Developer Blue Rider Interactive has formally unveiled Apartment Story, a dramatic third-person thriller that runs to a full length. The way the story is combined with slice-of-life simulator elements makes for an immersive experience, and the visual aesthetic transports me back to the original release of GTA Vice City.
You play as 27-year-old Arthur in Apartment Story, who is doing what most of us do—trying to keep his head above water with the expenses of pleasure, food, and everything else that life throws at us hanging over our heads. One day, Aruthur's former roommate Diane comes up out of the blue, and they immediately click. However, as Blondey enters the scene, things start to go south.
In this world, be a human
The gameplay in Apartment Story seems to be rather similar to what you would do in if you were directly controlling just one character. The Sims 4. Arthur requires food, rest, mental health, a bathroom, personal cleanliness, and life itself. You must take care of them by feeding him, preparing whatever is in the refrigerator and cabinets, forcing him to take a shower, putting him to sleep, and letting him enjoy himself when the chance presents itself.
This isn't a slice-of-life sim, however, and as the story progresses, you'll find it more difficult to care for Arthur as life becomes busier, more stressful, and full of possible dangers. This is such an intriguing combination of mechanics, and you should be able to understand Arthur's perspective on everything from life's challenges to his situation because of the little dwelling.
It's interesting to note that on September 26, 2024, when Apartment Story is launched, you will have the dynamic option of choosing to interact with the story or not. Arthur may be exposing himself to a world of harm if he invites visitors inside his home. But shut the door and ignore the knocks; you may put things off with him until he has no relationships left.
The PSX-style appearance of the game is my favorite feature. The game works well thanks to a contemporary engine, but I usually find myself drawn in more by these purposefully low-quality graphics since I feel like I'm supposed to fill in more details as I play, practically taking on the role of the narrator or character.