrow for fresh updates on Traffic Jams and Unplugged before we debut new gameplay of Sam & Max: This Time It’s Virtual on Friday! Check out our full schedule below.
In search of that festive feeling? Well we’ve got a little surprise for you – UploadVR’s Winter Wrap-Up kicks off next week!
We’ll be rounding out the year in style with the help of some of our most anticipated projects of 2021. Join us every day next week at 9am PT when we’ll be debuting exclusive content for new VR games and incoming updates for some of 2020’s best titles. Check out the full schedule below!
Get Festive With UploadVR’s Winter Wrap-Up!
Starting out on Monday we’ll have the very first footage of a new Quest 2 game. What is it? We’re keeping that under wraps for now – you’ll just have to tune in to find out! Moving on to Tuesday, the team at Resolution Games has updates on its 1v1 shooter, Blaston, as well as a sneak peek at the just-announced turn-based RPG, Demeo.
Wednesday brings seasons greetings from Fast Travel Games as the team talks five reasons to play its new game, Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife, complete with the first-ever Quest 2 development footage! Meanwhile, Vertigo Games takes over Thursday with new looks at two games it’s publishing in the new year – Traffic Jams and Unplugged.
Finally, on Friday, we’ll round out the week with a brand new look at Sam & Max: This Time It’s Virtual. We can’t wait to see what the team at Happy Giant has in store.
But that’s far from all! Across the week we’ll have plenty more content to share, including a chat with Atlas V about its upcoming slate of VR movies, a first look at Arizona Sunshine’s new horde map, and the reveal of an all-new VR kaiju game! Plus team Upload will be in the Download studio to talk over some of the year’s biggest topics and look forward to what’s coming in 2021. Don’t miss out on Friday, when we’ll reveal our full VR awards 2020 nominations!
So that’s next week sorted for you! UploadVR’s Winter Wrap-Up is coming in hot – don’t miss it.
What’s around the corner for Sony’s aging headset? We find out with nine big PSVR games coming soon.
It’d be fair to say that things are looking a little gloomy on the PSVR front right now. News that native PS5 games can’t support the new headset, coupled with recent comments from PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan that called into question when and if PSVR 2 might arrive, have poured a bit of cold water over the platform.
But PSVR fans need not despair just yet as there are plenty of PSVR games coming soon.
Yes, PS5 is less than two weeks away and will be dominating the headlines from here on out, but the PS4 won’t be going anywhere just yet. In fact, consoles traditionally get some of their best games as their successors make their way onto the scene. Developers are more familiar with the hardware than they ever have been, and get some of the best results out of the tech.
That certainly seems to be the case when looking over the list of PSVR games still to come on PS4.
9 Big PSVR Games Coming Soon To PS4 (And PS5 BC)
We’ve picked nine big PSVR games coming soon to Sony’s headset. That includes some of the headset’s most anticipated titles like Hitman 3, long-awaited ports and a few other hopeful indie gems to look forward to. We’ll remind you too that you will be able to keep playing these games on PS5, provided they don’t have any issues, via the console’s backwards compatibility feature and that you grab the free camera adaptor for the PS4 camera. You can find out how to do that here.
Firewall developer First Contact Entertainment brought its new arena-based multiplayer shooter to Oculus earlier this year, but has long planned to release a PSVR version too. The studio is well-versed with the platform, having achieved popularity with its Rainbow Six-inspired tactical shooter. Solaris’ Quake-style fast-paced battles, meanwhile, look perfect for the PSVR Aim Controller, which the game fully supports.
Hitman 3 VR – January 21st, 2021
One of two PS4 games with a PS5 version that doesn’t support VR (the other being No Man’s Sky), Hitman 3 finds itself in a strange position just two months away from launch. We wonder how PS4 will handle the game’s sprawling and intricate sandboxes with the added pressure of VR, and we’re not sure how DualShock 4-exclusive motion controls will work out either. That said, we can’t wait to get our hands on this all the same, especially considering importing levels will let us play the entire PS4-era Hitman trilogy inside the headset.
