Inspiration
I remember as a teenager, late at night playing Pokemon Platinum and I reached Route 217. Trudging through the heavy snow, being bombarded by a heavy blizzard, no idea where I was going, no idea how big the route was; I was both curious and so anxious. I’ve always wanted to recreate that feeling, and that’s how this project came to be. In the last couple years, I also discovered the charm of “walking simulators” and I thought it would be a neat experiment to create a game taking place in the Pokemon world, with a Pokemon-related story, but focused on people, on exploration, and on story.
Summary
Polar Call is undeniably going to be very niche and understandably, not something for the majority of Pokemon players. Maybe it’s the type of project not suited for a small screen, maybe it needs more things to examine, or more puzzles to increase engagement. I’m fairly flexible with the game’s presentation, what with it being something new and experimental, so let me know and I’ll try to adjust in a later release. I will say, I do hope for this to be the type of game where people take notes. Initially I wanted the game to be like Tunic, where you have to figure out how to play as you play, and though I couldn’t capture that, it’s my eventual aim. Oh and before I forget, the bulk of the exploration takes place in a large map called “The Wilderness,” though only 1/4 of it is available in the demo.
Plot
There really isn’t much of a story per se, but what I can share is that it takes place in a snowy region far away. A beacon has sent out a signal, for someone to come check it out, but it’s unclear for the reason behind it. It’s up to you to figure out the reason for the beacon’s use, explore the massive “Polar Region,” and eventually find your way to get back home.
Features
-So much walking, and I mean SO MUCH, that you might rage-quit. Will you accept the challenge?
-Excellent atmosphere, from BGM to BGS, lighting, and weather effects.
-A unique take on the Pokemon world.
-A bit of basic resource management, but for the demo, nothing too noticeable.
-Surprisingly, no secrets. This is a very simple and linear game for the demo.
