HUMANITY, a undeniably unique looking title from Tokyo-based design studio Tha LTD uses massive crowd simulation with an apparent focus on on puzzle and RTS-like gameplay. The game was revealed today and announced to be headed to PS4 in 2020 with optional PSVR support.
Though the studio is being intentionally vague about exactly what kind of gameplay players can expect from Humanity, the reveal trailer shown off today is enough to pique our interest. Road to VR editor Scott Hayden suitably described the snippets of gameplay in the trailer as “like Lemmings and a tower defense mixed with existential angst.”
With an original style and hordes of simulated crowds, the game looks like it’ll involve elements of physics-based puzzling and maybe even some RTS-like combat. Studio Tha LTD is being intentionally vague about how the game will actually play, though it promises to reveal more next year.
Developer Tha LTD is working with creative studio Enhance—founded by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, known as the mind behind Rez (2001)—which is aiding in both publishing “as well as contribut[ing] to level design and general gameplay consulting.”
“From the first early demo I saw, I couldn’t get HUMANITY out of my head,” says Mizuguchi. “The whole look and feel of it—manipulating these teeming masses of people—was mesmerizing, especially in VR. I knew right away it could be something special, which is why I couldn’t be more excited to help a visionary like [Tha LTD founder] Yugo-san realize its full potential.”
It’s a seemingly natural fit thanks to Mizuguchi’s experience in realizing games with stark visual-audio styles, including VR-optional titles like Rez Infinite (2017) and Tetris Effect (2018).
Humanity is due out in 2020 on PSVR and will include optional PSVR support, though we’re expecting it will be a controller-only game.