![]() At a glance, it’s hard to tell that the game is even in 3D, as everything is presented from a direct angle and can appear to just be a clever use of parallax layers. Failure just means trying again, so the stakes are low, but I suppose it’s a reasonable change of pace.īackbone’s graphics are an interesting merger of pixel art against 3D backgrounds. It too is incredibly simple, consisting entirely of staying out of line of sight and using objects in the environment to distract guards. There’s also some sneaking included, but this doesn’t show up as often as the first act implies it might. You can’t miss anything because everything pops up under an icon. It helps prevent things from becoming a pixel hunt, but it is kind of simple. Then you can talk to people, open doors, or press buttons. You’re generally locked on a single axis and can pace back and forth between the two extremes until you see an interaction prompt pop up. ![]() The gameplay itself is a pretty simple take on the point-and-click genre. That sort of fatalism isn’t rare for noir, this one just kind of goes bananas. It’s still thematically about seeking freedom within a cage, but it severely diverges from the whole “simple detective against a monolithic foe,” angle. The story takes a pretty tight turn down some dark territory later on that upsets the whole narrative. This puts him directly at odds with a crime lord and the city’s aristocracy. Used to taking on cases for wives who suspect their husbands of infidelity, Howard is thrust into the midst of a conspiracy when he finds his target in the midst of being butchered. You play as Howard Lotor, a private detective who is also a raccoon. The City is also surrounded by an insurmountable wall and no one is really certain of what’s outside of it. Here we have dystopian Vancouver, BC, referred to in-game simply as “the City.” It’s inhabited by a vast assortment of anthropomorphic animals, but they’re beneath a ruling class of apes. That’s definitely how Backbone starts - well, sans the grayscale filter - but the way it proceeds is a lot more accurate to the genre, just twisted to fit its setting and themes. A lot of it has been boiled down to just being about a detective or private investigator that does their own narration and solves mysteries beneath a grayscale filter. Modern noir or “neo noir” or “post-noir” is often hit or miss. Some may balk at the use of anthropomorphic animals because of preconceptions towards a certain prominent internet community, but it is, and always has been, a good way to add a splash of topcoat to the cast. Sometimes things don’t end well because, Jake, it’s Chinatown, and other times they don’t end well because the dame was the murderer all along. ![]() It’s a fun genre seedy locations, dangerous dames, and moral ambiguity. Each one has caught my eye because I’m an invested fan of… Noir. I’m not complaining, it’s just a weird pattern I’ve noticed. Blacksad in 2019, Chicken Police: Paint It Red in 2020, and now Backbone in 2021. While developers EggNut have been adamant that the story from that game has come to a close, news of another installment in the series could mean otherwise.įor now, fans of Backbone will simply have to wait until more information is revealed about the new Backbone title.Here’s a trend you may not have noticed: noir games featuring anthropomorphic animals. While many loved the game upon its original release, there were a lot of questions on whether a sequel was coming due to the somewhat cliffhanger ending that occurs in Backbone. The end of all things is inevitable, but defining which version of Howard Lotor reaches the conclusion is up to you. It is a linear, cinematic narrative experience that subverts genre and challenges your perception of what it means to be a person.īackbone’s gameplay is focused on storytelling and emotional expression, featuring rich and elaborate dialogues inspired by old school CRPGs, as well as exploration of the lush environments. Become raccoon private eye Howard Lotor and explore dystopian Vancouver inhabited by animals as you uncover a deeply personal story of change and transformation.īackbone is inspired by film noir, weird sci-fi, post-soviet aesthetics, modern political regimes, the works of Lynch and Kaufman, and existential philosophy of Sartre. The official description of the game can be seen below:īackbone is a post-noir narrative adventure. Backbone was originally released back in June 2021, telling the story of an anthropomorphic raccoon private eye named Howard Lotor.
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