At IndieDevDay 2024 in Barcelona, we got a glimpse of an exciting new game that feels like a blast from the past but with a modern twist. It’s called *Echoes of the Living*, and it pays homage to survival horror games from the 90s, like *Resident Evil*, *Silent Hill*, and *Alone in the Dark*. The game taps into the low-poly aesthetic that’s made a comeback, but with enhanced graphics that remind us more of the PlayStation 1 era, though polished for today’s standards.

So, what’s *Echoes of the Living* all about? It’s a love letter to fans of classic survival horror. The developers miss those old-school games so much that they decided to create their own, using modern technology to make it even better. They’re bringing back that eerie vibe of pre-rendered backgrounds but making them fully 3D, which allows for real-time lighting and a more immersive experience. This means not just visually stunning environments but also sharper audio and smoother gameplay.

One of the cool things about the game is how it handles cameras. It uses fixed camera angles, similar to classic horror games, but adds a twist: the camera can move or pan along with the player in certain scenarios. For instance, when your character walks down a long hallway or a forest path, the camera follows them, giving you a broader view of the surroundings. In other areas, like cramped spaces, the camera stays fixed to add tension and mystery.

Now, how does this game stand out among other recent throwbacks to survival horror? According to the developers, it’s all about lighting. They’re focusing on dynamic lighting and shadows to really ramp up the fear factor. Imagine walking through a dark forest where shadows shift as a single beam of light cuts through dead leaves and branches—it’s unsettling in all the right ways.

As for the story, *Echoes of the Living* features two main characters: Liam Oakwood and Laurel Reeves. Each has their own campaign, lasting about 10-12 hours. The two characters have separate goals and objectives, but their paths will cross at certain points where they’ll need to work together. Completing both campaigns unlocks a third playable character, though this will be added later as a free update.

The plot itself draws inspiration from old B-movies of the 70s and 80s. Unlike many zombie apocalypse stories involving viruses from labs or pharmacies, here it’s a mysterious fog causing people to fall ill and die—only to rise again and spread chaos throughout the city. The goal for both characters is simple: survive this outbreak and make it out alive.

The game has been in development for eight years by a small team working part-time. Recently, they’ve been able to focus more on the project, which is set to release in February next year. The team is self-publishing on Steam for now due to budget constraints but hopes to bring the game to PlayStation 5 and Xbox if things go well.

Currently, they’re wrapping up some final touches, including finishing cinematics and adding voice acting in both English and Spanish. If all goes according to plan, we’ll be hearing plenty more about *Echoes of the Living* very soon!