Recently, we’ve seen a huge uptick in the presence of “futuristic” technology like AI and robotics in our daily lives. The theme has become much more prevalent in popular media, and during my PAX West 2023 playtest of Journey to Foundation I asked myself where these games would be without the writings of Isaac Asimov, Jules Verne, Arthur Clarke and so many other great Sci-Fi writers? Every day that passes we inch, as a species, closer and closer to that which was only in the imagination of writers as far back as 50 to 100 years ago. In Journey to Foundation we enter into a new technological space where we see Archiact’s imaginative reconstruction of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series. How is this VR Adventure shaping up ahead of their Autumn release?
Asimov has had a lot more attention over the last few years especially with the Apple+ show “Foundation”, a resurgence, if you will, as a new generation discovers, and an older one rediscovers, one of the greatest sci-fi minds. No doubt, Archiact, the acclaimed VR game studio that gave us Doom 3 VR and Marvel’s Dimension of Heroes, is hoping to ride that wave with their game, Journey to Foundation.
A Pivotal Moment in the Devolution of a Galactic Empire
In Journey to Foundation you are an agent with the Commission of Public Safety, and you’ve been tasked with infiltrating the Foundation, which is an advanced society meant to limit the destruction of the aftermath once the Galactic Empire falls. You’ll be introduced to technological marvels and familiar sci-fi tropes in ways that few VR games have broached before. Players will also be tasked with navigating some hefty choices as you make your way through the game’s story. “Over the course of the story they’ll experience many different emotions. There’s a lot of humor. There's a lot of deep drama in the game, so hopefully they’ll have their heartstrings tugged.” said head writer Peter Boychuk during my short demo playthrough. Your choices will dictate the course of the Galactic Empire and the Foundation when all is said and done.
Archiact hopes you’ll be drawn into the game as you navigate a beautifully designed, immersive world where you get to be your own character. Not a character confined to a rigid story, but one where you’ll be able to leverage your own unique attributes. Are you a diplomat? Are you an enforcer? Are you a mole, subverting the efforts while appearing loyal? Are you all of these things at different points in the game? Well, that’s entirely up to you.
“I think one of the key pillars of Foundation that we have adapted really well into Journey to Foundation is this idea of being able to reason with people and persuade them of your argument. And this is a wonderful aspect of Foundation. That you have characters who literally get ahead by persuading someone of their beliefs. And our game has so many moments where taking a particular perspective, we’re able to convince someone to help us or let us progress in the story ” Alex Dault, the Junior Narrative Designer explained.
In this immersive world, where an empire is falling apart, this is not just a game of wits. It’s also a game with some good ol’ space shooting and a unique take on mental and physical combat. You’ll be confronted with times where reason has gone away and it’s time to throw down and start laying the lead. As the game is fully realized in VR, you’ll need to be able to keep on the offensive as you duck around corners and navigate the best angles to hit your opponents. The gameplay should favor VR FPS lovers due to the need for quick reflexes, and positional awareness. Firing your weapons feels very natural, and the ability to use your arm-mounted quick selection tool is immersive, all of which help further pull you into the world. You also have “Mentalics”, a power of mental science to wield as you progress in the game, which during my demo was one of my favorites. You’ll be able to use these mind-powers to calm your enemies, or to harm them, depending on what you’re looking to accomplish.
Game play was smooth and relatively bug free, although we did have a few technical issues. This game is set for release this fall (Fall 2023) and will be available on Meta Quest 2/ Playstation VR2 and Pico 4. As you can imagine, the game will be a single-player story, but you will be able to build your character as you progress through the story, unlocking new psychic abilities on the way through the 6 to 8 hour story campaign.
Journey to Foundation is a compelling take on Asimov’s writings in game form. Truth be told, I think VR is a fantastic medium to allow gamers to experience the immersive nature of these stories. If you're a fan of dystopian worlds, science fiction, or visceral VR FPS gameplay, add this to your list for sure.
