Once a very reputable hotel, widely known for its luxury architecture and as a holy grail of popularity, The Grandview now stands as an abandoned landmark; a monument to decay and rot.
So, What Happened?
In this chapter, players take over the role of Arthur Vance, a private investigator whose latest case leads him to the insides of this forgotten structure.
The reason surrounding his visit is rooted in an unexplained phenomenon: the sudden, thirty-year-old disappearance of Elias Thorne, a promising architect who was reportedly on the cusp of revealing a dramatic reformation plan for The Grandview.
The entire hotel staff resigned from working at the place because of this phenomenon, leading to a total closure of The Grandview.
Despite the circumstances of the events, local authorities, perhaps controlled by limited resources or fear, ultimately dismissed the case as a simple "walk-off". This allows the hotel to continue its slow rot.
People view Arthur not only as a detective, but as a critical agent attempting to re-engage with a history that has been actively silenced or denied by outside organizations.
(Gameplay in the screenshots is WIP. Everything is a subject to change)
The Approach and Environmental Atmosphere
The design idea for Abandoned Passage is not just simple jumpscares, but rather how prolonged exposure to the environment can induce a sense of anxiety and fear.
The hotel itself utilizes a kind of gravitational pull, not just physically, but psychologically. The environment is dense, containing careful cues and challenges, forcing the player to critically evaluate every piece of information and every shadow.
While Arthur's order is to uncover what happened to Elias Thorne, a crucial element of the unfolding narrative involves the protagonist's own vulnerability to the hotel's impact.
Navigating this location will require more than just expert investigative skills; it will demand a constant, critical thinking about what you view.
Unveiling What Lies Ahead
As Arthur dives deeper, he begins to understand the forgotten histories of The Grandview. Finding clues requires to search everywhere carefully and pay close attention to the details around the place.
The game is built so you have to be an active explorer, not just somebody who sits back and watches a story happen. You won't always move forward in a straight line; sometimes, you will have to thoroughly check every corner. Every shadow.
(Gameplay in the screenshots is WIP. Everything is a subject to change)