Ven VR Adventure – 2020
When Ven was first announced we had our doubts that newcomer Monologic Games could deliver on the promise of a lengthy third-person platformer. But, over the course of 2020, constant updates from the studio have reassured us at every turn – Ven’s looking like a rock-solid companion to Moss, Lucky’s Tale and Astro Bot. Hopefully it won’t be too much longer before we know if it really delivers.
After The Fall – TBA
Vertigo Games’ long-awaited follow-up to Arizona Sunshine no longer looks like it will be touching down in 2020 (unless the studio is set to drop an imminent surprise), but remains one of the most promising PSVR titles. Cooperative, Left4Dead-style action has a lot of potential for VR and, though what we saw of the game in summer 2019 felt familiar, it would no doubt still please a lot of shooter fans. Hopefully we’ll see a deeper game come full reveal, but this already looks like one of the biggest PSVR games coming soon.
This excellent VR port of the faithful horror tie-in came to Oculus Quest last week in time for Halloween, but developer Bloober doesn’t sound like it’s stopping there. In a recent interview with The VR Dimension, the studio confirmed it has plans for PSVR and PC VR too. No word on when we’ll see it, but it looks likely this will be a worthy addition to any PSVR library.
Sniper Elite VR – TBA
Though it’s been a long-time coming, Sniper Elite VR’s most recent trailer was promising enough for us to shake off any concerns about development hell. Rebellion’s long-running series looks like it will find a natural home inside headsets, bringing players back through time for top-secret stealth missions and, hopefully, some of the most authentic sniping gameplay we’ve ever experienced.
Humanity – TBA
We were expecting to hear more from Humanity in 2020, but well over a year has passed since it was first announced now. Still, its ambiguous first trailer pictures a captivating world of possibilities in which thousands of tiny humans seem to react to your interactions. Exactly what we’ll be doing in Humanity remains to be seen, but we can’t wait to find out for one of the biggest PSVR games coming soon.
Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife – Early 2021
Jumping from the colorful worlds of Apex Construct and The Curious Tale Of The Stolen Pets to the gloom and doom of the World of Darkness universe was a surprise move for Fast Travel Games, but it’s increasingly looking like a natural one. The first VR game based in the tabletop universe, Wraith is promising authentic VR scares. We’re hoping this is an early highlight for VR in 2021.
Maskmaker – 2021
Developer InnerspaceVR earns a spot on this list just for last year’s excellent A Fisherman’s Tale alone. Fortunately, Maskmaker looks similarly fantastic, getting players to visit different fantastical biomes with magical masks. There’s still a lot to learn about this one, and we look forward to finding out more in the new year.
What do you make of the list of PSVR games coming soon? Let us know in the comments below!
Halloween may be over for 2020 but virtual reality (VR) horror never sleeps with Fast Travel Games’ Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife due for release in early 2021. The studio has been slowly drip-feeding new info since its summer unveiling, the latest being storyline details as well as a couple of new location images.
The Gazebo, Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife
Set in the sinister-looking Barclay Mansion which has a terrifying history, in Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife you actually embody one of these wandering spirits but there’s been little revealed as to why. Until now that is, as you’ll play as Ed Miller, a photographer who came to the mansion with his wife Rachel to document a seance. Of course, something went terribly wrong, Rachel disappeared and with Ed dyed during the event.
The videogame starts with Ed entering the mansion again, albeit this time as a Wraithstuck in the Shadowlands. Now with supernatural powers at his disposal, Ed wants to uncover the truth about his death, find Rachel as well as solve the mysteries of the mansion.
As part of this process you’ll have to utilise Ed’s camera to reveal important clues hidden in the sprawling mansion. You’ll be able to find hidden secrets and unlock memories of past occurrences by photographing certain objects. It won’t just be the interior of the mansion and its many interconnected floors and rooms you’ll be able to explore as the grounds will also be accessible. As previously revealed, just because you’re a wraith doesn’t mean to say there aren’t darker entities lurking in the shadows, so you’ll have to hide when the time comes.
The Seance Room, Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife.
