Lost in the Shadows: Capturing the Haunting Oddities of a Twisted Japanese Town

The Charm of Film Photography in SOMBRAS: Negative Frames

Approximately eighteen months ago, I made the decision to purchase a point-and-shoot 35mm film camera. The reason behind this choice was simple – I was growing tired of snapping photos on my phone, only to let them gather digital dust without ever truly revisiting them. There’s a certain enchantment to film photography that is hard to replicate digitally, especially in the realm of gaming. However, SOMBRAS: negative frames aims to bridge that gap, offering a horror-lite photography experience centered around a Japanese-Spanish photography student who finds herself in a mysterious predicament.

The premise of the game revolves around Shiomi Alterio, the aforementioned photography student, who relocates to a quaint Japanese town with her father following her parents’ divorce and a move from Europe. Things take a sinister turn as she is transported to an alternate reality where eerie occurrences unfold, alongside encountering multiple doppelgangers of herself.

To navigate this unsettling world, Shiomi must capture the anomalies she encounters through her trusty film camera, all while forming bonds with the alternate versions of herself. What sets SOMBRAS apart is its attention to detail, particularly in Shiomi’s reliance on film photography. It appears that players will need to develop each roll of film, adding an element of realism and constraint to the gameplay. The essence of shooting on film lies in the deliberate selection of subjects, a concept that I hope translates effectively in the game.

As the story unfolds, continuous photography will serve as a source of inspiration, allowing Shiomi to enhance her camera skills. This progression system bears resemblance to titles like Umurangi Generation, emphasizing the importance of exploration and creativity in photography. Interested players can partake in a playtest or add the game to their Steam wishlist for future updates.