Here is the press info:
Antagonist will deliver constant tension and dread that lingers for hours with Through the Woods. This third-person psychological horror game will be available for Windows, Mac and Linux in Q1 2016.
Set on the coast of Norway, Through the Woods tells the story of the extremes a mother would go to in order to save her child. The narrative begins with the mother, Karen, who is being interrogated regarding the mysterious disappearance of her son. Gameplay starts as she recounts the terrible events surrounding this tragedy.
Equipped with only a flashlight, players must help Karen navigate immersive and foreboding woods, decrepit cabins and pitch-black caverns while simultaneously avoiding grotesque mythological abominations as they lead her through the awful recounting of events.
Listening is key to surviving this perilous journey, as often times what dangers lurk in the shadows are attracted to the protagonist's flashlight. When the flashlight is off, the volume in the game increases and the direction from which the sound originates becomes more readily apparent. Through the Woods also employs dynamic narration, so the conversation between the detective and mother will change based upon the player's actions.
As audio is essential to the story telling, Antagonist has recruited a world class sound team whose resumes' cite voice-acting on Telltale Games' Walking Dead series and two Official U.K. Top 40 singles. Antagonist is also collaborating with Funcom, developer of The Secret World and Age of Conan, to record motion-capture for multiple characters.
Inspired by classic Norwegian mythology and art in addition to Japanese horror games; Antagonist draws heavily from the dark folklore and paintings they grew up with as children and their favorite videogame genre.
"Growing up in Norway, our parents frequently told us fables about horrifying atrocities that lived in the woods and preyed on children; not the watered down fairytales Hollywood provides kids today," Anders Hillestad, producer, Antagonist, explains. "Through the Woods will deliver a terrifying experience, making players fear for Karen and all that she holds dear."
Description
Through the Woods is a third-person psychological horror game set in a forest on the western shore of Norway about a mother and her missing son. Through dynamic narration, you play the mother’s re-telling of the events surrounding her son’s disappearance in a setting heavily influenced by Norse mythology and Norwegian folk tales. With Through the Woods, the Norwegian indie studio is attempting to capture the forest as they saw it as children, with all the frightening and mysterious feelings of roaming the woods alone. This is coupled with a poignant story and high quality sound design that acts as a core mechanic in the darkness of the forest.
History
The idea for Through the Woods came in late 2009, and Antagonist started on the production September 2013. Their aim is to make people afraid of the forest again; they want you to do that double take as you pass that thicket in the woods after having played the game.
Features
◾Dynamic narration for the dialogue that tells the story in the present, putting the player’s actions into the past tense.
◾Environments and story inspired by Norwegian art and nature, and Norse Mythology.
◾Heavy focus on audio-design as part of the core mechanic.
◾Creative use of light and darkness, making your expectations play tricks on you.
◾A profound experience that will leave you feeling as if waking up from a nightmare.
Here are some screens:
And the video trailer:
Article by Nick
