Sean Parker
Over the last couple of weeks, video game fans from all over were checking out Gamescom and got a look at a massive collection of upcoming titles from all sorts of developers. If you were into Sonic the Hedgehog, you probably went nuts for the new open-world game Sonic Frontiers, which also seemed to feature Sonic up against the Resident Evil film series’ Red Queen. Horror game enthusiasts got a little more information on games like Layers of Fear and The Callisto Protocol while also being treated to the reveal of Dead Island 2, a zombie game that suggests it’ll take place on an island but head-scratchingly takes place in Los Angeles. While all of these games are similarly impressive, The Gap captivated me in a way I can’t quite explain.
As far as psychological horror is concerned, The Gap is immense, turning a plagued character into a truth seeker. Suffering from a rare genetic disorder that chips away at his personality, memory, and sanity, Joshua Hayes decides to participate in a neuroscience program by a bioscience company that may be up to something sinister. But does all of the intrigue lie in his imagination? And, if so, how can he distinguish fact from fiction?
The trailer for The Gap at Gamescom’s Future Games Show even went a step further, turning the game upside down and revealing a multiverse stemming from Joshua’s bouts of déjà vu. Adding a Memento mechanic to the narrative aspects, Joshua leaves notes for himself spraypainted in his house, telling him not to trust anyone. At the same time, a voice on the other side of a phone call begs Joshua to heed his warning about errors in the development of the program Joshua’s involved in. Images of water on the floor turning to blood and wedding photos and mirrors cracked show off the fractured psyche of an individual in limbo, searching desperately for healing and stability.
It feels as if we’re also searching for more than just answers in the game. A bloody broken mirror could be where Joshua has pointed an angry fist or bashed in a bothersome skull. Meanwhile, the wedding photo in an otherwise empty apartment suggests Joshua’s wife may not be in the picture. What if, in trusting no one, you’re unable to trust yourself? Now, that is genuinely frightening.
The Gap trailer was a personal highlight during Gamescom, reminding me of the journey I took when I sat at home playing Asemblance one wintery afternoon. Asemblance wasn’t perfect, especially for anyone who stood in front of a clock for hours trying to get the final achievement, but it did earn a sequel. The first game, however, has a lot of similar charm to The Gap in its manipulation of memory, experimental programs, and horror imagery prowess. It may also be a good title for gamers looking forward to The Gap to revisit and enjoy. The Gap‘s pull is powerful for me, and I am looking forward to a similar experience of winter gaming when The Gap arrives in Q1 of 2023.
The Gap will be available on Steam, PS5, and XBOX Series consoles in early 2023.
