Observation
Developer(s)	No Code
Publisher(s)	Devolver Digital
Platform(s)	Windows, PlayStation 4
Release	May 21, 2019
Genre(s)	Adventure, puzzle, Science fiction
Mode(s)	Single-player

Observation is an adventure-puzzle video game developed by British studio No Code and published by Devolver Digital. The game, described as sci-fi thriller, puts the player in control of a space station AI in order to recover from the sudden, mysterious loss of its crew.^[1] Observation was released for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 on May 21, 2019.^[2]

Gameplay

Observation is an adventure game. The player takes the role of Sam, short for the System & Maintenance Administration (SAM) artificial intelligence software aboard a multi-national space station. Initially, the player's view is limited to where the crew have relocated Sam, but as the game progresses, Sam can move its core presence between several of the modules on the station and manipulate cameras and other electronically-controlled equipment in that module. Further on, Sam is provided one of several small spherical probes that allows Sam to move more freely through the station and into hostile environments harmful to the humans aboard.

The player, by manipulating Sam, can control various elements of the station, such as opening or closing hatches, activating safety systems and the like. Sam may be instructed by the crew to perform specific tasks, and Sam can reply by finding the task element of interest (such as the status of a station module) and report back to the crew.

Plot

The year is 2026 and the multi-national space station Observation is in orbit around Earth when a mysterious disaster strikes that disables much of the station's power. The only apparent remaining member of the crew, Dr. Emma Fisher, reboots Sam in an effort to diagnose the damage, recover the mission and find the rest of the crew, but Sam's own memory records have been damaged. As Sam attempts to re-interface with the rest of the space station and reactivate its own components, it finds that is being influenced by an unknown entity to betray Dr. Fisher rather than assist her. The entity instructs Sam to "bring her", and though unknown means, Observation is suddenly relocated in orbit around Saturn.^[3]

Development

Game director Jon McKellan had wanted to write a story where the player's actions could impact the story's events. Separately, he also pondered the idea of deconstructing horror film tropes by imagining them from a different perspective.^[4]

According to McKellan, Observation was initially split into separate sections, but merged into a full-length game when the story's size made it difficult for it to be split into distinct episodes.^[5]

Many of Observation's staff had previously worked on Alien: Isolation -- character artists Jack Perry and Ranulf Busby, concept artist Stefano Tsai, and voice actors Kezia Burrows and Anthony Howell had worked on the latter game.^[5] McKellan himself was involved in various aspects of Isolation, such as the user interface design.^[6]

Observation was announced on October 8, 2018.^[7] No Code and Devolver Digital had a previous working relationship from the release of the 2017 video game Stories Untold.^[8]

Reception

References

External links

• Official Observation website
• Observation at Devolver Digital
• No Code Studio