Branching Narrative has just revealed its first gaming title, which is actually a new take on Ian Livingstone's Fighting Fantasy gamebook Deathtrap Dungeon, using their Interactive Fiction engine and British actor Eddie Marsan to tell the story in a new way.
Marsan - who has starred in Fast & Furious Presents Hobbs and Shaw as well as Deadpool 2 - will act as narrator and guide for the story, which was originally released in 1984, tasking players with surviving Fang's Trial of Champions, set up by Baron Sukumvit.
The game itself will take the form of a video stream that asks for choices that dictate the direction it goes in, using mechanics from the book and promising "enhanced gameplay over other recent high-profile 'interactive movie' offerings".
"Our innovative take on Deathtrap Dungeon is a choice-based adventure, presented as an interactive video storybook with the fantastic Eddie Marsan narrating the story and guiding players as they find their way through Baron Sukumvit's treacherous corridors of power," said Matt Spall of Branching Narrative.
"Deathtrap Dungeon has consistently been a fan favourite, so I am excited about the approach that Branching Narrative is taking in bringing my book to a new generation of players in a new format," Livingstone added. "Eddie Marsan is brilliant, and with the storytelling being an interactive rather than passive experience, this ain't no Jackanory!"
Eddie Marsan also had positive things to say:
"It's an exciting challenge to guide Deathtrap Dungeon adventurers, both new and experienced, as they take on the perils of the deadly Trial of Champions."
Fighting Fantasy Fest 3 will see the Branching Narrative team appear with an early prototype of the game, taking place on August 31 at the University of West London, and the full game is due for release on PC, Mac, and mobile devices this year, celebrating the 35th anniversary of the original book. Other formats and console will follow in 2020.
Have you read the original book?