Hi, everyone! It's time to Dig into UNDERGROUNDED!
In this corner, we'll be diving deep into some of the historical and cultural tidbits from the world of UNDERGROUNDED.
Maybe, after reading this, you'll see the game's world in a whole new light!
For our first digging session, instead of looking at the underground world Scott explores, we'll take a peek at what comes before that... That's right, the bustling streets and stations of Manhattan!
Here's the heart of the city that you start the game in. Speaking of hearts, it's also where Scott's heart gets broken. Ouch.
But let's forget about that and focus on how energetic the place is. The city just feels alive!
This street corner was inspired by Times Square 42nd Street Station, and City Hall Station.
If you look closely, you can see a deli, some glittering Broadway ads, and more NYC goodness.
Now, Scott drops his ring down a storm drain. To chase after it, he has to head underground, into the subway station.
The first thing he sees there s a colorful mural. The real Manhattan subway is full of art like this. So much so that it feels like being in a museum while you're commuting.
Check out all the posters plastered on the walls.
One of them talks about a man who's lost everything and has to fight to reclaim it... Wait, that kind of sounds like Scott's story, doesn't it?
Then there's this weirdly poetic ad for an energy drink. It talks about wanting to go back home, but also about trying again... As it turns out, there's a real-life inspiration for this too.
It's based on a poem you can spot between the 42nd Street Port Authority and Times Square stations. The verses are scattered across the ceiling, catching the eye of weary commuters and giving them a small boost of courage, as if the station was cheering them on.
In UNDERGROUNDED, we've tried to squeeze that very same feeling into one small poster.
To reach the platform and keep searching for the ring, Scott has to pass through a ticket gate. And for that, he needs a metro card. But here's something you might not know. Those metro cards? They're going to be phased out by the end of 2025.
So, if you play UNDERGROUNDED 10 years from now, you may even feel nostalgic about them.
In Japan, our train stations ticket gates automatically flap open. But in NYC, you're as likely to see an actual turnstile. We've redesigned them a bit for the game, but in real life, those things can be as tall as a person.
Scott finally makes it down to the platform, but there's no sign of his ring.
Next time, we'll dive into the underground tunnels and beyond, with more fun facts to discover. See you then!
《"Where are you today, Scott?"》
He reached the platform, but the ring is nowhere in sight. There's only one choice left: exploring further underground!
