A Lovecraftian adventure full of vivid colors
In the last few years, Raw Fury managed to become one of the most visible indie publishers, launching pretty successful games such as Star Renegades or West of Dead. Since the very first trailer released from Call of the Sea I was fascinated by the idea of having a colorful adventure game set in the world of Cthulhu. The first game developed by Out of the Blue holds a lot of promise, and despite some issues with the overall experience, I have to say it did not disappoint. Beyond the beautiful visuals and enticing setting, Call of the Sea is a story of self-discovery. Nora, the protagonist, sets out to find her husband Harry but ends up deciding her own fate. Plagued by a mysterious illness, Nora’s fate seems to be sealed since western medicine can provide no cure. Harry turns to old legends and tales and ends up organizing an expedition to a mysterious island. When the precious letters documenting his journey come to an abrupt halt, Nora sets out to find his husband. Arriving in the tropical paradise, she will retrace the steps of the archaeological expedition. Trying to find the one person she cannot live without, Nora will actually find out the truth about herself. Nora is the sole character of the game, a lone adventurer in a place full of secrets. You will not encounter any other sentient being, only clues about what they were up to. Trying to piece together what happened and where has everybody disappeared, you will make your way to the heart of the island, by solving several, increasingly difficult puzzles. Make no mistakes, despite being set in a universe based on the Lovecraftian lore, Call of the Sea is not a horror game by any means. It is a first-person adventure game, that sometimes will make you feel like a female Indiana Jones uncovering the legacy of an ancient civilization. As such, the entire gameplay focuses on unearthing the past, being distant, or more recent. Next to presenting the tale of Nora and Harry, you will discover a tale of ancient civilizations connected to the Elder Gods.
