With its series of Pixel Pulps games, LCB Game Studio is bringing something fresh to the visual novel genre. The games look retro (and the stories are retro-pulpy), but they don’t quite play like a retro title might because different minigames are incorporated into each game. For example, you can try your luck at impossible solitaire in Mothmen 1966, catch fish in Varney Lake, and try to survive a car chase with a cult in Bahnsen Knights. Recently, all three games were compiled into a physical collection—but that doesn’t stop me from craving more! The developer has been teasing the fourth title in the series on social media – placing it solidly in the slasher genre – and today it was officially announced: Grizzly Man!
While part of the Pixel Pulps series, Grizzly Man is a standalone story and can be played without knowledge of the other games. In the previous three titles, an investigator was the main common thread. Even still, they are all standalone too. There may be references to prior games, but knowing the background enhances the narrative rather than changes it.
The heart of every Pixel Pulps game (so far) is the story, a supernatural tale focusing on characters and plot. Grizzly Man puts you into the role of a former MIB agent, Robert. A mysterious attack in the woods erased his memory more than a decade ago so he is now spending his days as a field guide in the Alaskan wilderness. While leading a group of tourists, they are attacked by a mysterious figure known as the Grizzly Man. Not much is known about the deadly figure known as the Grizzly Man, though he is said to be linked to the CIA and Project MKUltra. The group might survive… or instead, become the catch of the day. That’s up to you.
From what I can see in the teaser, I’d expect the gameplay in Grizzly Man to be similar to the other titles in the series. There are a lot of internal thoughts and conversations to read through. Sometimes, you need to make a decision that will set the course for the rest of the narrative. A new solitaire variant will be one minigame, but there will likely be others. Like running from The Grizzly Man himself, perhaps? Avoiding actual bears? Catching fish as a bear instead of with a rod? Climbing trees to escape? It could be anything!
Developed and published by LCB Game Studio, Grizzly Man has been confirmed for PC via Steam. Console versions seem likely based on the series’ past. No release date has been announced.
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