Hello everyone!
Posted are a few screenshots from the game, Presences: Dark Awakening. It is an interactive adventure horror experience created with Unreal Engine 4. The full game is available on Steam and the Epic Games Store.
https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/presences-dark-awakening-b1c9eb
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2395310/Presences_Dark_Awakening/
More screenshots from the game can be found on ArtStation.
https://www.artstation.com/jbbanks
Wow, I’m blown away by the “Presences: Dark Awakening” gameplay trailer! 
The stunning graphics in the trailer and screenshots you shared have entirely sold me on purchasing it. I can’t wait to try it out this weekend! 
Thank you for the kind feedback. I have a lot more to learn on capturing video and using Sequencer for cinematics. However, I was able to capture the trailer directly from a playthrough of the game. I’m hoping to do more advanced work in the future. For the screenshots I used a wide-angle lens to uniquely show off the environment design of these levels. The Unreal Engine is incredible, and I hope we get more indie games using the engine. Enjoy the adventure and thank you for your support.
Hi there @Cozy_Marshmallow,
Hope you’re well and having a great week so far!
The level design of these images creates such an immersive feeling. Specifically, the blue-green hue of the environment combined with the swirling fantastical element makes this project feel wonderfully creepy. Wonderfully done!
I’m glad the imagery is providing you with an immersive feeling for these spooky environments. I put a lot of effort into making the game atmospheric. These are just a few screenshots from various locations. There are many more. In total, 5 unique playable acts make up the entire adventure.
You’ve done a beautiful job with the atmospheric details. Impressive work! 
I also took a look at your ArtStation and The Walking Dead projects immediately caught my eye. The replication of the art style is kind of incredible. I hope to see more of your art in the future!
Hey there @Cozy_Marshmallow !
This is absolutely amazing. This looks like it combines Amnesia with the Alice: Madness Returns. I certainly want this on my wishlist and will be picking it up when I can. I’m very eager to se everything more in depth as the screenshots alone provide this eerie mystical insight that I adore.
While you say there’s a lot to learn, I think you’re doing wonderful already!
Thank you @The_M0ss_Man for adding the game to your Wishlist!
I’m excited for you to experience the adventure. Even though I just released the game, most of the development has been completed for over a year now. I’ve learned so much taking a game from beginning to end in Unreal. One of the hardest parts was having to decide when to stop learning and start putting it all together. I am grateful Epic provides so much useful information regarding using the engine and is consistently supporting it for developers.
Presences: Dark Awakening was made using UE4. However, over the last year I’ve been experimenting in UE5. I’m expanding my blueprint abilities, learning new tools, and technical processes. Nanite and Lumin are also amazing. Having to balance indie development with everything else, it will probably be some time before I am ready to show anything using the new engine. Thank you for taking an interest.
Cheers!
I had the pleasure of buying and starting my journey into Presences: Dark Awakening over the weekend, and might I say, it’s been a blast so far! I’m about an hour and thirty minutes into the gameplay. I won’t spoil too much within the thread, but witnessing the pyramidal structure scene was some of the most hype video-game sequences I’ve experienced in a minute! 10/10 game so far, and I can’t wait to play more.
It is wonderful to hear that you are enjoying the experience @Zezkaii !
I took a few screenshots of the pyramidal sequence you enjoyed so much. Thank you for your support.
There are more epic moments throughout the game. I tried to balance the fantastical showpieces with smaller more relatable ones.
The first pyramidal structure you encountered was a development challenge for me. The opening Act introduces you to around 5 environments with unique visual identities. Each had a specific lighting or even shared lighting setup. I used Blueprint to help me solve some of these challenges. Blueprint allowed me to slowly update the atmosphere and lighting based on player progression. Due to the size of the supernatural elements, like a giant supernatural pyramid, I used streaming techniques to help with performance and to make sure none of the levels were clipping.
By changing up the Acts lighting, streaming, and, gradually adding in more spooky elements, I was hoping to help the player feel like they were losing perception of what was real. Almost like they are slowly entering a supernatural reality.
Thank you again for your support and feedback.
Greetings again @Cozy_Marshmallow I just finished Presences: Dark Awakening, and let me tell you, that was quite the ride with an ending I was not expecting! 
I have to ask, is there a sequel in the works to this game? It would appear that way by the ending, but all the same, I would be satisfied if that’s not the case. Also, is our friend Mike alive? Maybe I misunderstood whether he was supposed to be somewhere around the location. 
All in all, Presences: Dark Awakening was a fantastic game and a wonderfully written story from start to finish. Worth every penny! 
Congratulations @Zezkaii on finishing the experience! It sounds like you enjoyed the game, which is great.
Some of the narrative design was intentionally left ambiguous. In doing so I was hoping to allow players to form their own conclusions. That’s cool you picked up on some of the subtle clues I added like the rain and vortex sound in the end. It is fun to imagine where things could go from here.
Cheers!
Thank you, I appreciate that! @Cozy_Marshmallow Your game was an excellent experience from start to finish, and I’m glad I got to play. 
With that said, I am curious; are you working on any other projects or plan on creating another game soon? 
Hey @Zezkaii
I currently am exploring a few indie projects. I’m splitting the small amount of time I can work on them between learning new techniques in UE5 and conceptualizing the adventures. While it will be a long time before I have anything to show, I do plan on releasing my progress much sooner than my last indie title. I’m also hoping to add more gameplay and narrative elements to them. Thank you for the interest.
Thank you once again for the update @Cozy_Marshmallow! I am pleased to hear you have a few new projects you are working on, and I eagerly anticipate their unveiling on the forums.
Of course, take all the time you need to ensure that your work meets your standards, and I will patiently await the opportunity to witness the outcome of your efforts with great excitement! Cheers, I hope you have a wonderful week.
