Category: Feature Log

Cinematics, Vehicle Driving System, Van Dialogue & Half Demo Milestone

As of December 13, 2025, Project Escher continues to move forward at a strong and steady pace. We’re excited to share that Phase 3 of our 6-phase Heavy Prototyping cycle is now complete — marking the third major milestone in development.

With this phase finished, the project has officially reached a key point:
we are now 50% of the way toward completing the demo / vertical slice.

Today’s newly released dev-log video showcases a significant leap forward in both gameplay and narrative, including:

• New Cinematic Sequences
  Story-driven moments that help establish tone, pacing, and emotional weight.
• Vehicle Driving System
  Core driving mechanics are now playable, forming a central part of the experience.
• Van Dialogue System
  Contextual dialogue taking place inside the van, blending story, character, and gameplay.
• Expanded Story Chapter
  A major portion of the narrative is now playable, bringing the demo closer to a complete, cohesive experience.

This milestone represents a shift from pure prototyping into a half-demo / half-story chapter, where systems, cinematics, and narrative begin to connect as a unified experience.

Story Direction – Second Half of the Chapters

With the first half of the demo now grounded in the physical world, the remaining half of each story chapter will shift the experience into a non-physical space — a world existing outside of conventional spacetime, off the grid.

This upcoming phase of development will focus on the protagonist’s inner journey through this abstract realm, where reality, memory, and perception begin to blur. Gameplay, cinematics, and narrative systems will evolve to reflect this transition, exploring psychological themes through atmosphere, symbolism, and unconventional storytelling rather than traditional physical interactions.

The next development phases will be dedicated to building and defining this world — shaping its rules, visual language, and emotional impact — as Project Escher moves closer to a complete and cohesive vertical slice.

With three phases complete and three remaining, Project Escher is steadily shaping into a polished vertical slice. Our goal remains clear:
to prepare Project Escher for submission to the Sony PlayStation.

Thank you for following the journey and supporting Rare Castle. More updates are coming soon as we push toward the next milestone.

Heavy Prototyping Development — Phase 2 Complete

As of November 24, 2025, Project Escher continues to accelerate beyond expectations. Our Heavy Prototyping cycle is planned as six phases, each originally set to last two weeks. However, thanks to rapid progress and focused work, we’ve completed Phase 2 in just one week.

Today, we’re releasing the second milestone dev-log video, showcasing a collection of major systems and story elements now functioning inside the build:

• Reactive Dialogue System – Characters now respond dynamically to each other based on context, timing, and narrative flow.
• Inner Monologue Mechanic – The player gains real-time access to the protagonist’s thoughts, adding psychological depth and guiding exploration.
• Vehicle Traffic Simulation – Living traffic behavior now populates the world, adding realism, atmosphere, and narrative grounding.
• Interaction System – A flexible framework allowing objects, characters, and world elements to be examined, used, or activated.
• Inventory System – Early implementation of item collection, management, and usage tied to the puzzles and story progression.

With this milestone complete, we’re now approaching the halfway mark of our six-phase prototyping sprint. Each milestone pushes the project closer to a polished, playable vertical slice.

Our ultimate goal remains clear:
prepare Project Escher for submission to the Sony PlayStation.

Thank you for following the journey, supporting Rare Castle, and being part of this ambitious chapter. Stay tuned — the next milestone is already in motion.