The recent Summer Game Fest was full of unexpected announcements, deeper dives into titles in development, and even the resurrection of an almost decade-old game with a new trailer for the sci-fi horror Routine. American Arcadia was just one title among a slew of intriguing games, but it stood out with its unique aesthetic and interesting premise. With elements of both 2.5D action side-scrolling and platform action, it was reminiscent of Playdead’s 2016 puzzle-platformer hit Inside, but with a slightly Disneyfied twist.
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Welcome To Arcadia
The Summer Game Fest trailer for American Arcadia started off with the colorful and seemingly perfect setting, a city where “technology and science go hand in hand with fun and entertainment.” This purported utopia, called Arcadia, is a futuristic metropolis that appears to have every convenience and luxury a person might need and is even described as the “city of tomorrow.” Initially, it seems great, with people shown lounging by the pool or meandering through the decadent environments, but the unsettling switch comes after players learn the entire city is “broadcast live, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week on every digital platform.”
As well as having some serious Truman Show vibes with its constant surveillance, American Arcadia seems to have been inspired by Walt Disney’s Epcot – the theme park that celebrates human achievement and technological advancement with a charming retro aesthetic. Arcadia even has a dome-like structure that looks like Epcot’s famous silver geodesic sphere, and the mustachioed Elijah Walton who founded the city even has strong Walt Disney vibes – potentially a deliberate homage to the talented and successful businessman who had his own complicated legacy underneath the public image.
A Puzzle Platformer With A Twist
American Arcadia’s setting clearly plays a prominent part in the game, with the city providing the environmental puzzle elements of the gameplay, as well as having thematic narrative purposes. The residents of the 70s retro-futuristic metropolis aren’t aware that their every move is being broadcast, or that there are consequences for their unwitting participation. Any drops in popularity with the viewership can result in death, so players need to be careful as they control two different characters with their own skillsets and playstyles in their attempt to escape.
Alongside its Disney similarities, American Arcadia has some strong Inside vibes. Its unsettling location, puzzle-platformer gameplay, and tense action seem inspired by Playdead’s popular title, and both games’ slightly cartoonish aesthetic belies the darker themes and messages that weave their way through the narratives. The formula of American Arcadia may seem familiar, but it’s definitely putting its own twist on the tried-and-tested format. The game will be presented as a kind of documentary, complete with character interviews and police interrogations alongside the gripping chases, stealth sections, and challenging puzzles.
Out of the Blue Games’ previous title, Call of The Sea, was well-received for its story and setting, but some felt that its puzzles didn’t quite do the game justice. Hopefully, American Arcadia’s gameplay can kick it up a notch, though fans are already intrigued by the upcoming title.
American Arcadia is in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
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