The upcoming Call of Cthulhu game has been described in the past as having “semi-open” environments, which many people took to mean it would feature open world exploration.
In a recent interview with GamingBolt, the developers clarified that this is not the case:
“This is not a semi-open world, this is a linear story: You go from one chapter to the other. Each chapter is feels different in a different area. Inside some chapters, you have the freedom to choose multiple paths to get to your goal. This will be based on your choices, and your skills [such as if you’re good at lock picking, stuff like that]. It’s mostly about giving a different flavor for each chapter.”
Most likely, the initial “semi-linear” descriptions came from the idea that you’ll be able to explore within each chapter and approach your goal in different ways.
This isn’t a bad thing. Open world games are popular, but for some players, a well-crafted linear experience is just as good if not better – especially when it’s a story that will most likely rely on building up a sense of horror and dread.
Previously, the developers have said Call of Cthulhu will take about 10-15 hours to play. It is due out on October 30 for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.