Cyberpunk is all the rage in gaming these days it seems. Recently re-popularized (and possibly also polarized) by the triple-A caliber of Cyberpunk 2077, I’m tempted to argue that the genre seems a better fit for the indie market. With a slew of recent releases like Cloudpunk, Ghostrunner, and The Ascent, as well as a bunch of cyberpunk-tinged indie titles on the horizon like Replaced, Stray, Glitchpunk, and The Last Night, it seems like there will be no shortage of cyberpunk indies for ravenous fans of the genre to feast on.
You can also add Foreclosed to that latter list. Developed by Antab Studio and Published by Merge Games, Foreclosed offers a bit of a visual twist on the classic cyberpunk visual formula. Instead of adhering to the aesthetic most people are probably familiar with — that gritty, hardboiled, rain-soaked, neon-lit template that few stray too far from — Foreclosed delivers its eye candy through the lens of a cel-shaded art style that gives it a unique look. While it does have some of the aforementioned elements, it’s presented with almost a soft veneer, as if it were an aging actress filming a cameo on the original Star Trek series. It’s almost like someone on the development team chewed a bunch of Extra, mixed it with cotton candy, and encased the entire game in the resulting concoction.
In some ways Foreclosed harkens back to the original XIII. And I don’t just mean visually — there is a nice conspiratorial element to the story that seems to give it some urgency.
As the title implies, your character’s identity seems to have been foreclosed on, which means they will soon cease to legally exist. You are given a deadline in order to reach the appropriate agency and contest your legitimacy. In order to accomplish this task, it looks like you will be adventuring throughout the in-game cityscape, engaging in both stealth and overt action, dispatching of the goons that are thrown your way.
Foreclosed looks great, and it hopefully will play just as great. In fact, a recent press release offered us some of the haptic feedback options that will be available for the PS5 version of the game:
- Haptics & Adaptive Triggers – Truly in theme with the futuristic cyberpunk setting of the game, players will be able to sense the unique properties of the Symbiotic Pistol’s various mods as the haptics and adaptive triggers will deliver different feedback and resistances depending on the modifications equipped. Wielding the game’s Symbiotic Pistol, players will feel subtle differences in feedback from one weapon skill to the next through the controller. From the simulated kickback of an explosive round to the air displacement of rounds leaving the pistol to haptic feedbacks all throughout the environment, players will be pulled into the experience like never before.
- DualSense Speaker – In-game, Evan will receive calls from one ally in his battle to liberate his identity from foreclosure. These private communications will be delivered through the DualSense controller’s speaker to give these dialogues a true ‘in world’ feel.
- DualSense Controller Lights – A key system at play in FORECLOSED are Evan’s experimental implants. Enabling him to unleash a range of special abilities, and linking directly to his weapon enabling several different weapon power-ups, the implants run the risk of overheating if relied upon for too long. If players allow this to happen, Evan is completely vulnerable for a brief period whilst the implants cool down. To help visualize this, the light on the DualSense controller will indicate the heat level of Evan’s implants, giving players a constant visual to keep them in the moment during a fight. Will you play it safe, or push your limits?
I’ve gotta say, I’m excited to get my hands on this.
Thankfully, it won’t be too long of a wait, as Foreclosed is slated for release August 12 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. You can check out a teaser trailer below.
