If you kept track of publisher Raw Fury’s output during the past few years, then you may have heard of Call of the Sea. Released in late 2020, this narrative-driven puzzle game saw players exploring the 1930s South Pacific to uncover the secrets behind the disappearance of the protagonist’s husband. It earned a fairly solid reception from critics and an even stronger reception from fans, so some may want to see what else developer Out of the Blue Games may have in store. Fortunately, those people will likely become delighted to hear that the Call of the Sea developer and Raw Fury have teamed up yet again to bring us American Arcadia.
According to a press release, American Arcadia brings first-person puzzle-solving and 2.5-D platforming together to provide a distinct experience in which players must survive a 1970s televised hellscape. On the surface, Arcadia may look like a utopian metropolis that guarantees a luxurious lifestyle, but its citizens unknowingly participate in the “American Arcadia” live broadcast show that will determine the fate of their lives.
The ugly truth
Essentially, each citizen has a popularity rating, and if their popularity craters, they’ll end up killed. It’s kind of like The Truman Show, but even worse. Things do not bode well for Trevor Hills, an Arcadian citizen who leads a thoroughly average life destined to attract low viewership. Fortunately, thanks to a mysterious voice that leads him through the show’s backstage, he has a narrow shot at freedom. Unfortunately, there remains a non-zero chance that this voice functions as a mere ploy to boost ratings.
American Arcadia certainly boasts an intriguing premise, so fans of Call of the Sea will undoubtedly want to learn more. Thankfully, a recent teaser trailer revealed that the upcoming Summer Game Fest will feature a more robust trailer for the game, so players should definitely stay tuned for that.
