Replay Studios has today revealed information on a new, allegedly genre-busting title. Survivor, planned for PC and console release, will be a unique example of what Replay calls ‘Reality Gaming’. But despite the official website’s claim that “the highly original game concept has never been seen before”, SPOnG knows better, and this follows a path forged by the sadly under-rated SOS: Final Escape on PS2 (which is due for imminent re-release at a bargain £12.99).
So Survivor will see the player trying to escape from various apocalyptic scenes left in the wake of the most famous, and tragic, disasters from the last 100 years. Events from the sinking of the Titanic to Hiroshima and 9/11 will all be included, although obviously there’s no real link between each ‘mission’, with different characters starring in each.
The very inclusion of the World Trade Centre terrorist attack is bound to offend a great many people, but Replay makes the valid point that this game is entirely about rescuing people, saving human lives and surviving. As long as the likes of Conflict Desert Storm can sit atop the US charts, any such complaint about the lack of taste in Survivor wouldn’t necessarily seem fair. Indeed, the tentative inclusion of a Baghdad level, although potentially hugely offensive, could offer a perspective contrary to that militaristic approach favoured by most video games.
However, Replay has stated that the game will be fairly sensationalist in nature, and so it would seem to be treading a delicate tight-rope. If it can avoid making the scenarios too sinister and it delivers the GTA style freedom and unique gameplay it has promised, Survivor could be something hugely praiseworthy. Otherwise it might struggle to gain popular support.
At this early stage, Survivor has yet to find a publisher, and Replay is also looking for co-developers. If it can make it to release, it will be extremely interesting to see how the public responds to a title of this nature.