Belgian Game Spotlight - Alisa
Welcome to a new Belgian Game Spotlight! Last time we were racing to find the ideal place to leave our cars in You Suck At Parking, but now we're travelling back in time with Alisa. Back to the golden age of classic horror action-adventures, when 3D games were still in their infant shoes.
Alisa is like an homage to the olden days when Resident Evil and Silent Hill were the talk of the town. It brings back the same visual style from that time period and even reintroduces the tank controls that were so iconic. And it's all made by a Belgian solo-dev called Casper Croes, which makes it all the more impressive! His girlfriend contributed as well, working as the composer for the game and voicing the titular character.
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Alisa takes place in a 1920's mansion where our heroine awakens dressed like a doll. The puppeteer luckily didn't leave any strings attached to her, but the creepy house is filled to the brim with doll-inspired enemies that are out to get you.
Alisa herself isn't a kitten without claws however, she's an Elite Royal Agent and knows how to handle herself. Armed with ballistic weaponry, she explores the mansion in search of clues and guns down anything that stands in her way. And yes, in true 90s fashion, she controls like a tank, but this only adds to the charm.
If it's been a while since you've played a game before the introduction of the dual analog sticks on controllers, it might take some getting used to the aiming system. You'll also need to keep in mind that you can't move and shoot at the same time, which makes combat terribly frightening in close quarters.
Smart players will keep their distance from enemies and stock up on restorative items. You can also spend the Toothwheels you find on buying new weapons and outfits, from a not-at-all-shady looking hand puppet called Pol.
But combat and exploration isn't the only aspect that provides a blast from the past, you'll need to bring your brain as well as your brawn. Solving puzzles to progress through the game and finding the right keys to unlock certain doors will be equally important.
You've probably also noticed by the screenshots how the game has a very low-res style, to simulate the PlayStation & Nintendo 64 era of gaming. It's a bold move, but one that pays of as it plays into player nostalgia. Something that became clear when Alisa got funded successfully on Kickstarter.
If this made you excited for Alisa, be sure to try the demo yourself on Steam and consider wishlisting it. Those numbers really matter a lot to a game's visibility and a simple click goes a long way. You won't even have to wait long to get your hands on the full game, as it's set to release on the 30th of September.
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Want to keep up-to-date on the game and the studio? Here are a few places you can follow them:
We hope you've enjoyed this feature article and if you're a Belgian game developer yourself, don't be afraid to reach out and maybe we'll spotlight your game next month!
