Square Enix Shows The Heavy Dimension at GDC!

I’m looking forward to Airtight Games newest title, Quantum Conundrum! This upcoming first-person action title features unique gameplay elements that seem cool on paper and even better in action. This isn’t a stretch seeing as how it is being designed by Kim Swift, the former lead designer for Valve’s Portal. The game’s story revolves around a 12 year old boy who is searching for his missing uncle. His uncle, Professor Fitz Quadwrangle, was working on a experiment that literally exploded in his face. The end result was him vanishing to another dimension. While searching for his uncle, the little boy finds a special glove that allows him to change the dimension he is in.

When he changes dimensions, his surroundings take on the physical properties of the new dimension. For instance, changing to the “Fluffy” dimension turns everything…well, fluffy (like big cotton balls). This allows the player to pick up objects that would have been too heavy to pick up in our normal dimension. The screens you’re looking at right now depict the “Heavy” dimension. They were shown off at GDC recently; attendees got to try their hand at solving puzzles using this dimension.

Obviously the Heavy dimension makes things heavier than they would normally be. Not only that, they make things more durable. A safe becomes even tougher, allowing it to block a laser that would normally cut it in half. Awesome!

Quantum Conundrum is shaping up to be the next “Portal” and I can’t wait to play. So far Square Enix has revealed four dimensions; there’s Fluffy, Heavy, Slow (it slows down time), and one that reverses the effects of gravity. There is also a secret 5th dimension that is being kept under wraps for now. The game will be released on XBLA, PSN and PC this summer, so we’ll find out what it is soon. Till then, be sure to check back with us as we continue to cover this title!