(Chinese: 海沙风云 Far Away; 海沙风云 can be translated as "Sea, Sand, Wind, Clouds") is a Visual Novel developed by Gratesca Studio (formerly known as Hongcha Games) and published by Thermite Games. It had a Steam release on August 17, 2021.The game is set in a steampunk port city-state Bedjan. Although the era in which the story revolves is close to the end of 19th century, there are a few anachronistic elements, added mostly for fun, such as idols or cosplay.
The main protagonist is Krosa Nonet, a young girl working in a local dock. She is pretty much used to her work and has a lot of friends here, however, she can't help feeling a need for some kind of change in her life. It's up to the player to decide what kind of path should she take.
This work makes use of the following tropes:
- Alternative Calendar: The chronology in this world usually is based on that of Stamino Empire, due to the fact that said empire once ruled the entire continent.
- Alternate Techline: As it often happens in the steampunk setting, the electricity here is at an embryonic stage, while some of the mechanical devices are quite advanced, i.e. the mechanical hand used by the protagonist which increases her strength to the point that she can work as effectively as a grown man.
- Ambiguous Ending / And the Adventure Continues / Sequel Hook: The after-story sequence implies that the adventures of Krosa will eventually continue with some sort of companion whose identity isn't very clear.
- Constructed World: The game is set in an entirely fictional world, though there are quite a lot of paralles that can be drawn with "real-life" countries.
- Encyclopedia Exposita: The in-game codex which helps the player to get acquainted with local geography, history and culture, is presented in form of the diary of Ava Narba, one of the characters.
- Fantastic Drug: The Sea Sand.
- Fat Bastard: The Fatman, the right hand of Enzo Kent.
- Femme Fatale Spy: Tracys Hari.
- Gratuitous English: Since the game is voiced in Cantonese, sometimes you can hear the characters use some English loans of that language, such as "Yes sir!".
- Multiple Endings: There are about 10 full-fledged endings and a lot of bad ends.
- Never Trust a Trailer: The announcement trailer for the game shows the protagonist fall from a ropeway, which never happens.
- Police Are Useless: Played with. Yes, there is a lot of corruption in the police circles here in Bedjan, but nevertheless it still has people like Bellick York.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: Enzo Kent. He is also a prime example of Wicked Cultured.
