Christophe De bont 
08/10/2020It’s a bit of a whirlwind for Belgian games in early access right now. One has just entered the fray while another is all set to jump out of it. Panoptic, created by our proud member Team Panoptes, is transforming into its final form later today. Have a look at the lovely launch trailer to celebrate the occasion.
If you haven’t been paying attention: Panoptic is an asymmetrical local multiplayer VR game where one player controls a tiny Challenger on pc, while the other roams in VR as the giant Overseer. You’re basically playing this stealthy game of cat and mouse where the Challenger needs to complete several objectives without being spotted – and subsequently obliterated – by the all-seeing laser eye of the Overseer.
Matches are short but thrilling, which immediately makes you want to go another round. There are few things as intense as feeling the scorching gaze of the Overseer burn on your powerless character, while praying that they haven’t noticed you’re the one they’re looking for. Can you keep your cool, or will you break the illusion and make a run for it?
While the various maps are designed to try out different strategies, they all share a wonderful aesthetic based on old Aztec and Inca culture. But it’s the simplicity of it all that makes Panoptic such a unique and engaging VR game. You can explain the ground rules to anyone in seconds, yet you’ll be spending a lot of time with the game before you become really good at it.
We introduced the game on this blog almost four years ago, and it’s really nice to see how the project has evolved since its gamejam roots. It’s also picked up a lot of nice feedback underway. In early access since May 2019, the team were able to refine and polish the experience with the help of a tight-knit community, and we’re excited to see it finally come out.
