Having a good day? Hopefully, you’re not currently plagued by visions of slimy, organic matter obstructing your spacecraft’s propulsion system as you hurtle towards a giant ball of fire. Well, prepare for that to possibly change.
Let’s discuss Ultrasound, a game where you find yourself stranded on a spaceship overrun by grotesque Gigery organisms. Unless you swiftly repair critical systems, you’re likely to experience a rather fiery demise. Here’s a sneak peek:
“Utilize an ultrasound device to diagnose and surgically combat a horrifying infection spreading throughout a space freighter,” according to the Steam page description. “Create medications, enhance your equipment, discover new surgical tools, and restore essential ship functions before a fatal collision with a star. Be warned: something new will eventually emerge.”
It sounds a bit like a less-than-sexy version of Erostasis. Your task is to manufacture treatments to contain the encroaching growths and restore vital navigation and life support systems before time runs out. Numerous endings await, and it’s safe to assume most are not particularly pleasant.
While Ultrasound might initially appear as a shock-value game centered around a disturbing premise, it possesses a deeper, more thoughtful core. As stated in the press materials, the game “is under development by two first-time fathers, Walter Woods (Lead Developer) and Jason Scalfano (Lead Artist), and draws inspiration from their deeply personal, often bittersweet experiences navigating parenthood.”
“So many of us understand the complex emotions surrounding the ultrasound machine: the mixture of hope and fear,” the developers explain. “The uncertainty, the ambiguity, and the rapidly changing images representing life and death. Our goal is for the game to encapsulate these powerful sentiments and strike a chord with players.”
I admire the earnestness of the developers. However, given the apparent autobiographical elements, I am curious if the mothers of Woods’ and Scalfano’s children had any input on the game’s depiction of pregnancy, which leans heavily into body horror themes. Their perspectives seem absent from the promotional materials. Ultrasound is scheduled for release “soon.”