Assemble Entertainment and developer DigiTales are about a week away from the launch of their new indie title, Lacuna. To help promote their new game, an approximately one-hour Prologue can now be played for free via Steam on PC. In our recent post featuring the Prologue’s Trailer, we noted that Lacuna previously won ‘Best Prototype’ at Game Award Saar and second place for “Best Game” at Indie Game Fest 2019. Having completed this introduction to the game, I feel confident in saying this is one to watch closely (and play)!
Gameplay
Using WASD keyboard controls and a mouse, you take Neil through New Joran in search of clues and evidence to solve an assassination’s mysterious roots and try to defuse a quickly escalating planetary conflict.
In using my mouse, I quickly noticed a retro laggy mouse effect that’s reminiscent of my childhood PC gaming days. Honestly, I found it really annoying and would have loved the option to turn it off. Similarly, the game has a “camera sway” effect that gives the screen a wobble motion as you move your character. I wasn’t a fan of this added feature either. Thankfully the developers added the option to turn off the camera sway in the game’s settings menu. Once it was turned off, I found the game far more enjoyable. I only wish the mouse lag effect could be disabled!
The look and vibe that is captured in this 2D pixel sci-fi noir feels familiar. The visuals are somewhat reminiscent of Total Recall and Blade Runner, with the game taking place in the bustling futuristic city of New Joran. It’s an awesome setting that I’m looking forward to exploring further.
The game’s introductory tutorial prompts are handled nicely and paced appropriately throughout the hour-long prologue. I quickly became accustomed to the side-scrolling play style, menus, and button configurations, allowing me to focus on immersing myself in this futuristic world.
Early on the tutorial warns you, no manual save option will be available in this game. This means players must be careful which conclusions and choices they make along their investigative journey, as each decision has a story-altering impact. I really appreciated the fact that my decisions would have nonretractable consequences in Neil’s personal life as well as the murder mystery he is trying to unravel. In what I’ve experienced so far, I’m confident this game will have replay value as you go back and select different dialogue options and story decisions.
Expectations
The complaints of the gameplay I noted are admittedly highly subjective and solely a personal preference. One of my two gripes can simply be disabled in the menu options. I won’t let that detract from what is so far shaping up to be a great game.
Objectively I feel the developers nail the visuals, story, music, voice acting, and overall gameplay. While I’ve only played through the beginning so far, I can already tell this game was developed with attention to small details and a thoughtful approach to the characters and story.
Verdict
On the things that matter most, Lacuna delivers in its prologue. So far, so good. I’m looking forward to diving into the rest of the game and seeing how Neil’s story unfolds. The game’s music, story, visuals, and voice acting come together fantastically, setting the tone for a deep and memorable futuristic crime investigation.
Coming on May 20th, my interest is piqued to see how the rest of Neil’s story unfolds. Lacuna is betting on players getting sucked into its narrative. So far, I am eager to see what else DigiTales has in store for us!
