Indie developer Mistaken Visions has announced that their ambitious game The Piano is arriving on Steam May 24th.
Mixing traditional survival horror with a noir murder mystery is an uncommon sight. However, that is exactly what Jonathan Stemmildt has done over the past five years. Working primarily on his own, Jonathan's takes inspiration from equal parts Silent Hill and film noir. His goal was to create something unsettling that wasn't just about cheap scares.
The story focuses on John Barnerway, a man who lives in the 1940s after the second world war and lives in the shadow of his three brothers George, Louis, and Valentine who are all renowned pianists. At least they are before they turn up dead, with John receiving a murder accusation. When a media witch-hunt begins, John has to search the streets of Paris for answers, trying to gather clues to piece together what happened and avoid terrifying foes in the strangely empty streets of Paris.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SUfjWlRqcY&feature=youtu.be
Unlike many smaller indie games, The Piano also features full voice acting. This helps give that extra degree of atmosphere that is the focus of many of the choices made in The Piano's development. Regarding the upcoming release, here's what Jonathan had to say:
"Five years ago I had the idea of making a horror game that wasn't just about the scares, but which featured a deep and personal story that players could become emotionally invested in. It was my first game and I never really expected much to come of it - but suddenly, something I dreamed about for years is becoming reality, and time is just flying by. It feels great!" - Jonathan Stemmildt, creator of The Piano[gallery type="slideshow" size="large" ids="232610,232611,232612,232613,232614,232615"]
The Piano releases May 24 on Steam and will cost $9.99.
What do you think of The Piano? Does the art style appeal to you? Do you think the mix of genres can work? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
