the optimist says it’s half human
the pessimist says it’s half monster
and the project manager says, “when can we ship it?”
PROXIMATE is a dread-driven narrative game where you investigate a deep sea laboratory and piece together the events that lead to the research team’s demise.
You'll be required to wear an image recognition visor that only tells you the bare minimum information you need to succeed — and sometimes less. Use text information, proximity data and audio clues to form a mental map of your surroundings and pray that your technology won't fail you when you need it most.
There is no monster.
Assignment timeboxed to 90 minutes. If you’re here longer than that, we might have to dock your pay.
Your visor says that the red stain on the wall is ketchup. It was coded by some very smart people, so you should definitely trust it.
Collect chat logs from the research team, but don't read into them too much. We're not paying you to figure out some kind of sinister mystery here.
I mean, we haven’t seen the monster. So it’s probably not there.
Receive helpful calls from your manager, voiced by Luke Austin, who's here to make your job easier. Probably.
Connect with a cast of queer characters, who we definitely cared about and will miss dearly. Oh hey, have you signed that waiver yet?
If you hear it, turn away.
After labor rights movements sweep large parts of India and Southeast Asia, companies around the world lose their supply of cheap exploitable workers. Melbourne-based tech startup Neuras decides to attempt the impossible: installing AI drives into the freshly dead to create a cheap and endless supply of workers.
After a year of disappointing results, the Neuras lab suddenly cuts all contact with their investors. You, a contractor for the country's largest investment firm, have been tasked with investigating the lab and recovering the firm's rightful IP. But it's the firm's other investment project -- the SONA visor -- that might end up being your bigger problem.
That, and the breathing you keep hearing behind the door.
Even though this game is really short, I think it is a really good game. Also there's a trans girl in it so like I kind of have to love it,
The writing style was way too repellent for me almost immediately so I didn't even finish it. Felt very infantile in nature like somebody who's frame of reference for writing is spending too much time on tumblr and/or reddit trying to write characters that are supposed to come off as "quirky"? Maybe? Its hard to tell because I admit I immediately got a certain "vibe" from the writing that makes me have to double take whether their actually trying to be funny or if they think people talk and behave like this. But the whole time I'm thinking about how people don't talk like this and how cartoonish (In a bad way) everything is and how much that clashes with whatever fear or dread their trying to get me to feel. I think I expected something that would take itself a bit more seriously. Unless that was the writer trying to be serious in which case uhhhhhhhhh. I don't wanna be mean but man. Even what I assume was supposed to be serious parts of the logs or the more played straight logs had me...
Interesting premise that never fully utilizes it and the writing is meh at best.
pro(s): disaster lesbians :) con(s): disaster lesbians :(
A brilliant, deeply inventive game. Uses its 3D space impeccably, making so that the space becomes navigable after a while- you become used to moving around without your sight, and relying on your ears and memory in its stead. Character writing is down to earth and at times heartwrenching. Cain Maddox has produced here a thoughtful and evocative piece of art, reflecting the state of capitalism and the sense of overwhelming grief and helplessness that comes along with it. Ella's experiences with [spoiler]transmisogyny, abuse and how it affects her relationships[/spoiler] is something I've seen reflected in the women in my own life. PROXIMATE has plenty to say. If you're reading this review, I implore you to listen to it.
Thumbs up for the incredibly cool and well executed concept, but dear lord some of these interactions are painful to read. Every single character is written to be the most childish, selfish, insufferable moron possible. When by far the most likeable character in your game is a racist league player, you might want to make a few revisions to your script. That said, it's kinda fun watching them crash and burn, so maybe them being that way was intentional.
Pretty cool concept. Could be scarier.
BE CRIME DO GAYS 10/10
very good had fun the jam tasted funny
Really, really unique and the story is really good
Page 1 of 4
PROXIMATE costs $209.95.
Minimum: Minimum: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS *: Windows 7+ Processor: 2GHz Memory: 4 GB RAM Storage: 500 MB available space Recommended: Recommended: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
PROXIMATE is available on Windows PC, macOS, Linux.
PROXIMATE has 87% positive reviews from 39 players.
PROXIMATE was released on Nov 8, 2024.
AI-powered recommendations based on game description
