Currently playing The Void (known as Turgor in Russia and Tension in Germany) a very innovative action/adventure (?) game from a Russian developer Icepick Lodge.
You play a lost soul trapped in a strange, Limbo-like place where all inhabitants (yourself included) crave one substance - color. And from this fact comes most of the game's uniqueness and originality. Color is used for both offense/defense and for any sort of interaction with your surroundings (usually by drawing one of many different glyphs with your mouse) but it also represents your health and your avatar's characteristics. Your (un)life depends on your ability to find and reproduce color which can be done by either growing gardens (you revive dead trees with color), fighting with enemies or by hunting various small creatures that inhabit the Void. Each color (there are 7 different ones) grants you a different attribute and also influences the world around you in some way.
Aside from various creatures and animals the Void is home to some very interesting entities, namely: Sisters - who will help you make your way trough the Void (and bring some elements of a dating-sim into the game) and Brothers - who are there to make your existence more... uncertain:). The plot is often confusing and mysterious at first, with each side trying to manipulate and use you for their own agenda, but as you progress and speak with different characters the pieces of puzzle will slowly begin to fall in place and you'll realize that, more than once, you have played your cards wrong and worked against yourself.
Played from first perspective, the graphics are VERY nice looking even though they are not overly expensive. A special treat in visual department are the designs of Sisters and Brothers. I guess pics are worth more than words so here is some concept art (note that there is some tasteful nudity):
And this is how it all looks in motion (although this seems to be a slightly unfinished version):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ-FvuzPrgkEven though the game is somewhat difficult as you have to be very careful when handling color and always need to plan one step ahead, The Void really deserves you try it out at least for it is truly a unique experience. I wish more programmers were creative and brave like this.