While the previous trailer showcased some of the gameplay Fast Travel Games has also released a couple of environment concept art images highlighting the Seance Room where it all went wrong and The Gazebo which doesn’t look at all inviting.
Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife will be an early 2021 release, supporting Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift/Rift S, HTC Vive, Valve Index and PlayStation VR. Oculus Quest and Rift will also feature cross-buy support. For further updates on this World of Darkness inspired horror, keep reading VRFocus.
As part of VRFocus’ current Better-Than-Reality-Awards, each category features an industry ambassador to delve into a particular aspect of their subject. Today, Apex Construct developer Fast Travel Games discusses location-based entertainment (LBE) VR gaming. Of course, don’t forget to cast your vote in TheBetter-Than-Reality-Awardsnow.
LBE virtual reality (VR) is an experience taking place within simulated environments, which operate in a specific location like theme parks, arcades, entertainment centres, and even movie theatres. While home VR gaming already offers highly immersive experiences, LBE VR raises the bar by offering streamlined options to play with a group of friends in the same physical location, allowing you to use your whole body while engaging with the content and often provides an unmatched level of graphical fidelity to further boost the quality perception.
Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife | Fast Travel Games
Alongside home VR gaming, the LBR VR industry grew rapidly from 2016 onward. According to Greenlight Insights, which focuses on augmented and virtual reality market research, the LBE VR market amounted to $3.6 billion with a growth rate of 44% worldwide in 2019. This year, LBE VR was in a position to quite literally “explode”: Greenlight initially estimated that the market would grow to a $34.6 billion business, almost a x10 increase vs the year prior which would have been a fantastic performance for such a relatively young industry.
However, just like with cinemas and sport arenas, the situation with COVID-19 has massively impacted LBE VR companies in 2020. Not only completely halting the expected growth, but the impact the virus has had on our behaviour in regards to crowd gatherings and health precautions has also led to many LBE VR companies shifting focus towards home VR entertainment or completely new business areas. “We went from a relatively healthy business to zero revenue”, SandboxVE CEO Steve Zhao said in June this year. “We have to rethink our strategy.”
The Void is considered to be one of the most prominent companies in the LBE VR industry today. Operating since 2015 and running VR centres in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, The Void is known world-wide for their LBE VR experiences based on popular franchises like Ghostbusters and Star Wars. Still closed due to the coronavirus, on the official website you can now read: “COVID-19 is affecting all of us – as employees, travellers and communities – in a constantly evolving environment and in unprecedented ways. As a result, our terminals are remaining closed for everybody’s safety and to support our local health officials and government leaders.”
Most businesses, not only LBR VR, are affected negatively whenever there is a high level of uncertainty on the market and it is safe to say that COVID-19 has brought a kind of uncertainty we have rarely seen before, changing our everyday lives and how we go about the most mundane of tasks – like going to the food store or greeting someone on the street. I for one hope for a day when LBE VR can pick itself up again and keep building on the already impressive experiences offered. All the nominees in the ‘Best LBE Experience’ category have brought highly immersive content to life in an industry currently suffering badly. Given this, they are all winners in my book.
Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife got a creepy new trailer this week. We sat down with Fast Travel Games’ Erik Odeldahl to unearth the secrets that lie within.
Wraith is a VR horror game set in the World of Darkness universe. Players take control of a Wraith in the grim confines of Barclay Mansion and set about investigating a gruesome mystery. Odeldahl shared six crucial insights into the game to give you an idea of what to expect.
Powers Are Unlocked Through Progression
Yesterday’s trailer came with the reveal of some of the player’s powers, like the ability to walk through walls and manipulate objects from afar. But you won’t have access to all these powers when you first boot up Wraith.
“The powers are all unlocked through progression in the game,” Odeldahl revealed. “They are tied to our protagonist’s insights and growth, the gradual discovery of his role in the story and in the mansion. All powers open up new avenues for you to explore, both in terms of environments and systems. In the beginning, you will take your first steps as a Wraith after having died for a reason you will find out while playing the game, with almost no powers at all.
“Finding the right balance between giving the player more options, and not making them too powerful is… well, a balance. Besides the Wraith powers, there are also other things you find in the game that give you even more options, but we’re not talking about those just yet!”
