The Void
Introduction:
"The Void," also known as "Tension" (Russian: Тургор), emerged as a groundbreaking first-person adventure video game in 2008. Crafted by the Russian studio Ice-Pick Lodge, it found its release through ND Games in Russia, other CIS countries, and Poland on April 17th, 2008. Earning accolades like the "Most Original Game" award at the 2007 Russian Game Developers Conference, KRI, it later made its way to English-speaking audiences on October 23rd, 2009. Additionally, a digital version landed on Steam on December 16th, 2009.
Within this game, players inhabit the role of a wandering soul, inadvertently caught in a realm known as "the Void" just before its ultimate demise. This otherworldly expanse, akin to purgatory, centers around a precious resource called Color, symbolizing life force. Color remains scarce, leading to widespread famine among the Void's inhabitants, divided into two conflicting groups: the aesthetically striking naked Sisters and the grotesquely deformed Brothers. As players navigate this environment, Color takes on a multifaceted role, serving as health, armor, statistics, and ammunition.
Gameplay:
Guided by the enigmatic Nameless Sister, players uncover a potential escape route from the Void, a chance at reincarnation on the "surface." To achieve this, players must adopt the guise of a Brother and eventually confront their own faction. Over time, various Brothers, each with distinctive and peculiar attributes, reveal themselves. The Brothers' reactions to the player's actions vary, ranging from aggression to sympathy.
Set from a first-person perspective, the game revolves around the strategic management of Color. The character's Hearts process the collected Lympha of Color, transforming it into Nerva, which players can manipulate by drawing glyphs using the mouse. This mechanic facilitates interactions, combat, and other vital gameplay elements.
Final Words:
Intriguingly, the Void is structured as a map comprising domains associated with specific Sisters. These domains consist of chambers, with time continuing to flow while on the map and halting in chambers, allowing players to explore without temporal pressure. A strict time limit of 35 cycles, representing in-game days, adds an additional layer of challenge. Each cycle introduces new Color in a random shade.
Critically, "The Void" garnered favorable responses internationally, particularly from reviewers like Rock, Paper, Shotgun, who hailed it as a pivotal experience. It was described as a "viciously beautiful, enormously interesting experience" by the publication Resolution and was considered essential by Rock, Paper, Shotgun. The game's innovative mechanics and atmospheric design drew accolades, contributing to its acclaim among players and critics alike.
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