The fictional world of Past Cure is set in two different dimensions, the gritty real world and the abstract dream world – a concept that will remind fans of the Hollywood blockbuster Inception. Throughout the development process of Past Cure CURE Phantom 8 focused on realistic combat animations, challenging puzzle mechanics and a detailed storyline, which completes the overall gaming experience.

Past Cure tells the story of Ian, a tormented man desperate to rediscover his lost identity. A highly cinematic experience, Past Cure offers an enigmatic plot as the story twists between dreams and reality leaving you guessing throughout. Dark dream sequences intertwine with a gritty but realistic world, and gameplay threads between stealth, action, survival and puzzle. The characters that Ian encounters will have a notable impact on both gameplay and your surroundings.

Ian’s main drive in the story is to find the people who experimented on him to try and unlock the mind’s true potential and inadvertently cursed him with supernatural abilities. But to survive long enough to get to the truth, he needs to use those powers.

Originally planned for Q2 2017, delayed until Q4 2017, then pushed until Feb. 2, 2017, Phantom 8 Studio is taking a few more weeks to wrap up Past Cure, now scheduled for Feb. 23, 2018.

Simon Gerdesmann, Managing Director, Phantom 8, said, “Developed by a team of only eight, we aim to showcase that desire, talent and ambition can help you deliver a title that stands apart from what’s traditionally expected from an Indie studio. PAST CURE is our first title, and having secured multiple awards throughout its development, the team is excited to finally have the game out in the wild.”

So aside from using his military experience for weapon handling and close quarters combat, Ian also has an unnatural edge over his enemies. He can speed up his perceptions so events play out in slow motion, letting him shoot multiple targets before they can react, with partial auto aim and lock support giving him a supernatural precision. This power is also vital to stealth and evasion, letting him sneak through patrolling enemies.

His Astral projection power on the other hand is a mix of outer body experience and telekinesis.

Ian can project his mind beyond his body to explore and interact with the environment. This is great for spotting enemies and switching off cameras, allowing you to plan your strategy before either engagement or evasion.

However, using these abilities comes with a price. An on-screen Sanity meter tracks your use; hit zero and not only will you not be able to tap into the supernatural, you’ll be hit with visual and auditory hallucinations. Terrifying nightmares that’ll slow abate with time as your meter partially recharges, but which can only be escaped fully through black market meds sourced by Ian’s brother.

With all the skills combined players can approach the game however they choose. Charge head on with all guns blazing or stick to the shadows and whittle enemies down in silence.

Past Cure will be released on February 23, 2018 (£29.99/$29.99/€29.99), with spoken English and localised French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian subtitles.