Enemies Will Always Be Stronger Than You…
Like many great horror games, combat is not a focus in Wraith. Fast Travel wants you feeling vulnerable and in danger every time you dare to open a door in the mansion.
“The player will find ways to defend themselves in some ways, but this is not a game where you can “win” against your enemies,” Odeldahl revealed. “They are always stronger and more dangerous than you. Using caution and elements in the environment, and sometimes plain out hide, are all important actions to make sure the Spectres do not see you, and to be able to progress deeper into the mansion.”
…But You Have Some Tricks Up Your Sleeve
You’ll have to rely on your wits and powers if you want to survive, then. Wraith’s powers won’t just be for progression in puzzles and environments, but can also come in handy for survival.
“The enemies in the game are Spectres, spirits of the dead that have lost all touch with their humanity,” Odeldahl explained. “They do rely on vision, but also hearing, so making sure you don’t make too much noise is very important. But maybe you can use that against them somehow? Once you unlock the ability to make yourself insubstantial you can definitely use that to escape them. The problem is that they might also have that power…”
You’ll Have A Subconscious Companion
Yesterday’s trailer showed ghostly projects that help flesh out the events that piece together the game’s main story. It’s one of the main ways Wraith will reveal its plot, but not the only means. You won’t be entirely alone in this horror experience – you’ll have a voice to help guide you along the way.
“The other main element that helps deliver the plot, is the protagonist’s own dark subconscious called the Shadow. The Shadow functions as the companion throughout the experience, it will talk to you and sometimes help push you towards different objectives or understand certain circumstances. But that’s not saying the Shadow should be trusted all the time…”
Barclay Mansion Isn’t Your Usual Horror Setting
When you hear a game is set in a mansion, you immediately think back to classics like Resident Evil and assume you’ll know what to expect. But leave your preconceptions at the door of Barclay Mansion as there is far more than meets the eye.
“First I want to say that the Barclay Mansion is far from the classical gothic mansion that we often see in horror games!” Odeldahl reasoned. “Instead, it is a modern building filled with Hollywood decadence and occult research… As for the size, it’s pretty big! Exploring its many different rooms and floors is an integral part of the main experience so we do not want to give too much away, but there is indeed a light Metroidvania element in the game that lets the player access areas previously inaccessible, once certain Wraith powers have been acquired. We are also adding quite a lot of background story to the different characters and the Spectres, that might not be required to unravel in order to just complete the game… but that will give the player a better understanding of the story and the mystery.”
The Horror Won’t Just Be Cheap Jump Scares
Odeldahl makes clear that the scares will dig in deep under your skin – no cheap thrills here.
“Well, I want to make one thing clear: Afterlife will be scary. Very scary. We even have trouble finishing our own playtest sessions sometimes! That said, we are not going for an experience filled with cheap jump scares – instead, we are aiming more towards tension and
suspense, the “under-your-skin” kind of horror, which is what Wraith: The Oblivion is all about. The player WILL, of course, be shocked at times, but the horror elements really go into all parts of the game.
“Being a Wraith does not mean you have the advantage against the threats inside the mansion however. On the contrary – you need to use both stealth and elements in the environment to proceed in the game. Of course, this is a game primarily made for horror game fans but there is also a heavy focus on making the gameplay fun and the narrative interesting, so I think Afterlife will feel extremely rewarding also for players who simply enjoy a strong story with interesting characters and who love to explore an interconnected and unique mansion.”
There Will Be World Of Darkness Easter Eggs
Wraith, if you didn’t know, is set in the World of Darkness universe, first envisioned for tabletop gaming. But the series has crossed over with videogame before, including the Vampire: Masquerade series. Die-hard World of Darkness fans can expect some nods to the wider lore here.
Says Odeldahl: “This is something we are not quite ready to talk about just yet, but let’s put it like this: If you intend to fully explore every nook and cranny of the Barclay Mansion, there might just be an easter egg or two that fans of World of Darkness find interesting…”
Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife hits Quest, PC VR and PSVR in early 2021.
