Fans of H.P. Lovecraft and role-playing games have something wicked to look forward to from Cyanide Studio and Focus Home Interactive later this year. Based on the classic pen-and-paper RPG by Chaosium, “Call of Cthulhu” is a first-person role-playing investigation game that focuses on story-driven exploration and conversing with various characters. We had a chance to catch a demo of the game (currently in beta), and saw some very encouraging gameplay.

The player steps into the shoes of private investigator Edward Pierce, sent to investigate a deadly fire in the Hawkins family mansion on Darkwater island. Utilizing “reconstruction,” a sort of sixth sense mode which reveals mental images of scenes from the past, the player attempts to solve the mysteries at hand without losing their sanity in the process. According to the developer, as the game progresses and the main character’s descent into madness continues, the mental images become more and more corrupted.

At the start of the game, the player assigns points to different skill trees. These can unlock different options for conversations with NPCs, while others affect gameplay. For example, investing points in the investigative skill tree will allow for on-screen prompts that indicate the presence of hidden evidence.

In a previous trailer, we saw a hide-and-seek mechanic involving Lovecraftian monsters. This wasn’t showcased in the demo but was addressed by the developer. The presence of said monsters creates both visual and auditory hallucinations which increase in severity the longer the player remains in close proximity. When asked if there was a way to play through the game without losing the main character’s sanity, the answer was a resounding no. Because there are many, many opportunities to make a decision that will have some effect on the plot, the developer wants to ensure that all eventualities still have the common thread of descending into madness.

While these elements are enticing, perhaps the most exciting moment in the demo involved nothing more than a crowbar. Early in the demo, the previously mentioned investigative skill was used to find a seemingly useless crowbar that was hidden under a table. Later on, a discovery of scratch marks led us to what seemed to be a hidden passageway disguised by a bookcase. Nearby was a globe with mechanical elements attaching it to the bookcase. At this point, any gamer would immediately recognize this as a puzzle.

The globe was movable, and would probably open the bookcase when aligned to the proper position. However, the demonstrator used this opportunity to illustrate the game’s inclusion of numerous solutions to single circumstances. Going around to the side of the bookcase, a panel was removed to expose the inner workings of the hidden door. Pulling out the long-forgotten crowbar, it was then used to break the gears and allow the bookcase to slide freely.

While the demo was short, it was a meaningful glimpse into this modern adaptation of an RPG classic. Fans of slow, contemplative games have a lot to be excited about with Call of Cthulhu. This game will come out in the fourth quarter of this year on Xbox One, Playstation 4 and PC.

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