There's something wrong with the forest. No matter how bright the sun shines, it remains dark and foggy. It smells like something died. Strange noises fill the rusty air. Squeaks and screeches. The dull thump of someone chopping trees. The wind playing eerie melodies on ghostlike flutes.

Shivers run down her spine.

She just left the city. Cars can't drive here anymore. Mother told her to go visit grandmother. The old lady lives all alone at the other side of the forest. Quite a walk from here. It's probably best if she stays on the path...

The Path is a short horror game loosely based on the fairy tale of Little Red Ridinghood but set in modern times. It's especially the earlier versions of the tale that inspire Belgian developer Tale of Tales. Combined with a more contemporary psychological interpretation. In essence, The Path is a very sad and cruel game. It's about growing up. But it's far less optimistic than most such stories. It's about making choices. Choices that are unfair. Choices that inevitably lead to (self-)destruction. There is one rule in the game. And it needs to be broken. There is one goal. And when you attain it, you die.

In The Path you get to play not one, but six incarnations of the famous female protagonist called the Red Girls, sisters, each of a different age and with a distinct personality. Each destined for devastation.

Scarlet is the oldest of six. The firstborn. In a family with an invisible mother. Quite a responsibility. One that she faces with determination and a sense of duty and pride. She is 19 years of age. She should probably be enjoying what's left of her youth. But with five younger sisters, one more unruly than the other, somebody needs to maintain order and stability.

Not that Scarlet doesn't wish to share the burden. Or a moment of silence. A moment of quiet understanding with a soulmate. A moment of true togetherness. Her loneliness is a secret she will take to the grave. Sooner than she may expect.

Features :

• play six different avatars with distinct personalities
• interact with autonomous characters driven by Drama Princess technology
• unique free-form gameplay: do what you want when you want it
• mix the music in realtime through in-game activity
• lose yourself in an endless forest filled with attractions and attrocities

In her scarce moments of free time, Scarlet tries to document the most memorable events of her closing life. Her online journal is a refuge, an eye in the storm that surrounds her. And is closing in.

The Path is currently scheduled for release spring 2009.