What is a dream? What is reality? Is anything we see real?
I know that might be quite deep for something you may be reading with a morning cup of tea, but Past Cure, out today on Xbox One, PS4 and PC, will have you ponder those very questions through the dark and gritty story of ex-soldier Ian, a man with an extraordinary mind but one that comes at the price of traumatizing experiences.
You see, Ian hasn’t had the best of times recently, what with all the unforgiving nightmares and scarring run-ins with captures and experimentation, but he has come out with it with the abilities of telekinesis and time manipulation, among other powers. This may seem cool initially, but Ian’s gifted brain only opens up more problems which sees him, along with the aid of brother Markus and double-agent Sophia, pursue the men who did this to him in the first place.
How do you come in to help Ian, you may ask? Well, with action-packed gunfights, stealth and puzzles. Truth be told, you can choose between going all guns blazing and sneaking past enemies in the gritty real world, but it is in the more abstract dream-world sequences that you will be engaging in the puzzle aspect of Past Cure, that look enticing. As I said, the game is all about bringing together reality and dreams, and this is shown through swapping between Ian’s experiences in pursuing his enemies in the real world, and delving into his terrifying nightmares.
As well as this, you will be needing to master Ian’s mind-bending abilities, using them throughout the game, to really understand what Past Cure has to offer. But with each use of Ian powers, the madness corrupts him.
If you like the film Inception, then think of Past Cure as it’s long-lost video-game cousin. If you haven’t seen Inception – take Past Cure as a dark and gritty psychological thriller with puzzle elements which is well worth taking a look at.
Pick Past Cure up on Xbox One via the Microsoft Store from today, for £24.99. The game is also available on PS4 and PC. Keep an eye out for our full review very soon too.
It seems Ian really needs your help…
Game Description:
Past Cure is a dark psychological thriller that blurs the lines between dreams and reality. An intense, cinematic, story-driven experience that challenges the player to use mind-bending mental abilities to survive. After years of torture, former elite soldier Ian lives in a safe house with his brother, struggling with memory loss and the effects of the experiments he was forced to endure. In an attempt to tap into the hidden power of the mind, his captors left him scarred with unrelenting nightmares, visions and unstable powers such as time manipulation and telekinesis. Driven by his desperate need for the truth and a thirst for revenge, Ian, assisted by his brother, sets out on a thrilling hunt for the masterminds of this conspiracy. He hopes to uncover exactly what his enemies have done to him and why? As Ian plunges into a criminal underworld in pursuit of his only lead, he is forced to use his mental powers more and more to survive. But with each use, his mind becomes ever more detached from reality, revealing the presence of an even darker force at play. Gameplay Features – A story driven supernatural thriller Past Cure is a cinematic, story driven experience where the player follows the struggle of a broken man searching for the missing pieces of his mind. With intense cutscenes and intriguing story items throughout the levels, the players can unravel a story that will keep them guessing until the end. – Action vs. Stealth Be bold and engage your enemies with time bending gun battles and brutal jaw crunching combos. Or pick the stealthy approach where evasion tactics and slick stealth takedowns allow you to outsmart your enemies in silence. Choose the right approach to each situation as there are pros and cons to each playing style. – Mind bending abilities Unleash the unlocked power of Ian’s mind against those who unlocked it. To truly master the Past Cure experience, players must utilise time manipulation and astral projection to gain an edge on opponents and overcome obstacles. – Dreams vs reality Ians mind is torn between the gritty real world and the nightmarish horror of his dreams. Past Cure contrasts between the cold, brutal combat orientated levels of the real world, to the more puzzle solving and survival gameplay in the abstract dreamworlds.
