Hello Xbox Wire readers! I’m Yared from Whitethorn Games and I’m here to share some information about our latest release, The Forest Cathedralwhich launched today on Xbox Series S|X!
You may know us from the many cozy, heartwarming titles we’ve released, such as: calico And lake, The Forest Cathedral takes a slightly darker direction. The game, while still sticking to smooth, stress-free gameplay, evokes a more unsettling, eerie feel that approaches the realm of horror. Players will engage in a mysterious, atmospheric psychological thriller based on real-life environmental disasters caused by the pesticide DDT, or as developer Brian Wilson more accurately describes the genre: an environmental thriller. The game is played from the perspective of environmental scientist Rachel Carson, although the real star of the show is the haunting setting itself.
research methods
The Forest Cathedral The fully voiced, rich narrative is told through a combination of two playstyles. One is first-person 3D exploration, in which the player navigates Science Island and conducts research on its wildlife. The player takes notes and uses a special scanner to explore the remote island in search of answers to the mystery.
Along the way you can interact with computer terminals where The Forest Cathedral The second game style comes in the form of 2D platform puzzles. On these terminals, the player controls a 2D character “Little Man” who moves through the puzzles to operate mechanisms in 3D space. Both the 2D and 3D worlds interact with each other to unlock new areas or advance the story.
Art imitates life
The Forest Cathedral The story is a dramatic reinterpretation of real-life scientist Rachel Carson’s environmental science book. silent sourcewho documented their discovery of the harmful effects of DDT. Developer Brian Wilson was inspired by the attempt to silence Carson and her findings to create his own artistic interpretation of the events.
As Wilson explains, “Rachel Carson’s story is a David versus Goliath story.” Throughout the game, you will be thrown into situations that evoke the feeling of fighting against overwhelming odds. In doing so, Wilson mimics what he thinks Carson must have felt as she struggled to share the ultimately life-saving information that giant chemical companies didn’t want the public to know. The Forest Cathedral conveys the same uncertainty, fear and imprisonment, leaving the player in suspense as the malevolent plot unfolds.
The environment that players will explore The Forest Cathedral is based on the Forest Cathedral of Cook Forest State Park in western Pennsylvania – near where both Wilson and Carson grew up. The vividly rendered environment, coupled with the atmospheric soundtrack – including several original tracks composed by Wilson – creates a peaceful yet eerie backdrop for the story to unfold. From the dramatic height of the towering native trees to the tranquil lake that hugs the island’s shores, allure surrounds you as you comb the island and uncover its mysteries. Although locally inspired, the game’s themes of social awareness and our duty to our environment apply globally.
ease of access
Whitethorn Games wants to ensure that as many players as possible get a chance to enjoy our titles and The Forest Cathedral implements many accessibility features with this goal in mind. Some of the customizable settings include:
- Full keyboard and mouse or gamepad controller support
- Input rebinding for most actions
- High contrast sans serif text/subtitles and Open Dyslexic font options
- Visual Effects toggles
- Common Checkpoints
- Toggle “Turn Off Spikes”, eliminating hazards in the platform section
- “Hover Mode” toggle, which reduces the rate of descent in the platform section
- Even more options, all available at any time in the settings menu
These settings allow players to customize their experience at any point in their playthrough to suit their playstyle and skill level.
We hope you enjoy uncovering the mysteries of Science Island The Forest Cathedral, now available in the Xbox Store!
The Forest Cathedral
Whitethorn Games, Inc.
$14.99
The Forest Cathedral is a first-person environmental thriller set on a remote island. As scientist Rachel Carson, players will discover why the island won’t let them go. The game tells the reimagined story of Rachel Carson’s attempted silence that led to her discovery of the harmful pesticide DDT. Slowly discover the effects of DDT in this dramatic reimagining of Rachel Carson’s story. Use advanced environmental technology to solve connected 2D/3D puzzles.
