NAZAR creator Eray Dinc pioneers FMV platformer shot entirely on iPhone

pcgamesinsider.biz:

Cappadocia is one of the most distinctive and beautiful places in the world. Lying at the heart of Türkiye, it’s a historical region famous for its rock formations and the hidden homes and churches that people carved over centuries. 

Now, the region is the setting for the latest game from Recontact, the studio previously responsible for Recontact Istanbul and Recontact London. When Eray Dinc set out to create NAZAR, he didn't just aim to make another game – he wanted to break new ground. Launching today on Steam, NAZAR represents several firsts: it’s an unusual fusion of FMV with 2D platforming mechanics, shot entirely on iPhone. It was developed in conjunction with university students, and steeped in Turkish mysticism. And it’s scored by legendary composer Inon Zur (famous for the Dragon Age soundtrack, among other award-winning themes). 

In this launch interview, Dinc reveals how he and his team merged ancient traditions with modern gameplay, creating an experience where players use parapsychological abilities to see the future and navigate through both physical and metaphysical challenges against the backdrop of Cappadocia’s unforgettable topography. 

Dr Dinc: Cappadocia, with its otherworldly landscapes and rich cultural history, was a perfect choice for NAZAR’s mystical and adventurous themes. Its unique rock formations, caves, and ancient structures naturally fit our game’s storyline, providing a backdrop that feels both real and fantastical. 

To bring this landscape into the game, we shot high-resolution video on location and combined it with 2D inspired by Turkish shadow play aesthetics. This blend allowed us to capture Cappadocia’s essence while stylizing it in a way that serves both the narrative and gameplay.

For the first time in the world, FMV interactive cinema is blended with the world's most popular game genre, the 2D platformer genre, in a unique and unprecedented way. In addition to the fact that the entire game was shot on an iPhone, the