Although we spent a lot of our time on site in Los Angeles as part of Play Days, we didn’t just see huge AAAs with exorbitant budgets. Because we had to take a break from this busy schedule, we had the chance to discover small independent games, like Aloft. You can believe us: we have rarely seen a video game that is so cozy and original at the same time, it promises us hours and hours of relaxation.
While browsing our columns over the previous days, you must have noticed that a few of us had traveled to Los Angeles to attend, on the one hand, the Summer Game Fest and, on the other hand, the event of Play Days, an opportunity to discover what is happening in video games. As is often the case, it’s not just the AAA fair. When you walk around, you can discover a whole bunch of more modest projects but with equally brilliant ideas. We don’t hide it: between two big meetings, it’s quite refreshing, and it’s perhaps thanks to that that we discovered one of the most relaxing and important video games in the world. Californian living room: it’s called Aloft !
Aloft, a creation as brilliant as it was necessary which made us think of lots of games at once
It was therefore in the corner dedicated to Level Infinite / Funcom that we met the developers, with a very lilting Canadian accent, of this little video game which has nothing to be ashamed of compared to the big ones. Frankly, from a reflective point of view, Aloft has no lessons to learn from anyone. Developed during the pandemic, the video game from the Astrolabe Interactive teams is a little ecological gem. Firstly, one of the main objectives ofAloftIt is to help nature regain its rights – a parallel with the game Terra Nil that we discussed with the developers – to restore a healthy ecosystem little by little to, ultimately, heal the entire world and rid the fauna and flora of corruption. Moreover, the developers relied heavily on environmental storytelling to bring substance to their experience.. By digging carefully, you will find clues about the way of life of previous generations, the events that occurred (origin of corruption, central hurricane, etc.) and many others.
In fact, it’s all a question of learning and transmission in Aloft : we discover recipes, we make things, we teach how to reproduce them using a functionality… Obviously, manufacturing will obviously require us to glean a whole bunch of things around us, via basic collection, even if it will also be necessary to develop tools to defend yourself and obtain certain foodstuffs. Next to that, as it is both a management and survival game, it will also be necessary to build objects, homes and food. Be careful, however, everything is done in an eco-responsible way since we don’t take more than what nature gives us and, in return, we can help it produce more for its own development (we cut down one tree, we have enough to replant two) and also for ours which is to help it flourish. Note that this virtuous circle also applies to wildlife and that the developers still have plenty of other ideas for the entertaining and ecological approach ofAloft.
A wind of freedom is blowing over video games: Aloft is the cozy game par excellence
During our discussion, when we discovered the game, the developers didn’t really spend very long trying to describe Aloft. In this case, they see it above all as a “feel good” survival game, and that sums it up pretty well. ! Beyond this well-defined nature, the title of the Astrolabe Interactive teams made us think of Outer Wilds. Of course, it doesn’t look exactly like it, but we find this aerial side, these narrative clues scattered throughout the environment and as well as a strange phenomenon which here takes on the force of a giant hurricane… in the middle of this celestial kingdom – 20 segments distributed in circles – capped with floating islands. It is true that we have not yet spoken about the guiding idea ofAloft more it’s a game where we live our little life, while developing our piece of land, eliminating corruption and driving our flying island (?!).
Yes, you read correctly, that’s all the originality ofAloftthat of power explore a very vast universe by crafting sails which we then attach to our island in order to be able to direct it thanks to the direction and force of the wind. Thanks to this, we progress from island to island, we discover new resources, data on the universe, recipes and consequences of corruption. After what we have just told you, you understand that the most important recipe is none other than the fabric. During the adventure, we get our hands on different types that allow us to improve the sails and strengthen our glider that even Link could envy us. If the scale of the task is significant, you are not alone since Aloft is designed to be a collaborative experience where we build together but also fight corruption side by side up to 8 players.
Yes, there is still a bit of action in Aloft since we will have small goals to achieve to eliminate corruption, it’s also a way to strengthen yourself and obtain new moves to insert into your range! When Early Access launches in October, you’ll see that there’s always more to do and that we completes relaxing and satisfying tasks to improve your island and build many things to make it a haven of peace. No doubt, Aloft has all the experience feel good and if we’re a little full of AAA, it’s the kind of breath of fresh air that we appreciate discovering, and it clearly intrigued us! If you are also curious, you should know that a demo is already available on Steam.
