Coming from developer Storm in a Teacup, Close To The Sun has been confirmed to arrive on Switch along with the previously announced platforms some time later this year. It follows a journalist called Rose on a mission to save her sister in an alternate 19th century that's been revolutionised by futurist Nikola Tesla.
Playing as Rose in this first-person horror, you'll find yourself trapped on a seemingly empty ship designed by the inventor and it's not long before you find that - surprise! - things went south onboard and the word 'Quarantine!' scrawled in ominous red liquid across the entrance doesn't bode well for the journalist.
'6-7 hours' in length with ten chapters, the devs cite Soma, Outlast, Layers of Fear and Firewatch as 'core inspirations'. Bioshock is conspicuously missing from that list despite the following sentences from the official blurb:
Born of Nikola Tesla’s vision, the Helios serves as a haven for the greatest scientific minds. An unbound utopia for research, independent from state and isolated from the gaze of society. Free to push the boundaries of matter and time.
Hmm. In fact, the devs state explicitly that the game is not (among other things) 'survival horror', 'walking simulator' or 'Bioshock'. The screenshots below would seem to indicate a plasmid-esque shot of Ken Levine's game in there, though:
Close To The Sun was built using Unreal Engine 4 and received mixed reviews on Windows, but that sure is an impressive list of inspirations - we'll have to wait and see how this measures up against them when it releases on consoles sometime this year.
Are you getting strong whiffs of Rapture from this one despite the developer's insistence? Do you think it's wise to bring up such hallowed influences and set expectations so high? Let us know below.
Comments 28
Bioshock. Bioshock. Bioshock.
Oh, I'm going to hell for this.
That's a short game
I like games with more meat too them, myself.
@kalmaro I'd rather play six or seven hours of an amazing game than 20 hours of mediocrity. Here's hoping "Close to the Sun" is amazing.
I feel like they definitely know that Bioshock influenced their game, but want to distance their game far enough from the insane popularity of that series that was such a mixed bag of critic response. I can see where they're coming from since it does have a huge feel akin to Rapture/Columbia especially being a floating paradise and all... But despite I feel like it's different enough to warrant separation from such a massive franchise.
Wow that does look like bioshock. That may garner them a goodwill buy from me since the bioshock collection isnt on switch.
Interesting will keep an eye on this. I really want all 3 bioshock games on switch tho
There is no combat in this game.
@EpicBadge I'd rather skip both and just pick up something that has quality AND quantity. Unless this game is pretty cheap I probably won't take it up.
Really Bioshock inspired imho, seems beautiful. I'll keep an eye on it.
I was expecting a car-based game with that title
Switch needs the Bioshock collection!
So, game with mad scientist and secret hideout for anti-government people equals Bioshock... hm...
I own all the Bioshock games, and other than some passing similarities,
I don't think this is a Bioshock derivative or anything. And seeing as there isn't even any combat in this game, the comparison is skewed anyway.
All game genres have titles that share some similarities. That doesn't mean that all first person shooters are COD or COD-inspired, or that all adventure games are Zelda-inspired.
They used the same typeface as Bioshock, or if not exactly the same it’s damn close. Seems to have those art deco sensibilities too. Maybe it would help if they gave it a mohawk and a wheelchair?
6-7 hours ?!
Shame, this looked like a good alternative for BioShock...but maybe will be good enough for 2k to finally get up their asses and port BioShock.
6-7 hours is better than a 20 hour game than drag it to hours of boredom.
Tesla inspired. If it featured Nikola Tesla, i would be even more interrested.
Nikola Tesla is the only reason why i completed The Order 1886 on PS4.
In the absence of the Bioshock Collection on Switch, 2K’s loss will be Close to the Sun’s gain.
Considering bioshock trilogy is one of my fav game series ever... why not compare it. 😂🤣
Maybe they want to distance themselves from Bioshock because this is more walking simulator than FPS.
Eh, the walking simulator genre isn't my cup of tea. That won't stop me from grabbing a physical copy at a steeply discounted price though.
Ripping off other people's work is so s****y.
Work as in, concept art creation, world building, art style direction etc.
And oh saving on marketing because people will remember the marketing Bioshok spent money on.
These guys should be sued.
I never played Bioshock so I really don't care if the developer admits Bioshock as inspiration or not. I only care about it's quality and I might give it a go since its a change of pace for me.
Oh hell yes. Bioshock 1 is perhaps.my favorite video game of all time, and even though they don't specifically mention Bioshock as an influence, the writing is on the wall. It's influence is everywhere, even if unintentional. That being said, I am incredibly stoked for this one. I can't wait to play it myself.
@gamekill
Dude Bioshock didn't actually invent any of that.
@Pod
I agree Bioshock did not invent the aesthetics, and maybe, general story background (utopian city, etc).
But as a game, it was pretty much original.
It is like saying that a story about having to go on an adventure through forest, snow, and lava, and fight a dragon of sorts at the end, to save a princess is not original so any game can blatantly copy Super Mario Galaxy and use that excuse, for example.
@gamekill
True, true.
For those hoping that it's good... You probably didn't read the part in the article that says it's already out and with mixed reviews.
It released in May. Go check reviews if you're interested.
I’d much rather a Dead Space inspired game
Says pre order now, but it isn't on eshop at all.
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