When was the last time you played a game where the main protagonist was in a wheelchair? There isn’t very many, right? Well this is is the bold move of games developer Ehnenu, with their new fantastic project The Last Cargo.
For those who aren’t familiar with The Last Cargo, it’s a top-down adventure game where the protagonist is exposed to the paralysing power of religious indoctrination. Fighting dogma and his own fears becomes the plot of this survival-horror; you find yourself in a mysterious place, and with every floor you discover the purpose for which it was built. The situation of the character is a strange one: the beliefs that are forced onto him have limited his movement (that’s the reason for the wheelchair), dulled all of his senses and put his fears under a microscope. The only safe place in this big multi-story building is the elevator but unfortunately this symbol of safety requires fuel, so you must explore the floors one at a time looking for power, food and light sources.
The main character is a complete unknown: we don’t know who he is, where he’s from or how he got there in the fist place. All we know about is his physical limitation which I believe just enhances the terror of the whole situation. If something comes to get you, their mobility is hindered, and it’s scary knowing that something bad is going to happen and you’re limited as to what you can do about it.
The survival element sounds like you’re going to have to be clever but to do this you must remember basic rules: keep quiet and be careful, as there are many things that want to hurt you in the dark and they’re just waiting for you to make a mistake. It is you that decides what path to take in the story and, if further exploration is needed in finding the answers to your questions, it’s worth the risk of exploring this terrifying building. But you must plan your actions carefully as the risk of death is close and very real.
The Last Cargo is currently on Steam Greenlight and I believe it should get a big thumbs-up, because it’s a unique concept and something that looks genuinely scary in the process. Religion is something that is a touchy subject to approach for games developers but Ehnenu seem like they will do the subject justice and give us an unforgettable experience.
