The Alters feels like a breath of fresh air in a time where alternate universes have been overused to death in media, ranging from film to games and beyond. Not only does it take the idea and do something innovative with it, which is what the likes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe haven’t been doing lately, but it also gives each variant levels of depth that aren’t usually found in multiverse narratives.
Something similar was achieved by Everything Everywhere All at Once, but 11 Bit Studios is putting a unique spin on multiple variants of one character by having them all exist in a single universe.
Jan Dolski and His Variants Take Center Stage in The Alters
To provide a rundown of what The Alters is about, the survival title revolves around a sole miner who finds himself on a dangerous planet. In order to survive, players have to create multiple variants of the protagonist, Jan Dolski, but the twist is that it all takes place in one universe, as 11 Bit’s looking to avoid the cliches that have been plaguing multiverse stories for a while.
These variants have made distinct life choices that are different from the actual Dolski, so they come with their own personalities, abilities, and perks to tackle the situations that the protagonist finds himself facing.
“The special thing about this game,” stated The Alters director Tomasz Kisilewicz during an interview regarding what makes his game different from other alternate universe tales, “is that they are not taken from some different universe.” Although players will get to interact with these variants while playing and they will “feel completely real,” they are still mental creations whose skills gamers require to navigate out of tough scenarios.
These elements were showcased in The Alters‘ reveal trailer last year, but with the new details about what players can expect from the game, it sounds like a much-needed departure from how variants are typically portrayed in media.
The Multiverse Is Not Required to Give Depth to Each Alter
While the multiverse concept feels a bit played out at this point, with even high-profile creators like Jonathan Nolan throwing subtle shade at its excessive usage, Kisilewicz is steering clear of the tropes with his upcoming title.
“Each Alter has his own storyline,” continued The Alters director, elaborating on the differences that will accompany the variants of Jan Dolski. “Lost and found” is going to play a major role in the narrative of the survival game, because although these variants would have just been created on the spot by the players, they still come with their own histories and experiences that shaped them as people, regardless of how “imaginary” they might be.
This has the potential to provide The Alters‘ variants with even more layers, as they all have important things that they care about and might have lost in their respective “lives,” giving them a chance to witness them again in the real world where Dolski primarily exists.
What has been your favorite take on the multiverse concept in any kind of media? Let us know in the comments!
