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0 Climbing a mountain is one of those activities that seems exciting and life changing, but one that I will never actually do because of the risks, much in the same way as skydiving, spelunking, and weekend trips to IKEA. Cairn aims to deliver at least one of those experiences to you without the risk of flat pack divorce. Following Sony PlayStation’s State of Play showcase on 4th June, a PS5 demo was released, and I wasted no time clambering into it.
I’m amazed by The Game Bakers‘ apparent ability to turn their craft to vastly different genres of video game. From the ultra-fast twin-stick shooter Furi, to laid back adventure narrative Haven, and now a surprisingly deep mountain climbing/survival simulation. They’ve even tackled a drag-and-fling, top-down RPG about squids. Is there nothing these people can’t do? How are they at Swedish meatballs?
Climbing — Steep and Deep
Aava, our player character, is warming up to begin an adventure. A quick phone call from a friend, called Chris, reveals a group of people are ready and raring to go, aiming to support Aava as she becomes the first person in the world to summit a mountain called Kami. Aava seems reluctant to speak to Chris, or indeed anyone, demonstrated again a short time later as she avoids a second call. We don’t get to explore this particular story thread further in the demo, but it’s one of many small teases at what’s to come in the full game. Once the call is over, Aava summons her trusty climbing assistant, Climbot, and heads to the training walls.
Gameplay
Before Aava can set foot into the great, wide-open mountain range, she must first tackle 3 training walls. These act as a brief tutorial in the basic mechanics of climbing in Cairn. I was instantly amazed at the freedom granted in how you approach an ascent. Starting a climb gives you independent control over Aava’s four limbs, one at a time. By default, the selected limb is calculated by the game based on how Aava’s weight is currently distributed. Typically, your first move will be to reach up to a hand hold with either arm. Then it’s a case of slowly and methodically working your way up the wall, carefully assessing each limb placement and using the camera to look ahead and plan a route.
Not only do you have complete freedom of control over limb placement, but once you are in the wilderness, you can attempt to climb almost anywhere. You’re free to choose the route that looks safest or most approachable — just as you are in furniture megastores. Helping you make the decision of where to begin is a free-flying camera mode. With this tool, you can zoom around the wider environment and closely investigate your available options. I love that no two climbs will be the same, and every player will likely have a unique and personal experience.
Be Resourceful
Aava’s ability to climb is not infinite. As in real-life, climbing in Cairn is a hugely physical activity and takes it toll in many ways. Injuries, hunger, thirst, and equipment all need to be monitored and tended to. Aava only has so much capacity, both in herself and her backpack. With the demo being a really short introduction to the game, there wasn’t a lot of time for these resources to become an issue. However, there was enough presented to tease at how deep the survival aspects of the game will be. By the time I’d reached the end of the preview, I’d run out of water, eaten some of my scavenged food, and bandaged several fingers. Cairn certainly won’t be a rush-to-the-ending game, although speed-running won’t be off the table entirely.
Stamina plays a large role in each section of your ascent. Placement of limbs matters, as the more secure Aava is, the more her weight is evenly distributed and the less stress her body is under. When she’s in a good position on the wall, she can relax a little and regain some stamina. If she’s struggling, you’ll notice as her breathing gets more laboured and her limbs begin to shake under the duress. Not addressing these issues in good time can cause her to fall, and yes, there’s fall damage and death. Periodically, resources willing, Aava can place pitons in the wall, allowing her a short break ‘off belay’ where she can rest and access her bag. Plan these stops wisely on larger sections, lest you face the wrath of gravity.
Graphics & Audio
For the art, music, sound, and writing in Cairn, the team behind Furi and Haven have been joined by additional award-winning talent. Namely, Martin Stig Andersen (INSIDE, LIMBO, Control) and Lukas Julian Lentz (COCOON) who are collaborating on the soundscape for Cairn, and Mathieu Bablet (artist and comic-book author) who has bought their art and writing skills to the table. The quality of work on display is immediately evident in both the stylised-realistic art direction, and the fine-tuned environmental sounds.
A notable feature of the game is the hidden-by-default UI, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the experience without distraction. The art and lighting also make it really easy to analyse the cliffs and walls to see where handholds are. Following a climb, there’s a summary shown, visualising details about how you made it to the summit including where you walked, your stamina levels during climbing sections, where you fell and where you placed pitons, among others. It’s a great asset to share with friends for comparisons.
While there’s some music played between climbs, when you’re making your way up a rock face, that fades away. What you’re left with are the realistic sounds of the weather, Aava’s breathing, and the scrapes and scratches of her making contact with the wall. Again, this presentation draws you closer into the experience, honing your focus and attention.
Final Thoughts
I wasn’t immediately sold on Cairn when it was announced, but The Game Bakers‘ name was enough to put it on my wishlist. Now, after playing through the short demo, I cannot wait for the full release. It has really highlighted the importance of demo’s being available, especially for games providing more unique gameplay. I’m really glad we seem to be moving back into an era of having them available on consoles.
Cairn promises to be an intense journey, and I can already anticipate the sense of achievement it will provide to those going in to tackle Kami. You can play the demo yourself now, on both Steam and PlayStation 5, and if you’re at all interested in what you see here or in the trailers, I wholeheartedly recommend you do so. Mountain climbing from the safety of your own home? Whatever’s next? Next day wardrobe deliveries!?
Interested in climbing games? Check out our review of DON’T NOD’s 2023 Jusant here.
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