Clockwork Revolution is setting its sights high with a narrative fueled by a glossy, steampunk aesthetic reminiscent of BioShock. InXile Entertainment’s latest venture is ambitious, playing with storytelling in a way that could make or break the game’s success. It’s all about how far they can push this inventive concept and whether they can fine-tune it just right.
For those not familiar, Clockwork Revolution transports players to Avalon, a city that has attained technological dominance far beyond mere human effort. Lady Ironwood, one of the city’s leaders, has mastered time travel, altering historical events to manifest her own grand vision of the present. However, her reshaped world breeds inequality as the wealthy thrive with the aid of these intricate steampunk mechanisms, while the lower classes languish in servitude. As the protagonist, armed with the same time-travel tech as Ironwood, players have the opportunity to rewrite the present—and perhaps, forge a future that promises equality.
Standing at the core of Clockwork Revolution’s allure is its time-bending, possibly intricate narrative. It’s not just about the player’s impact on the game but also about the profound story elements outside the player’s control. Time travel stories hold a universal fascination, allowing a peek into changing the past—something we can never do in reality. Such an ability stirs deep philosophical questions that the game embraces.
Consider the idea of creating the “best possible world.” Given the chance to edit history and halt negative events, would anyone stop at just a few tweaks? Perfection is likely unattainable, leaving the time traveler to either accept their limitations or spiral into madness.
Within this complex infrastructure, players navigate their path. Will they strive to create an idyllic world, or simply topple Lady Ironwood’s oppressive rule? As they progress, players might face the stark truth: altering the past brings unforeseen complications. These are the hefty philosophical dilemmas lying at Clockwork Revolution’s heart.
Adding to the engagement, InXile has teased a branching narrative for the game, where players’ choices ripple out like a “butterfly effect,” greatly impacting Avalon in unprecedented ways. Although details are sparse, the player seems to wield significant influence over the narrative—a challenging promise in game design that few truly meet. An early trailer shows a character, possibly the protagonist, lamenting, “Oh no, what did I do?” as Avalon descends into chaos. It suggests a world that can turn on a dime based on player actions, a thrilling prospect but one that must be executed elegantly. Far too often, games offer the illusion of choice but lead players down predetermined paths, with alternative routes feeling more like fringe benefits than actual story diversions. Hopefully, Clockwork Revolution distinguishes itself as a real trailblazer in narrative flexibility.
InXile Entertainment, known for their work on games like Wasteland, brings their expertise to this project. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Newport Beach, California, the studio has a track record of crafting engaging RPGs, and with Clockwork Revolution, they’re poised to explore new frontiers in interactive storytelling.
