Routine: An Indie Survival Horror Game

Lunar Software, an Indie game developer debuted the first trailer for their survival horror game Routine earlier this week at Gamescom.

Routine is a first person horror experience that tasks players as a cosmonaut to explore an abandoned moon base from which everyone has disappeared. The game is non-linear allowing players to explore any part of the base to uncover clues that will reveal the truth behind the strange disappearances. What adds to Routine's terrifying experience is that there is no HUD, no health packs, no lives and the game utilizes a perma death system which means when you die in the game, you're dead for good and must start all over. Routine's website states that you may even have to resort to running and hiding to survive.

Don't worry though, you will be able to defend yourself with a weapon known as a CAT or a Cosmonaut Assistance Tool. The tool was designed to perform maitnence work but doubles as a weapon. You can upgrade the CAT using a floppy drive and a 3.5 inch screen on the gun will assist you with aiming. I can already see upgrades for the screen ranging from night vision to Infrared.

Routine seems like an awesome Indie title and the trailer below shows the teams amazing work so far. The chilling gameplay is exemplified perfectly in the video. The design looks like a throwback to old science fiction horror movies like Alien with some modern influence from games like Dead Space. The perma death system is very likely to keep players on edge and the clue searching reminds me of another very popular and successful indie horror title; Slender.

So far release is scheduled for the PC sometime in 2013 and there is currently no price listed either. You can follow the Routine website here and visit the website of Lunar Software here. Keep on eye out for more updates on Routine as I will make sure to update my blog with anything new on the game.

Dead Space 3 announcement and trailer

During their press conference, EA games was happy to share some stunning footage of Dead Space 3 which confirmed that the game will feature a co-op game mode. Isaac will no longer dismember necromorphs all by his lonesome but instead he will be accompanied by a man wearing similar armor by the name of, John carver. In a trailer featuring a montage of necromorph kills and co-op action, Carver reveals he is after the markers, like Isaac and will stop at nothing to destroy them. With similar interests in mind, it seems the two of them will be teaming up to bring an end to Unitology and the necromorphs.

It wasn't clear whether or not Carver will accompany Isaac throughout the entire game but the drop-in, drop-out cooperative play implies that it is very likely. If this is true, it will be the first time Isaac ever has a partner for more than a chapter or two. The addition of Carver will no doubt add an interesting mix into the horror filled combat and hopefully won't detract from Dead Space's usual spine-tingling, survival horror theme which the series has always executed so well. Boss battles can be approached in new ways such as one player focusing on shooting weak points on a giant brute while the other player takes out necromorphs descending on the pair of you. Players will likely be able to share weapons, ammo and health supplies but must also collect enough of these provisions to support each of themselves.

The gameplay trailer also reveals that necromorphs won't be the only enemy the duo faces off against. After Isaac and Carver destroy a large out of control drill and kill some necromorphs, they head outside and engage in a firefight with what appear to be Unitologists or soldiers from EarthGov. Isaac and Carver maneuver behind some boxes, dodging pulse rifle shots by crouching and rolling and firing back at the group of enemies. The shootout is interrupted by a giant insect-like necromorph which begins swallowing everything in sight.

After a brief fight with the monster, Isaac gets a little too close and is swallowed by the giant necromorph. The screen fades to black and the crowd at the conference cheers as the trailer has seemingly ended but then the eerie green glow of Isaac's visor illuminates the inside of the monster's gullet revealing he is in the process of being digested alive.

Dead Space 3 looks great so far and with an all new setting, enemies, weapons and characters it is sure to deliver the best Dead Space experience yet. Expect to see Dead Space 3 on store shelves sometime in February of 2013 and check out the trailers below.