The Bounds VRis an upcoming indie horror game from Build the Light Studio’sProject Louisiana. As the first game in the project,The Bounds VRleads players to investigate a mysterious Louisiana mansion for the protagonist’s missing daughter. It’s a fitting horror premise, especially with its setting giving creepy haunted house vibes, as seen in popularhorror games likeResident EvilandAlone in the Dark.Its setting is more unique than many horror games as, whileAlone in the Darkis also set in Louisiana, most horror games are not really set in the American south.The Bounds VRleans into this heavily by adding various elements of voodoo into the mix, from voodoo dolls to the universally recognizable character of Baron Samedi.
In a recent interview with Game Rant, Build the Light Studio’s project manager, lead 3D artist, and lead level designer Pierre Mauger, as well as lead developer and designer Géraud Toussaint, talked aboutThe Bounds VR’s setting in a Louisiana mansion, including why the developers chose Louisiana for the location.
The Bounds VR’s Louisiana Setting
To unravel the mysteries ofThe Bounds VR, players must explore various locations inside and outside the mansion, including a prison, cemetery, and beyond. Mauger explained the team chose Louisiana because it is less common than other locations orcities in video games,but also because of its family connections:
And it’s very important for me, at least. It allows us to speak about Louisiana’s legacy, slavery, that kind of stuff. I’ve got a Creole family, it was a theme not so common right now, and I wanted to speak about it.
Family and slavery, specifically the repercussions thereof, are two things that Mauger would like players to think about when playingThe Bounds VR.While not primarily about slavery, it is part of the mansion’s history and something that will have an impact on the family, as Mauger explained:
There’s the legacy of the Legrasse family. It’s a very well-known ancient slave owner, and the main character’s wife, Catherine, is in the hospital. You come from New York, and you learn of this Louisiana mansion. He doesn’t discover the whole thing, but he realizes how far it is, how dark it is, how heavy it is. And right now, there is a curse on the Legrasse family. That is the horror duringThe Bounds VR.
Voodoo Dolls and Culture in The Bounds VR
TheAlone in the Darkgamescertainly comes to mind withThe Bounds VR’s Louisiana mansion and curse. While Mauger acknowledgesAlone in the Darkas an influence,TheBounds VRhas other tricks up its sleeve with classical elements from voodoo like voodoo dolls and paranormal powers. Baron Samedi, a popular figure in voodoo, also acts as the player’s guide, although whether he’s a friend or foe remains to be seen. However, as Mauger explained, it’s up to players to solve the mystery of what is happening:
You have a very tight lore about what happened to the Legrasse family. What is that curse? And that’s what we want to bring to the players.
Toussaint added the game introducesparanormal powersearly on to enable players to enter the mansion and that voodoo dolls help obtain powers:
At some point, you’ll be using a kind of voodoo doll and using it, you’ll be able to solve those kinds of enigmas, and you will be able to find some specific objects that will give you some specific powers.
These powers include attracting objects like axes when fighting mysterious entities, help with solving puzzles, or allow players to manipulate the environment. Powers could also add even more immersion to the VR experience, something Mauger and Toussaint also identified as important. Overall,The Bounds VRcould offer players a unique setting to explore, and it’ll be interesting to see how its mystery and gameplay develops with these core tenets in mind.
