Léonard Lemaitre, one of the creative minds behind the critically acclaimed shooter "Straftat," is embarking on a new solo venture, "Vholume." This upcoming first-person platformer transports players to a sprawling, oppressive cityscape, drawing stylistic parallels to titles like "Mirror's Edge" and "Babbdi." The game promises an immersive experience within its brutalist aesthetic, focusing on fluid movement and environmental navigation.
Navigate a Concrete Labyrinth: Your Quest for Survival in a Bureaucratic Dystopia
The Legacy of Straftat and the Birth of Vholume
The developer's previous work, "Straftat," gained significant recognition, even being lauded as the top FPS of 2024. Its success stemmed from its tightly designed 1v1 deathmatches and the continuous influx of new content provided by the Lemaitre brothers. Now, Léonard Lemaitre channels his creative energy into "Vholume," shifting from fast-paced multiplayer combat to a narrative-driven, single-player platforming adventure. While distinct in gameplay, both titles share a stark, brutalist art direction, suggesting a signature style from the developer.
Exploring the Mechanics of Movement in a Dystopian Realm
Although details about "Vholume" are still emerging, it appears to be a solitary journey centered around a sophisticated movement system. Early glimpses, showcased on its Steam page through animated GIFs, reveal protagonists executing acrobatic feats—leaping, sliding, and wall-running through an urban maze shrouded in fog. The seamless transitions and the ability to rapidly maneuver around corners by bounding off walls highlight a finely tuned and visually impressive parkour experience.
Unraveling the Narrative: Robert's Struggle for a Ration Ticket
The core premise of "Vholume" casts players as Robert, an inhabitant of the vast city of Afro-Eurasia. His mission is seemingly straightforward: to reclaim his family's revoked ration ticket. However, this seemingly simple task transforms into an arduous "odyssey," as players must contend with the city's intricate and unyielding bureaucracy. The game hints at hidden shortcuts and exploitable elements within its labyrinthine design, encouraging players to master the environment to optimize their progress and shatter the oppressive structure.
The Development Team and Future Prospects
Léonard Lemaitre leads a compact three-person development team for "Vholume," collaborating with Nathan Grange and Niels Tiercelin. The game is slated to be published by IronEqual, a company known for the 2017 adventure title "Over the Moonlight." While an official release date remains undisclosed, the two-year interval between "Babbdi" and "Straftat" suggests that "Vholume" might see its debut around 2026. For those eager to experience similar brutalist-themed precision platforming in the interim, "Lorn's Lure," a game praised for its climbing, sliding, and leaping mechanics across immense decaying structures, is highly recommended.
