Publisher Astrolabe Games and developer Space Colony Studios have announcedretro-inspired graphic adventure Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog. The game is set to release this year with English language support for text and interface.
The Gun-Dog appears to be oozing with love for the classic PC-9800 era. The studio aims to create an “era-accurate” game with a green monochrome display and vintage aesthetic similar to the games released between 1982 and 2003 before Windows 95 became popular. The supported language section suggests that the game won’t include voice acting, which is in spirit with the era.
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Japanese PC-98 games were heavily inspired by sci-fi tropes and space themes like Yu-No, Eve Burst Error, and Snatcher. The Gun-Dog is treading on a similar path with a space crew investigating mysterious signals that end up turning their journey into a horror story of trepidation and paranoia between the crew members. The plot seems awfully similar to Kubrick’s A Space Odyssey, which was the inspiration for many classic stories includingLive A Live’s space story chapter.
The game also utilizes point-and-click mechanics to allow players to interact with the crew and gather clues or expose their hidden intentions. It promises deep and meaningful interactions between the extensive charismatic cast, and a rich space setting with evocative descriptions of the ship’s compartments that the player will explore during their journey. The game also takes care to immerse the players by using sound effects of engines and bridges to replicate the horrifying silence of space and ensure maximum immersion in each scene.
The Gun-Dog is actually considered the name of the “first installment” in the Stories from Sol series, as per the Steam description, meaning there will be more in store for the fans following its release. Considering the game has an established Planetary Calendar and a set timeline, it does seem intent on telling more stories down the road, but it’s unknown if there will be a space disaster theme like The Gun-Dog or explore other directions. The game is set as coming soon onSteam.
