The measured optimism of Call Of The Sea, going by developer comments, is meant to go against the mood usually seen in the horror stories of Howard Philips Lovecraft, a reclusive New England horror writer whose Cthulhu Mythos and Dream Cycle series of stories pioneered the sub-genre of Cosmic Horror, in which there are multi-dimensional aliens with too many tentacles, blasphemous cults use magic to invoke inhuman gods, and protagonists who glimpse the true nature of the vast, uncaring cosmos go insane. Related: Why Myst Is Still So Popular With Adventure Gamers As Norah muses over footage of shipwrecked ocean liners, strange ruins, and uncanny aquatic creatures, she expresses fear over the mysterious call that drives her onward, balanced by a guarded elation at how her quest for the truth has helped her " find her strength again."
In the premier trailer for Call Of The Sea, Norah, the protagonist of this puzzle adventure game, voices thoughts about her search to find her husband, Harry, who vanished on an ocean expedition several years ago. Her long journey in-game has led her to an island in the South Pacific, a beautifully-rendered paradise of tropical vegetation, sparkling waterfalls, and carved stone statues of wide-lipped fish people.