The Pale Beyond is a game that’s story is rooted in real-life events; manage your ship as you try to survive the Artic cold and all its cold and icy secrets.
The sea is no place for the weak; she is cold, deadly, and ruthless. She may be all those things but there is a certain allure to her, this allure attracts both the brave and the foolish. A game that is as beautiful as it is tragic, The Pale Beyond, developed by Bellular Studios and published by Fellow Traveller, who also published great games such as Beacon Pines.
The Pale Beyond can be described as a narrative survival game that tells the story of one of the most tragic real-life stories in Naval history, and you will get to experience it first-hand. You play as Robin Shaw, the recently assigned first mate to Captain Hunt. The Captain has recently started an expedition to locate the wreckage of the Viscount. During your interview, you can choose the protagonist’s background, as well as give your thoughts on the crew and leadership.
For the first 3 weeks after you set off for your expedition, you will get to know the ship’s crew, some of them will take a liking to you, others not so much. Everything seems to be smooth sailing until your ship suddenly gets trapped in the ice, and Captain Hunt goes missing. Along with him, some of your crew, rations, fuel, and a lifeboat are also missing. It now falls to you to ensure that you keep all your crewmates alive for the next 30 weeks as you wait for rescue.
During this time, in the titular The Pale Beyond, you will need to manage your resources carefully. If you do not have enough food for your crew, they will soon become malnourished, and if they stay malnourished, they will develop scurvy. This will cause them to be unable to work, and if the scurvy isn’t treated and gets worse, they will eventually die.
You will lose a crewmate, and your men will lose faith in your leadership. Both Scurvy and Frostbite can be treated by sending your afflicted crew to Medbay or by asking the Engineers to Increase the Boiler Flow; this will, however, use more of your fuel stocks. It is vital that you ensure that these ailments are dealt with as they will affect how many crewmates you will have available, fewer crewmates means fewer tasks you can complete.
You will also need to manage your fuel. In The Pale Beyond, the Arctic winter is harsh, and if your men cannot stay warm, they will start freezing and, much like becoming malnourished, this will then worsen if not treated. Your crew will then catch frostbite, and then they will eventually die. It is of utmost importance that you do not let that happen, as well; yes, you now have one less mouth to feed, but you also lose a character’s trust, and when in the Arctic, you need to work together.
However, if you are running low on food, you will easily be able to find tins of food in the ship’s pantry. You can then add it to the cook’s Hoosh Pot to bulk your food reserves. Similarly, if you find yourself running low on fuel, you will be able to get a Bag of Coal from the Coal Pile. Optionally you can also get a crew to prepare food and gather coal while you complete your other duties as Captain. However, both these resources will only last for a while, so use them wisely.
Your Pantry and Coal Pile aren’t the only way for you to increase your resources. One of the ways is to send out sled dogs and scouting parties to search the Arctic wasteland of The Pale Beyond. Be wary, though, as the cold is unbearable, and even the strongest scout has their limits, and your sled dogs are limited and will need their rest. There are many dangers waiting in the cold, so ensure that your scouts are healthy and prepared.
Probably one of the most important resources in The Pale Beyond is how much a character trusts you and your decisions. At the beginning of the story, many of your crewmates are loyal to Hunt, as they have sailed with him for years and view him as the better captain, and you are the new stranger whose intentions and leadership experience they do not know, so they will be hesitant to listen to you or your decisions, no matter how good your intentions.
However, depending on your interactions during the first three weeks, many will trust you more. During these tough times, it is of utmost importance that your crew trusts you and your decisions, especially if they play an important role, such as Engineer or Medic. As you will need their skills to maintain your ship and crew. Remember, the winter months are hard, and rising tensions can be deadly as the frost.
Probably one of the greatest features found within The Pale Beyond is the game’s writing. As mentioned at the beginning of this review, the story of the game is based on true events, and the writers of the game did not sugarcoat the story in any way. Every character you meet is entirely unique; they all have their own personalities, interests, and motives.
Not every character is easy to please; some just do not like you, despite just meeting you. They feel alive and well-rounded, their emotions and thoughts feel genuine, and you feel yourself easily getting attached to them and, in some cases, getting your heart broken by them.
The music for The Pale Beyond works perfectly with everything that takes place in the game. The music, when you enter the ice, feels cold and sad as if it is aware of the tragedy that is about to take place. The music is used to heighten each scenario, whether it be heightening tension or emphasizing the sadness of the loss. The music is just as much a part of the storytelling as the character dialogue. The Pale Beyond is a game that gives the tragic story of these sailors justice and provides players with an experience that is as beautiful as it is tragic and is worth checking out.
