The Flame in the Flood
The Flame in the Flood is a roguelike survival adventure video game developed by The Molasses Flood. The game was developed for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Xbox One. A PlayStation 4 version was released on January 17, 2017. A Nintendo Switch version was released on October 12, 2017.
The Flame in the Flood | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | The Molasses Flood |
Publisher(s) | Curve Digital |
Composer(s) | Chuck Ragan |
Engine | Unreal Engine 4 |
Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, macOS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch |
Release |
|
Genre(s) | Roguelike, survival, adventure |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay
The player character is a young girl referred to as Scout. Her companion is a dog called Aesop by default, but the player can choose for the dog to be named Daisy, who can sense danger and fetch supplies. Scout uses a raft to traverse a large river, the result of an apocalyptic flood which has turned the land into a series of islands. The player must pay attention to Scout's needs such as her energy, thirst, hunger, and warmth, and not paying attention to them can result in death. Like other roguelikes, death is permanent, although the player can restart at predetermined checkpoints along the river if they are playing in Campaign mode. There is a crafting system allowing the player to create new items. Players will need to scavenge areas for valuable items. Factors such as the weather impact the gameplay. Players are able to create insulated clothing to protect them from the cold.[1] One of the developers referred to it as a "travelling survival game".[2]
Plot
The player must try to survive a river journey through the backwaters of a forgotten post-societal America.
Development
The game was developed by a team of people who previously worked on BioShock, Halo 2, and Rock Band.[1] It had a successful crowdfunding campaign, reaching $251,647 of a $150,000 goal. Chuck Ragan composed the soundtrack.[3] The game was originally available in beta, to its Kickstarter backers, and was released on Steam[4] as an early access game on September 24, 2015.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack for the game was made by Chuck Ragan.[5]
Reception
Reception | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The Flame in the Flood received "mixed to average" reviews, according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[15][16]
Ben Davis from Destructoid rated the game a 7.5/10 saying, "Even with its flaws, The Flame in the Flood remains an engaging and challenging survival game."[6]
Mark Steighner of Hardcore Gamer gave the game a 4 out of 5 saying, "The Flame in the Flood offers a genuinely new variation on the survival game theme, tuned, focused and confident in its execution."[14]
IGN awarded it a score of 7.3 out of 10, saying "Brutal and beautiful, The Flame in the Flood is a unique sort of survival game, with a few crucial flaws."[11]
GameSpot awarded it a score of 8.0 out of 10, saying "Despite the awkward menu system, it's an absorbing game that lets you experience a journey in the present, and fully appreciate the sights, sounds, and joys of floating down the river in its alluring world."[10]
References
- Wallace, Kimberley (March 6, 2015). "The Very Best Indie Games Of GDC 2015". Game Informer. GameStop. p. 5. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- Billcliffe, James (January 3, 2015). "The Flame in the Flood - Can You Survive the Journey Down a River Through Post-Societal America?". Only Single Player. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- "The Flame in the Flood by The Molasses Flood". Kickstarter. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- "Steam: The Flame in the Flood". Retrieved October 6, 2015.
- "The Flame in the Flood Soundtrack". Retrieved April 20, 2016.
- Davis, Ben (February 24, 2016). "Review: The Flame in the Flood". Destructoid. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- Campbell, Spencer (February 24, 2016). "The Flame in the Flood review". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- Gwaltney, Javy (February 24, 2016). "Survival Of The Fittest At Its Best - The Flame In The Flood - Xbox One". Game Informer. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- Almogi, Gil (February 24, 2016). "The Flame in the Flood Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- Tran, Edmond (February 24, 2016). "The Flame in the Flood Review". GameSpot. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- Johnson, Leif (March 2, 2016). "The Flame in the Flood Review". IGN. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
- Livingston, Christopher (February 24, 2016). "The Flame in the Flood review". PC Gamer. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- Bell, Alice (February 24, 2016). "The Flame in the Flood Review". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- Steighner, Mark (February 24, 2016). "Review: The Flame in the Flood". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- "The Flame in the Flood for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- "The Flame in the Flood for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 24, 2016.