One of the most admirable traits about human beings is our deep-seated, insatiable desire to learn. To explore. To look at what’s over the next hill solely because we can. Whether it’s crossing great continents, taking to the high seas, or drilling into the subatomic, human history is one long tale about tackling the unknown. Our drive for discovery, in whatever form it takes, has led us to every corner of the globe, beneath the sea, into our psyche, and, yes, even to the stars. It is both a feat and a feature of who we are as a species.
But though our endless desire to comprehend our own world and our place in it still has many secrets yet to unlock, we have also started, however briefly, to ponder our place not just on Earth but in the larger cosmos as well.
It is no coincidence why so many sci-fi tales involve humans heading out into space and discovering what’s out there. Sometimes that is the story’s primary purpose. For others that phase already happened, and those stories instead grapple with the consequences of what we found.
Of course, reaching into the rest of the galaxy also highlights another human trait that we also grapple with, and that is the very real prospect of how isolating such trips could be. Regardless of whether we eventually discover some form of faster-than-light travel, space is very, very, very big, and there is no way of completely getting around the fact that traveling the stars will separate groups of humans by very large distances. And given how social humans are, tackling that loneliness will be as important as making sure the ship can fly.
Bringing these two conditions together is the central conceit of Far Away, the latest title by Cherry Picked Games. Tackling both the rewards and ramifications of venturing to new planets while contending with that separation from the larger core of humanity, Far Away puts this real world conundrum front and center.
In this strictly two-player co-op, you work as a pair of individuals working on behalf of the Federation Alliance, a ragtag space agency with a shoestring budget whose mission is sending people out to survey and survive on newly-discovered planets. Your goal is to map out these new worlds, catalog its diverse ecosystems, and deal with the equipment limitations before you – such as a functioning radio. Separating from one another is essential to completing your goals in the allotted time, but once you move far enough apart, it becomes difficult to convey information between one another – both in the game and between the players themselves.
When you are Far Away, strategy, planning, and trust are all paramount to your success. Only pairs of individuals who are capable of bridging the gap between the need to discover and the pitfalls of what it means to do that alone will emerge victorious.
With extensive variability, a thought-provoking concept, and flavorful mechanics that wonderfully tie it all together, Far Away may take you to a far-flung world, but the trials it presents are anything but alien.
Thankfully the Federation Alliance also has paltry liability insurance, so you don’t need to hop in a rocket to experience this indictment of rugged individualism. Instead, you can do it from the safety of your own home. And we’re here to help with that by offering up a copy of the game right….now!
Yes, from now though May 2nd, 2020, you can check out the contest details and enter below. Just follow the entry form and proceed with the contest. The more of these entries you do, even if just one, you still have a better chance than not entering at all. Of course you’re welcome to do that too. But your odds of winning drop to zero. No pressure or anything.
The Cardboard Republic, in conjunction with Cherry Picked Games is giving this game away strictly for entertainment purposes. This act is not a paid endorsement by Cherry Picked Games or any other entity. This contest is open to individuals only. Staff members of The Cardboard Republic and Cherry Picked Games are not eligible to participate. For winners outside of the Continental US, the publisher reserves the right to request they cover part or all of the shipping costs.