Like any console generation, the Wii era had its share of development sagas — projects that were confirmed, teased, ignored and eventually faded to cancellation. Keen Nintendo fans of the early Wii era may, then, remember the trials and tribulations of Sadness. It was the work of Polish developer Nibris and excited gamers through its concept alone.
Pegged as an exclusive for Nintendo's console, it was to use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk in innovative ways to control the character's hands. It captured attention, also, for a promised black and white aesthetic and visuals — utilising the Gamebryo game development platform from Emergent Technologies — along with a horror approach to storytelling. Set before World War One, the limited pitch information stated that players would have to face their fears while avoiding the nightmares of the lead character, with eight endings promised. A black and white psychological horror game utilising the Wii controllers? It's little surprise that fans were keen.
As well as a few screens leaked — pictured below — there was also a live action concept trailer to set the scene.
When assessing the whole saga today, it was a messy affair. The title's development and publication passed through multiple hands, was teased on more than one occasion, while screens that did emerge did so through leaks and mis-communication. Much was written and debated over a game that, in reality, barely existed in a tangible form — we know it was real, was in development, but that it faded and died when the Nibris closed its doors, all rumours of a pick-up by another studio falling flat.
Now, however it is coming back. We can exclusively reveal that independent developers HullBreach Studios — working on HullBreach: Uncloaked for the Wii U eShop — and Cthulhi Games — developing Ex Oblivione for Wii U — are teaming up to collaborate on Sadness as a Wii U exclusive. The project will be discussed and details revealed as 2014 progresses, and it's targeting a 2016 release.
We caught up with HullBreach Studios' Randy Freer and Jeremy Kleve of Cthulhi Games with regards to this reveal and to get some early details.
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Soon, Wii U owners will may could potentially experience a new kind of Sadness with their system! Get hyped folks: it's 2008 all over again!!!
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