The Alters Review: A Sci-Fi Game that Explores the Human Condition
A new sci-fi game, The Alters, has been reviewed by The Verge, and it has been found to be an ambitious and frequently weird game that explores the human condition. According to The Verge, The Alters is a base-building survival experience developed by 11 Bit Studios, the creators of the Frostpunk series.
The game takes place on a rugged alien planet, where the protagonist, Jan Dolski, and his crewmates are on a mission to extract resources for the corporation funding their venture, Ally Corp. As The Verge notes, the game’s visual storytelling is reminiscent of filmmaker Bong Joon-ho’s work, such as Snowpiercer and Mickey 17, which distill class and the flow of capital into raw images.
One of the unique features of The Alters is its use of a scientific breakthrough involving the multiple universes theory, which allows Jan to replicate himself using a shimmering, highly volatile substance called Rapidium. This allows players to create multiple versions of Jan, each suited to a particular task on the massive rotating mining vessel. The Verge reports that the game quickly settles into the min-maxing groove typical of survival games, where players must optimize every second of the game’s 24-hour day-and-night cycle.
The game’s art and design have also been praised by The Verge, with gnarled, tree-like rock formations, matter swirling within shimmering physics-defying anomalies, and a vast cosmic sea churning menacingly. However, the script doesn’t quite sparkle, with original Jan asking his alters the same set of control questions each time they emerge from the Womb, moving through clockwork beats of dismay and outrage as the new arrivals grapple with the baffling nature of their existence.
As The Verge notes, The Alters has its own split personality: the actual work of maintaining the base and the interactions that emerge between the crew. The former can become rote; the latter provide moments of spontaneous drama. One touching early-game scene involves the death of a sheep, the initial test subject for the Womb, which highlights the game’s ability to create emotional connections with the player.
The game’s exploration of labor and corporate greed is also a major theme, with The Verge noting that 11 Bit has long explored questions of labor, notably in its Frostpunk games. The zoomed-in, up-close-and-personal perspective of The Alters successfully reframes these questions, highlighting the disposability of workers in the eyes of corporations.
In conclusion, The Verge finds The Alters to be a thought-provoking and visually stunning game that explores the human condition. With its unique gameplay mechanics, emotional connections, and timely themes, The Alters is a game worth checking out. The game launches on June 13th for PS5, Xbox, and PC.
According to The Verge, “The Alters has its own split personality: the actual work of maintaining your base and the interactions that emerge between your crew.” This split personality is a key aspect of the game, and The Verge notes that it is a game that will appeal to fans of sci-fi and survival games.
The Verge’s review of The Alters provides a detailed analysis of the game’s mechanics, art, and themes. As The Verge notes, “The Alters is a base-building survival experience of the kind that developer 11 Bit Studios received plaudits for with the Frostpunk series.” With its unique gameplay mechanics and timely themes, The Alters is a game that is sure to generate buzz in the gaming community.
Overall, The Verge finds The Alters to be a game that is both thought-provoking and visually stunning. With its exploration of labor, corporate greed, and the human condition, The Alters is a game that will appeal to fans of sci-fi and survival games.
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