After experiencing the outstanding job Bloober Team did with the Silent Hill 2 remake, I find myself more than willing to place my trust in the developer when it comes to their distinctive horror games. Their latest venture, Cronos: The New Dawn, certainly helps reinforce that confidence. From what I’ve seen so far, the game looks nothing short of spectacular, evoking the chilling essence of games like Dead Space with a touch of unique flair.
The game’s co-directors, Wojciech Piejko and Jacek Zięba, have been quite transparent about the sources of their inspiration for Cronos. They’ve drawn from a diverse range of cultural cornerstones—John Carpenter’s iconic film, The Thing, the eerie atmosphere of the German series Dark, and the mind-bending narrative of Terry Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys. These influences are seamlessly blended with elements from legendary games like Dead Space and Dark Souls to create a rich tapestry of sci-fi survival horror. You’ll notice some nods to Dead Space, such as the monstrous human mutations you encounter and the intense over-the-shoulder shooting mechanics. Plus, there’s a twist on the familiar limb-severing gameplay that Piejko assures is a fresh take compared to what Visceral Games offered.
As we start to unravel more about this intriguing title, a new developer diary has been released, building on the cinematic reveal trailer from last October. In this latest glimpse, Piejko and Zięba delve into the game’s core gameplay elements. They introduce us to the protagonist, known as the Traveller, who navigates an alternate world, akin to a deep-sea diver venturing into the abyss of time. The Traveller’s mission is to search for survivors among the remnants of human civilization after a catastrophic event known as the Change decimated our world during the 1980s.
Both Piejko and Zięba are no strangers to sci-fi and psychological horror. Their impressive backgrounds with Bloober Team’s previous titles, Observer and The Medium, provide them with a solid foundation for bringing Cronos: The New Dawn to life. This game marks an exciting new chapter for Bloober, being an original creation, even as they continue to expand their collaborations with industry giants like Konami.
