Module 6: Storytelling

Module 6:  Storytelling in Games

There are many story-driven games out there that are good.  Some of them even put the player in the shoes of the character and offer a first-person perspective.  Even though games like Heavy Rain, The Wolf Among Us, and various point-and-click adventure games have compelling stories, sadly not everyone can experience them.  

One game studio has catered to a certain demographic that most game developers overlook- the visually impaired.  The developer Dowino has made a game for the blind known as A Blind Legend.  This game has no graphics and tells its story through audio.  Obviously, you will need a very good pair of headphones for this game.  This game is cross-platform and I will be talking about the Android version from the Google Play store because it is free.

Developer's website:  http://www.ablindlegend.com/en/home-2/

A Blind Legend puts you in the shoes Edward Blake, a blind knight.  Guided by your daughter Louise, you make your way through the forest in pursuit of the kidnappers that took your wife.  This game even uses elements from other games in a unique way.  

The game plays like a hack-and-slash adventure game.  You have a virtual stick to move forward or backward and turn left or right.  Louise will guide you with audio queues to guide you.  These audio queues are played with 3D audio to actually hear where her voice is coming from.  Turning your character around will also turn the direction of sounds.  To swing your sword, you tap twice on the screen to draw or sheathe your sword and swipe the screen to swing.  

Though I have not experienced it, the game even has combat.  As an article from PCGamer states, the game features a fight with a bear that requires you to hold your shield up and listen and wait for the proper timing to attack.  Blake even has a health bar that is indicated by a heartbeat pulse.  The game even has a heartbeat pulse on the loading screen.  The voice on the menu screens reminds me of siri.

Source:  http://www.pcgamer.com/a-game-about-a-blind-knight-played-entirely-with-sound/

This game creates a very immersive experience by making the player blind to what's around them.  It creates a first person view like no other and doesn't require a VR headset.  When you enter a town, you hear the bells, footsteps, voices, horses and carts, and many other noises.  This game is good even if you're not blind.  It can be thought of as a more immersive, interactive audiobook.