Posted May 06, 2024 by starlit
Hello everyone!
A lot has changed since the release of the Preview version last year. I've decided to start the project over in a different engine and in 3D. I just felt that a bunch of different elements that were important to me were just too hard to pull off in 2D the way I wanted them to feel.
Just for comparison the very first shot of the intro sequence, both in 2D and the new 3D version:
Obviously the lighting is different - but 3D gave me something important: More freedom in terms of cinematography and where to put the camera. I never imagined Solace Creek to be a cutscene-heavy game, but I felt like this gave me a lot more tools to define the tone of the game.
So I set out to recreate the contents of the 2D version with the possibilities of the 3D version which not only came with new gameplay elements but also more content or extended content such as this rather unspectacular abyss in the 2D version:
Obviously there was also a shift in artstyle. I tried to channel the retro-feel of 2D pixelart while also evoking the look and feel of the early PS1 era horror games with a lowpoly-stylized look as you can see in more detail in the screens below.
Now, I'm planning to release a new preview of the 3D version pretty soon! If you don't want to wait you can join our Patreon (link) to get early access to the playable 3D Preview which shows the first 20-30 minutes of the game!
I hope you're excited for the upcoming release! Stay tuned for more details 🖤