The Sinking City Remaster: What Fans Want

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Summary

  • The Sinking City received a generally positive reception, and a sequel is set for release sometime in 2025.
  • A remaster for The Sinking City has been hinted at via receiving an official rating in Taiwan.
  • The remaster should focus on bundling all previous DLC content and improving graphics, controls, and frame rates to enhance gameplay while considering adding more cosmetic options.

In 2019, Frogwares’ horror-themed detective game titled “The Sinking City” tended to get overshadowed amidst the flood of similar games, and to some extent, still does. After a long line of releases in their renowned Sherlock Holmes series, the developers decided to take a different route by creating a full-fledged horror game with elements reminiscent of their previous work but also venturing into uncharted design territory. “The Sinking City” tells the story of Charles Reed, a former marine-turned-private investigator in the year 1920, who is summoned to the fictional town of Oakmont, Massachusetts, to unravel the mystery behind the submerged city and his unsettling visions.

The game titled The Sinking City received generally positive reviews (with a Mostly Positive rating on Steam) and a sequel was announced at Microsoft’s Xbox Partner Preview in March 2024, with a release date set for later this year, though no specific date has been provided. Interestingly enough, it was reported by Gematsu that a remaster of The Sinking City has been rated in Taiwan and is expected to be released in 2025. While the studio hasn’t confirmed or commented on this development at this time, it appears there may be a remaster in the works, and if true, here are some aspects that should be included for enhancement.

In a prolonged legal battle regarding intellectual property and related rights, The Sinking City got stuck. This dispute was between Frogwares and its publisher/distributor Nacon (previously known as BigBen Interactive). Eventually, in 2024, the disagreement was resolved, granting Frogwares exclusive ownership of The Sinking City.

Wishlist For The Sinking City Remaster

Bundle All DLC and Extra Content

Following its debut, Frogwares continued to release supplemental material for the game titled “The Sinking City>”.

  • Worshipers of Necronomicon DLC
  • Merciful Madness DLC
  • The Investigator Pack
  • Chicago Organ Grinder Pack

Among them, the first two stand out the most because they include an additional six missions that develop side characters further and intensify Oakmont’s eerie atmosphere. The remaining pair are less crucial but offer starting resources, a new outfit, and a modified appearance for Reed’s submachine gun, along with some alternative looks. A remaster should incorporate all of these elements to ensure fans can enjoy the entire immersive experience in a compact form.

Update Controls, Graphics, and Frame Rates

It seems that the parts of the game that might gain the most from a remaster are those that experienced some technical problems initially, such as prolonged loading times, stiff animations, and incongruous pop-ins and lagging issues. Moreover, combat, whether melee or ranged, could at times feel somewhat imprecise and unresponsive. The upcoming remaster is said to be constructed using Unreal Engine 5, which aligns with earlier announcements by developers indicating that The Sinking City 2 will likewise transition to UE5.

Refining all aspects significantly for an improved edition would greatly enhance both the gameplay experience and maintain the excellent ambiance in a consistent manner. Additionally, some additional yet valuable quality-of-life improvements, such as customizable settings and user interface, could benefit from simplifying elements like map markers and quest tracking to make them less cumbersome.

More Cosmetics

In addition to the main focus, the initial title provided players with an assortment of clothing items they could earn by finishing specific cases. Some of these were included in the mentioned DLCs and were quite eccentric and eerie. They all added a unique twist to The Sinking City‘s typical Lovecraftian themes, as well as paying homage to previous Frogwares games. Including a few more items like these in a remaster would be an enjoyable bonus for dedicated fans.

Refreshing and enhancing the game “The Sinking City” prior to the release of its sequel could spark excitement for the series, offering an optimal way to enjoy the first installment before diving into the second. It’s hoped that Frogwares will provide an unparalleled experience with this remaster project.

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2025-02-25 22:30