Core Gameplay
The main core gameplay in Finding Astraios is exploring the game world and solving various puzzles, both contributing towards the flow of the game.
The exploring aspect in Finding Astraios will take place through adventuring around the space station, allowing the player to discover valuable information about the current situation. The unique trait of the game, death loop, would normally lead to repetitive gameplay. However the game relies on hidden details such as items and passages to allow for a vast amount of exploration in its restricted game spaces. Since adventure is the main core gameplay of Finding Astraios, the interior of the space station will be highly detailed and have a different tone for each room, leading to a mixture of experiences. These themes will range from a relaxing mood to a gloomy and edgy atmosphere. Exploration will also take place out of the space station. This will mainly be done with repair missions which will require the player to exit into space, in most of these missions there will be an on edge feeling.
The gloomy and anxious theme that will be reoccurring through the game comes from the constant fear of death, since the game will have many deaths without warning. No warnings not only affects the atmosphere of the game but also changes the way exploration will take place. Players will become more wary as they perceive the pattern of unexpected death. These unexpected events will also allow the core mechanic ‘death loop’ to shine, the death loop will be used as a tool to overcome and avoid these death scenarios.
Puzzle solving in ‘Finding Astraios’ will derive from different set of puzzles such as narrative, environmental and logical puzzles. The puzzles will be incorporated in a way which will further immerse the player in the game, avoiding the typical out of place puzzle that doesn’t contribute anything towards the narrative. The puzzles will feel like an important part of the game revealing necessary pieces of the narrative. Narrative puzzle in ‘Finding Astraios’ will serve to uncover the unknown information to the player, this includes where the player is and how they came to be there. Environmental puzzles will be a core gameplay feature since it will allow to interact with the station and allow the reveal of cool and unique items, such as ‘gravity gun’ a gun which can move heavy objects. The logic puzzle will be another one of these puzzles that will enhance the gameplay experience for the player. The logic puzzles in ‘Finding Astraios’ will be integrated through hidden messages which serve as ‘lore’ to the game.
Game Flow
‘Finding Astraios’ will start with a similar linear game flow a lot like ‘BloodBorne’, where you unlock parts of the maps you progress. ‘Finding Astraios’ will follow this process of unlocking parts of the map, eventually leading to an open world where everything is unlocked. The most frequent game flow will be a portion of narrative leading to a possible main death. Once the player enters this section, they will encounter 2 things consistently.
- Puzzles
- Narrative section
Once this ‘section’ is over, the same basic sequence will repeat throughout the story. This will be repeated along the game and be mixed in with special events that will showcase cutscenes and reveal important narrative.
Characters & Monster
Solace
Solace is the main/ playable character, a space explorer on a one way trip to find a habitable planet, ‘Astraios’. Solace is a silent and mysterious character who gradually mentally degrades the more he dies. It’s hinted he has familial connection in Earth. Solace has a habit of collecting small trophies, this can be seen in his room where he has a collection of random items.
Unknown
Unknown voice transmissions and recordings of people back on earth. Family goodbyes and mission briefs, these characters won’t be seen but will give valuable information on Solaces current situation.
Galactic Terror
This monster has very few appearances in the game since it is unknown if it actually exists. The very few appearances it has towards Solace could be classed off as hallucinations. Players are left to interpret it however they like. One of the possible interpretations besides it being a hallucination is the eerie tales of a galactic monster. These tales found around the station, hint it to be a monster that is the cause for the death loop and has trapped Solace.
Game Play Elements
Personalised Items
Instant Camera
An instant camera able to print small pictures allowing to create a personalised collage board in room. Players have freedom of personalising the room.
Trophies
Small trophies such as a small vial with earths dirt, encouraging player to pick up their own trophies around the station. Trophies will be randomly scattered across the station.
Maintenance Items
Gravity Gun
Earths latest technology still in the form of a prototype, but with the ability to lift heavy objects. Powered by a miniature version of the gravity generators, the gravity gun is able to assist in the transportation of heavy cargo.
Repair Gun
Highly efficient plasma wielder, used to fix any issues with the station. Plasma wielder is able to be used in outer space for external repairs.
Gravity Generator
The generator that enables gravity on station, known for going faulty every once in a while causing random bursts of zero gravity throughout the station.
Games Room Items
Games
Something to pass the boredom of travelling alone up in space. Various playable games ranging from retro game boys to human sized simulators in the game room.
Farm Room Items
Farm Tools
Food maintenance in the farm room is required of the player if not the crops dies. Connected hoe spraying crop nutrients. Soil analyser, analysing the health of soil.
Observatory Room Items
Telescope
Massive telescope used to analyse and record any changes in the blackhole.
Books
Various books with notes of your journey and records of the galaxy.
Medical Bay Room Items
Medical Pod
A pod which heals all injuries.
Syringes
Syringes with a healing serum, capable of healing small amounts of hp. Can not heal broken bones.
Puzzle Items
Hidden Key Cards
Small hidden keycards found around the map to open certain doors.
Multi-Purpose Tool
Various uses such as lock picking.
Game Physics and Statistics
Solace has two movement speed in a normal state, walking and jogging. There is no stamina in the game so you could potentially jog all the time, there is only jogging and no running to make an intended slow pace feel to the game allowing to take in the detail and not rush. Solace will feel like a heavy movement type adding to the suspense when possibly running from something. Movement speed is effected by injuries disabling the jog affect, the syringe can not heal broken bones, to re-enable your default movement you would need to heal at the healing pod in the medical bay.
There is also a different movement mechanic when in zero gravity, instead of walking it is a push. The movement speed can be much faster when you build momentum, however if not close to the ground when gravity gets turned back on you can get injuries such as broken bones.
Artificial Intelligence
Ai in ‘Finding Astraios’ will be used to adjust the difficulty of puzzles depending on the players play through. It will also effect the death loop, randomising events and clues which will lead the player to different outcomes each time. If Solace passes a certain amount of deaths and discovers the required hidden lore, they will begin to hear voices and see hallucinations, Ai will manage this and change it depending on the players actions.
Player Controls
W = walk forwards
A\D = walk sideways
S = walk backwards
W+Shift = jog
Mouse = look around
Left Click = use item
F = interact
I = inventory
M = map
Esc = in game menu