Synopsis:
Roman Sands RE:Build is a game in two acts. In the first act, you awaken suddenly on the shores of a mysterious luxury resort, and quickly meet a cast of demanding guests who immediately bombard you with requests ranging from trivial to impossible. As you work to meet their needs, the day ends, and you wake up at the beginning of your first day. You realize that you’re trapped here in a time loop, and as you repeat day after day, it quickly becomes apparent that you must somehow worm your way out. You must discover how to use your time, the resort, and even the guests themselves to make your escape. Along the way, you’ll uncover a mystery of apocalyptic proportions, and even unleash it if you’re not careful.
In Act 2, you awaken to a familiar voice telling you that your cow has died. You’re in a new place- a futuristic, hermetically sealed bunker- and you’re responsible for maintaining its life support systems. Only, it’s in a critical state, and all of its systems are on the verge of collapse. Day after day, work to keep them running in order to survive as you develop a relationship with this new voice in your head.
The two-act structure of Roman Sands RE:Build creates a narrative dichotomy that encourages the player to contemplate the nature of struggle, risk, and reward. The first act satirizes the toxic nature of predatory game mechanics and live-for-work culture. However, not everything is as it seems on the surface, and players soon discover a dark underside to this paradise. In the second act, the player solves puzzles to maintain their failing life support just to stay alive. This contrast of the urgent superficial facade in the first act, with the true life and death scenario of the second act, creates the unique narrative of Roman Sands, which is explicitly borne out and reinforced by divergent sets of mechanics and visual styles.
Key Features:
Genre-Blending Gameplay: The game mixes elements of visual novels, adventure, puzzle-solving, horror, and survival simulation, providing a multifaceted experience.
Narrative Focus: It has a strong narrative, with stories that intertwine across two distinct realities—a luxury retreat and a decaying research facility. The story is rich with mystery, psychological horror, and existential themes.
Apocalyptic Setting: The game is set against the backdrop of an impending apocalypse, where you serve eccentric characters at a luxurious but eerie resort, while also exploring a world ravaged by decay.
Time Loop Mechanic: The gameplay includes a time loop where events reset, adding layers of complexity to the puzzle-solving and exploration aspects.
Immersive World: The game features a surreal and colorful world with a dark undertone, complemented by immersive sim elements that require interaction with the environment and characters to progress.
