The Wholesome Game Showcase adds another light adventure title into the mix of its presentation, with indie developer Ghost Patterns Wayward Strand.
Wayward Strand looks to be a in the vein of a classic point and click adventure game with a heavy focus on narrative. The location is a unique, airborne hospital in 1970's Australia, with the players playing teenager Casey Beaumaris, visiting the hospital for the first time. As Casey, players will explore the sip, interact with the patients and people on board, and see how their relationships literally weave together.
A lot of the plans for Wayward Strand also help it stand out in a unique way amongst other adventure games. For one, it is promised to be a living world, where all the in-game stories play out in real-time alongside each other. This addition gives Wayward Strand a more believable world that allows the player to create a unique experience, instead of a linear one.
The story itself features over a dozen different colorful characters to interact with, which the play can track to investigate their tales, along with other mysteries aboard the ship. Casey can ask directly or even eavesdrop on characters if need be, something that just adds to the realism of he experience. The characters themselves also have unique interactions with each other; gossiping and joking amongst each other in private or publically, depending on their demeanor.
There is a lot of ambition poured into Wayward Strand, with the emotional payoff being more than just solving a mystery, but rather how interconnected everyone is. Featuring a simple but gorgeous hand-drawn style to it, Wayward Strand is definitely a game setting out to invoke a lot of emotion in its narrative and storytelling, something Ghost Pattern is hoping to showcase entirely when the game releases later this year.
