We honestly can’t believe that 2003 was 21 years ago — the GameCube proudly topped our shelves, and Super Smash Bros. Melee was the ultimate party game. But Open Roads, the next game to be published by Annapurna Interactive, looks back to the mid-2000s with a warm, nostalgic, sepia glow. So after attending a recent preview event, it’s no surprise that we’re deeply longing to go back to 2003.
Open Roads follows Tess — played by Kaitlyn Dever, who recently was plays Abby in Season 2 of HBO’s The Last of Us — and her mother Opal (plays her AmericansKeri Russell). After the death of her grandmother, Tess helps her mother clean up the house where they lived together. The couple discover letters and notes hidden in the attic that lead to the journey of a lifetime and reveal a past that Tess never thought possible in her family.
These are the emotional and sentimental waves of a much bigger splash that we’d expect from the team behind Gone Home. Known as The Open Roads Team — following a split from Fullbright founder Steve Gaynor following reports of a toxic work culture (via Polygon
The game uses beautiful hand-drawn 2D character models set against 3D backgrounds that aim to convey this mix of nostalgia and realism. The stylistic designs of Tess and Opal are beautiful, like sketches from an art student’s textbook. They’re not lip-synced and don’t always move visibly – sometimes Opal will cross her arms or Tess will tilt her head and her hair will fall apart. Placing these “drawings” on a more realistic background creates a world – or in the case of the review, a house – that you really feel like you’re living in.
Within seconds of previewing, it became clear how much care and attention the Open Roads team put into the world and its character. Tess and her mother Opal have something to say about every single thing you can interact with, and the level of detail on every single object is frankly astounding. Every single item, from newspaper clippings to chopsticks, was specially prepared by the Open Roads team to evoke the feeling of 2003. Fun titles like ‘I Married Big Foot’ and the 2003 graduation book were just the tip of the iceberg. This is a game for “curious people,” the developers told us, and our curiosity and nostalgia were fueled with each new item.
Old photos with comments start conversations about people. A piece of pottery evokes feelings of loss, sadness and admiration. Old drawings and art that embarrasses Tess second-hand – and all of these items were hand-picked and even hand-drawn and written by members of the development team. Oh, and that Nokia ringtone he must have sent us back.
This is a game that puts family and feelings first. When Tess leaves the refrigerator door open, Opal scolds her — just like our parents did when we 16-year-olds were so careless! And sometimes, when Tess asks for more information about something, Opal is reluctant to share it. The dialogue and information you receive all boil down to the choices you make throughout the game — even in these opening minutes.
The thing is, Open Roads is more puzzle for us after this introduction. In 20 minutes we heard banter, laughter, frustration, disappointment and longing. But things are off only as the pair discovered a briefcase full of items, which we assume was the impetus for their trip. The dialogue felt natural and organic, and both lead voices were believable, but we just don’t know what “open roads” will keep us going.
Istery is being kept close to the Open Roads Team’s chest, and that makes sense, but this 20-minute presentation didn’t show us anything we didn’t already know or expect about the game. How will Tess and Opal’s relationship develop as they hit the road together? How will the walking and talking game play out in other locations?
What did do it for us during those opening minutes was the pure love Tess and Opal had (and still have) for their grandmother/mother. We have all lost family members and we all grieve differently, but the painful process, stress, frustration and sometimes boredom of cleaning the house are just one of the many ways people can express and experience the loss of a family. member.
Open Roads does a great job of conveying this because of its dedication to the time period. This is also not only Grandma’s home, but also where Tess and Opal lived. They have memories in the house and space, and they are all related to each individual object. This, as we were told by the Open Roads Team, is due to the “personal” and “personal” touch. Pick-up items and items crafted by members of the development team don’t just have meaning for the characters in the game — they sometimes have meaning for the people who did game.
One team member talked about the item she put in the game because it was a memento of her grandmother who had passed away, while another mentioned that the portrait of the dog was an actual portrait of their actual dog. These are things we can all relate to in one way or another.
What remains to be seen is how well that personal touch blends with the prevailing mystery of Tessa’s family and the journey ahead. It was a strange part of the game to show us, but if the goal was to leave us with more questions about the road ahead, then the Open Roads Team and Annapurna certainly did that.
Open Roads is still filling the tank, but be ready to hit the road when the game hits the Switch eShop on February 22, 2024.
Let us know in the comments if you’ll be wearing your seatbelt when the game launches next month.
