At the Sony State of Play live stream this afternoon, Giant Squid shared a gameplay trailer on their upcoming PS5 title. From the publishers of ABZU, Annapurna, The Pathless is an open-world game with sprawling greenery and landscapes that make for breathtaking vistas. Taking control of the Hunter and her eagle, players have access to a whole world of secrets to discover. Set in a forest full of talismans, the Hunter can use her bow to hit targets and fill a dash meter that allows her to effortlessly hop across the hilly mysterious world. Hanging onto her trusty eagle, she can even fly to cross large distances. Solving Zelda-esque puzzles, The Pathless brings a fresh experience that’s hyper-focused on momentum and exploration-based gameplay.
The main explorative nature of the game is echoed in the design as well. With no actual map to help players find their way, Hunter’s mask peers through a spirit world to guide players. Showing a path of where players have been and should go, the spirit mask reveals cursed spirits lurking around the forest. Forcing the eagle to separate from the Hunter, these creatures will chase the Hunter while she hides from their peering eyes. Defeating these massive spirits requires light to be brought to certain obelisks to weaken them. After restoring the obelisk, the Hunter then has her chance to defeat and pursue the entities in a climactic battle. The environments are entrancingly colorful that showcase beautifully in these spirit standoffs. A few more key images can be found on their website.
The Pathless is shaping up to be a great open-world platformer shrouded in secrecy for players to uncover later this year. While Sony has remained silent on the price despite some leaks, the title is slated for a release on both the PS5 and PS4. They have also confirmed separate releases slated for the Epic Games Store and Apple Arcade for the PC and smartphone market respectively.
