On the surface of it (or at least judging by the trailer) Routine looks quite similar in tone and concept a certain space based survival-horror game and I think we can be forgiven for this. My initial reaction was that this would be a total rip-off of Dead Space but, after taking in the tiny morsels of media that developer Lunar Software has released for it I feel like we might be in for something more than a money grab and indeed, something quite special.

Where to start? First of all the art of this game has a distinct future as seen through the lens of the 80′s vibe to it that feels really fresh compared to the aesthetic of most space-based games we see today. The shapes and designs seen in the Cosmonaut Assistance Tool (presumably your main, possibly only, tool in the game) are somehow reminiscent of an old VCR that My family used to have. The tone set by the teaser trailer is creepy and a bit mysterious as many things seem to be played at but never shown outright.

I haven’t found much with regard to the story. The rough sketch is thus: Your mission is to uncover what has happened to all of the people stationed on on a moon base after a series of mysterious disappearances. They had me at moon base.

Perhaps more interesting than the art and story is the gameplay itself though. While little is known about mechanics the developer has made it very clear that there will be no HUD, health meter, or assistance of any kind in the game. Taking this concept a step further is the fact that permadeath is imposed on the player. So if you die, no matter how far you have made it, that’s it, game over man.

All of this makes me really excited for the game, it sounds like an honest challenge with some real depth and great visuals! I can’t wait! In the meantime be sure to check out Lunar Software’s website and check back with us for updates as they come.