Wellington Wells is about to play host to a very unique dystopia, as Contrast dev Compulsion Games has unveiled its latest project and Kickstarter hopeful, We Happy Few. Set within the isolated English abode, the game takes place in a dark rendition of the 1960s, where the crazed bigwigs have invented a hallucinogenic drug called Joy that ensures the Wellies are happy at all times. Complain about a comedown or show any sign of revolt, however, and it isn’t long before they corrupt police force beats you into submission.
Imagine Hot Fuzz – only much, much worse. With a goal of £201,353 set on the crowd-funding website, Compulsion Games outlined some of the gameplay elements that budding backers can expect in the final product.
Per Kickstarter:
We Happy Few is the tale of a plucky bunch of slightly terrible people trying to escape from a lifetime of cheerful delusion. Set in a drug-fueled, retro-futuristic city in an alternative history 1964 England, you’ll have to blend in with its other citizens, who don’t take kindly to people who don’t abide by their not-so-normal rules.
It’s a game of paranoia and survival, where you must balance your need to survive with your need to escape. You’ll have to gather food and resources, find shelter, and ultimately escape before time runs out.
Built around a first-person perspective, We Happy Few will see you play as one of the so-called “downers” who tries to escape the confinements of the ludicrous rural setting by hiding in plain sight and assimilating with those who are coked-up on the Joy drug. Incorporating rogue-like elements, no two playthroughs will be the same, and players will be able to select between three distinct characters upon starting.
For more information on We Happy Few you can head on over to the game’s official Kickstarter page.