A few days ago it was released on PC and Xbox Series X / S (included in the Gamepass) The Medium, the latest work by Bloober Team (review here). The peculiar characteristic of the paranormal title is represented by the Dual Reality, that is the possibility of exploring and interacting in two separate worlds at the same time, in fact the new generation consoles are able to render two different environments at the same time.
Dual Reality can still be exploited in the world of video games, it would be nice to be able to play other products with such dynamics. In the interview given to us, Wojciech Piejko, lead designer of The Medium, said he too would be happy to see dual reality in other games.
In this short list, I will describe the games in which I would like to find this mechanic, but I will not necessarily include titles that are actually announced, indeed, they could also never see the light of day.
Remake Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Will Bluepoint give us a day of the Legacy of Kain remake: Soul Reaver? We do not know, even if among the eligible candidates, in addition to Metal Gear Solid, there seems to be him, what is certain is that the game system of the action adventure released in 1999 would lend itself very well to Dual Reality. Indeed, dear Raziel, seeking revenge after being thrown into the abyss by the little bitter Kain, could and should have explored both the Material and Spectral Kingdoms to advance in history. A formula that seems designed to take advantage of the rendering of two separate worlds.
New Quantic Dream game
Quantic Dream games have always focused on transmitting emotions through the narrative interweaving and interpretation of the actors who lend their faces and voices to the characters. Often and willingly then David Cage tried to show the scenes from multiple points of view (in Fahrenheit it happened many times), a way to create even more tension in certain moments of the adventure, and to explore the supernatural; well, Dual Reality, for these reasons, would really be like cheese on macaroni in a Quantic game, among other things with QTEs appearing simultaneously in both universes to offer more challenge, which is rarely found in games like that.
New Silent Hill
Here we are in the field of the hypothesis that only from the mind - now weakened and close to self-destruction - of a longtime fan of the series, could be given birth. But, think about it: The Medium is clearly a game strongly inspired by Silent Hill and the contrast between the physical world and the spiritual world seems to be exactly the one that exists between the foggy world and the Otherworld. Imagine being able to visit both realities at the same time, it would be really a pleasure.
Episodio serie The Dark Pictures
Let's face it, although the Supermassive Games titles that are part of The Dark Pictures series (with House of Ashes arriving on an unspecified date of this year), although of very good workmanship, would need a revisited, a formula that knows how to give oxygen. to a system that already shows some creaking due to its lack of versatility from a playful point of view. They are narrative games, they are horror games, so Dual Reality could feel at home.
Remedy game
Why only horror or narrative games? Dual Reality could also be exploited in more gameplay driven products such as those of Remedy, and we refer above all to Control. Of course, rendering two worlds static and with few enemies is one thing, a different kettle of fish is to show two scenarios in a fluid way on the screen in which dozens of enemies fight against characters with powers and firearms, with lots of highly destructible environments. But, in short, do you want to show us the next-gen? Then look for a way to do it!
