It is a shame that we only ever really notice the connections between us following the death of a loved one. The realisation that it was their existence that held us together and now that they are gone, the threads that bind us are now on the brink of tearing and we must now learn to live alongside the absence of them.
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Osmotic Studios
Osmotic Studios promised us a “deeply emotional story about the connections between family and friends in the face of tragedy” and that is definitely what was delivered in the first act of the game. With the story starting off with the news of Angela’s death, grief and melancholy follow the storyline and paints a bleak landscape over the small town.
It is evident from just the preview that players will be able to spend countless hours onCloser the Distance.Each character has jobs and tasks they need to complete, needs they need to fulfil and people they must interact with.
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As a result, players are able to jump between the characters throughout the day and be able to see their current moods, their wishes and what they are up to in the days leading on from Angela’s death.
Osmotic Studios
The close-knit community, although appearing harmonious on the outside, has strife lurking beneath and as you explore the town and its inhabitants more, you will make the links between certain characters to see who has history and who finds solace in one another.
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Gameplay is pretty straight forward as you switch between characters via their icons, peruse the town and click on various items to interact with. Conny, Angela’s younger sister who is still able to hear her voice, also has the ability to revisit memories and this is how we discover more about Angela as a character - from her mysterious illness to her mood the weeks leading up to her death.
It didn’t take me long to recognise each house and know the stories and connections between the people who lived under their roofs. To know that the widowed carpenter has a difficult relationship with his son, that the youngest resident struggles to deal with the grief surrounding him and that the town’s doctor feels responsible for everyone even if that means sacrificing her own needs.
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Osmotic Studios
The characters, each with their own personalities and stories, were the standout inCloser the Distance.I can’t wait to see how their paths will continue to intertwine, how strife will affect some relationships but hope will influence others. Although this is a story about grief, it is most importantly a story about the connections we form with one another and how easily they can break.
Overall,Closer the Distanceis a title that will bury itself under your skin and stay with you long after you have finished it and luckily, we don’t have long to wait.
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Closer the Distancewill be released later this year for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S and is now available to add to your wishlist. You won’t regret it.
Topics:Steam,PC,Xbox,PlayStation,Features,Preview
