Today, Whitethorn Games — publisher of indie games like APICO, Wytchwood, Beasts of Maravilla Island, and Lake — is showcasing the plethora of accessibility options available in developer Brian Wilson’s first-person environmental thriller, The Forest Cathedral. All of the listed options will be present at launch in both PC and Xbox Series S|X versions of the game.
“Accessibility is very important to us at Whitethorn Games and we want to make The Forest Cathedral playable for as many people as we can,” said Britt Dye, Usability and Accessibility Specialist at Whitethorn Games. “So we’re excited to announce that we’ve incorporated several features and options to help make this captivating environmental thriller more accessible for players.”
Check out the latest The Forest Cathedral video to see these accessibility options in action below:
Accessibility updates to The Forest Cathedral include:
- Gameplay Setting and Saving: The settings and pause menus are accessible at all times during gameplay.
- Gameplay Difficulty Adjustments: 2D difficulty options can be turned on and off at-will through the settings menu. It does not require a new save or restart to implement them.
- Option to Turn Off Spikes, which removes all deadly spikes
- Option to toggle on Float Mode, which reduces the speed at which the 2D character will fall
- Checkpoints during platforming happen at regular intervals, allowing players to restart from a checkpoint if they die
- Input and Button Presses:
- PC has mouse and keyboard and full gamepad controller support
- Rebinding is supported for most actions
- Button map available at any time in the Settings menu for default keybinds
- Player key rebinds will be reflected in button map
- 3D Exploration – Camera sensitivity is adjustable and camera controls can be inverted vertically (y-axis).
- 2D Platforming – The player character is moveable using a thumbstick or the D-pad.
- PC has mouse and keyboard and full gamepad controller support
- Improved Tutorials: Gameplay mechanic onboarding for both 3D exploration and 2D platforming takes place in a separate tutorial zone with checks, buttons prompts, and text.
- Audio Accessibility Options: Max volume adjustable.
- More Text and Reading Options: Subtitles and journal text are written in high contrast and sans-serif typeface by default, and there is an option to change all in-game text to Open Dyslexic, a sans-serif typeface.
- On-Screen Movement and Visual Effects: Includes an option to replace flashing static screens on terminals with a black screen.
- Heads-Up Display: Key prompts are viewable on the screen when needed for progression. Player key rebinds are reflected in button prompts.
Developed by Brian Wilson, The Forest Cathedral is a reimagining of the events surrounding real-life scientist Rachel Carson’s investigation of the harmful pesticide known as DDT. Set in an expansive and vibrantly rendered forest on a remote island, players will take on the role of Rachel, who is seemingly trapped, unable to escape the island paradise. As she investigates the mysterious forces that bind her there, players will slowly uncover the horrific effects of the pesticide using advanced environmental technology to complete puzzles that weave together 3D exploration and 2D platforming. What secrets will Rachel discover on this island? Many will try to silence her, but somehow, the truth must come out.
The Forest Cathedral will release on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
To keep up with all things The Forest Cathedral, be sure to follow Whitethorn Games on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and Twitch, by joining the official Whitethorn Games Discord, and by visiting https://whitethorngames.com.
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