The Ultimate SOMA Discussion Thread

[Paddy™]

Here are three new screenshots from a new preview article, from the Gamescom demo (the article is in French):

01 | 02 | 03

Here's a summary of the new info contained in the article (someone who actually speaks French might find massive fault with some of this):

• Simon uses "secret technology" which allows him to breathe underwater without any external apparatus. Whether or not this was a serious point by the previewer, or just his/her way of pointing out what seems to be a plothole, is hard to tell haha.
  
• The script is finalised and all of the game's dialogue is recorded.
  
• As of the date of this preview, about three quarters of the game's content is completed/built.
  
• The huge bulbous object with the red lights, floating above the entrance to the facility, is a transport zeppelin (see here, look at the top-right).
  
• Roughly speaking, only about 30% of the environmental items/objects are needed to progress the story; the other 70% are mainly there to ensure a sense of credibility (ahhh interactivity, I've missed you!).

The final point involves the behaviour of one of the enemies, so don't read it if you want to remain oblivious:

Spoiler below!

The "Discoball" Jiangshi "attacks" you by moving closer and closer to you with greater and greater speed the longer you stare at it. If you turn away, it will cease its attack, or at least slow it down. That said, this was just the observation of the previewer; we know from TDD how easy it is for players to "invent" behaviours/AI routines for the enemies haha.