The developer of Jawbreaker, Vincent Lade, announced his latest project, Angels in Orbit, on Feb. 6. The first-person existential sci-fi horror will feature a three-day death loop and take on the role of Hawkins the Technician. The trailer holds promise that this spaceship mystery will offer replayability, scares, and the impossible things that the human mind cannot comprehend.
What is Angels in Orbit About?
Angels in Orbit refers to the spaceship, the AIO Station. In the year 2170, the cargo hold technicians detected an anomaly on the ship and died mid-investigation. The lone survivor, Hawkins, is under watch by the biblical angels as he searches for the dead crew, the source of the anomaly, and the truths within the AIO Station. The lone survivor is given 3 days to try to escape the spaceship alive, or they will face judgment and accept their demise.
Experience Different Fates in Multiple Scenarios
Victor Lade informed gamers on Steam and his website that Angels in Orbit will contain different endings. As Hawkins, players must navigate the AIO Station and communicate with the angels to increase his survival. Each choice he makes will have consequences. Many could result in death, while some guide him to truths he can choose to accept or deny.
Hawkins cooperates with three biblical angels, the Seraphim, the Cherubim, and the Ophanim. Angels in Orbit’s Casting Call Club audition post shares more information about these spiritual beings. The Seraphim is the purifier of falsehood. They are considered highly intelligent yet curious about mankind. They are depicted as an eyeball with six wings and emit a bright green glow.
The Cherubim is the opposite of her superior. They enjoy agitating the surviving technician for amusement. They are depicted as a human head surrounded by four wings, a lion, an ox, an eagle, and a lamb. She acts as the judge of intention, observing Hawkins’ progress to determine her death. Ophanim is the angel with rings of many eyes, and eerily stays silent in the trailer. According to Angels in Orbit’s official press release, the group will document the consequences of Hawkins.
Repair, Investigate, and Survive
Angel in Orbit’s gameplay appears to take inspiration from System Shock 2, Alien Isolation, and other pieces of science fiction media. The trailer featured Hawkins facing off against his undead co-worker, Alter, who acts similarly to the Vashta Nerada from Doctor Who’s “Silence in the Library.” But Hawkins is going to need more than firepower to survive in the damaged AIO Station. By using a motion sensor, he can detect him from a distance and avoid being ambushed.
He will need to explore the spaceship to repair broken systems and machinery to improve his chances of escaping. With a little improvisation, he can purchase and upgrade items at the Procurement System. Players do not have to worry about traveling alone, for they will be accompanied by the AIO’s robotic assistant, Canabelle. Hawkins will also have access to the Trinity Tree to gain powerful abilities to use against enemies wandering the ship.
The further players investigate the space station, the more clues they will uncover that will link to the anomaly and the death of the AIO Station crew. Scattered around the ship are corpses and messages that will help Hawkins reach the truth. He can scan, translate, and record to gather more information. All of his tasks must be done within the span of three days before facing judgment or a painful death.
When Will the Game Be Released?
Lade has not set an official release date for the game. So far, the game appears to be either halfway or near completion. Angels in Orbit is scheduled to be a Steam-only title. Check out the trailer below to get a taste of this upcoming existential sci-fi horror:
