With a chilling atmosphere and interesting narrative, Inner Void sails onto Steam with their text adventure survival game: “Icy.” If you’re not familiar with the text-based adventure genre, most of the elements of this game will fly right over your head, especially if stalwart games in this style such as “Oregon Trail” were before your time. However, with the promise of building a character your way to survive a new ice age while meeting a wide cast of characters and shooting any threat you see in sight, it’s easy to jump into the fray enthusiastically. If you give the game some time, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
“Icy” puts you into the position of an amnesiac who has joined a family nomads in the White Wasteland; a post-apocalyptic Earth that has been covered completely in snow. After being introduced to some of your supporting cast, you are put in charge of your nomadic family. And thus, put in charge of keeping them and yourself alive in a world that is ravaged by feral beasts, bandits, and even mutants. All while managing resources such as food, medicine, and fuel. And making sure you have enough ammunition for your weaponry as well as to use as currency. Sound like a lot? Yeah, well that’s survival for you.
One thing that “Icy” immediately does right is present the White Wasteland to the player. The choice of oil painting-like backgrounds to set up scenes is effective in transporting you into this bleak tundra. Each unique landmark is represented by one of these beautifully done works to create a unique feel for each location you visit and each event that you occur. Characters are also represented by paintings of their own.
Though some of them are a bit rougher, they prove successful in drawing out the personality of each survivor, provoking the imagination and helping bring them to life. The map itself is a bit daunting in how expansive it is, covered in an empty blankness of snow that can intimidate a survival beginner. Patches of black and gray indicate areas to explore with valuable resources. No segment of the map appears identical to any other. Inner Void creates a true White Wasteland for the player to roam around and become immersed in.
But survival is the name of the game, and “Icy” provides a few ways to do it. From the start, you are tasked with crafting your character and their skills while journeying through the White Wasteland. These include combat proficiency with an assortment of weapons, effectiveness of medicine, scavenging new areas, hunting, and increasing your charm and/or intimidation to open up new conversational choices in the story. These all contribute to a different aspect of your journey, making it easier or harder on your trip.
The difference in skill is mostly seen in the harder difficulties, where survival truly does become a struggle. Lacking in any aspect of the game can get you killed. Getting killed by raiders or wild animals, running out of food to eat, or just screwing up a scavenger scenario in a location can bring you and your family one step closer to death, giving survival enthusiasts a worthwhile challenge.
Inside Look: Icy
Those of you who aren’t expecting to survive the full harshness of the arctic apocalypse can enjoy the story through the lesser difficulties (or the aptly named Story difficulty) with little to no challenge if you’re in the mood. Moving across the map remains satisfying nonetheless as you meet new characters, adopt them into your family and unfold the mysteries of the past. Icy’s narrative shines through your nomadic family. Encountering each member is a story in and of itself, and learning more about each one’s past pulls you in deeper emotionally. You are also greeted occasionally with random personal meetings with members, further developing the relationship between you and your nomadic family.
Of course, this only makes it harder when you have to make the inevitably tough decisions that could (or could not) result in the loss of one of your own.
Whether you’re a survival junkie, someone searching for a good narrative, or anything in between; Inner Void has successfully created a world that can hit that perfect sweet spot.
With varying levels of challenge an engaging narrative that leaves eager to find out more, you’re going to enjoy traversing the White Wasteland.
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