DLX
05-21-2004, 08:11 AM
"Some may think that the FPS genre is just a little too crowded. I am not one of those folks. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy everything from a good, hearty RPG to cutesy platformers, but the likes of Rainbow Six 3 and Halo definitely see more of my time. Since the success of Halo every publisher has attempted to jump on the FPS bandwagon; some doing well (Rainbow Six 3), some not so good (Turok: Evolution). Even so, the Xbox is THE FPS console of choice and this year’s E3 showed us there are plenty of new titles that will be fighting for your hard earned cash in 2004-05.
Since military and sci-fi based FPS games have been done to death, when deciding to design their own shooter, Sammy Studios chose to take a different approach. Why not build a solid story first in which the supernatural world of the vampire meets the Old West? Sure, this may sound like a major stretch for a focus of an FPS, but as crazy as it initially sounds the concept just might work. We are speaking of the upcoming FPS from Sammy Studios, Darkwatch. Combining all the elements of a slick shooter with a highly cinematic storyline, Sammy is betting that Darkwatch will set itself apart in more ways than one.
During last week’s E3 we had a chance to get an intimate peek at what makes Darkwatch so special. n the game of Darkwatch you’ll take on the persona of Jericho Cross, an outlaw whose primary reason for getting out of bed in the mornin’ is to rob trains. Everybody had to make a living in the Old West, and Jericho made his by stealing. During one full moon night Jericho was waiting on a train that he had been informed would have a mother load of gold; an opportunity too good to pass up. As the train appeared out of the darkness, Jericho could instantly tell this was a train like he had never seen before. The hulking mass was armor plated, looking more like an alien vessel than a train.
After boarding the train, Jericho was surprised to find hundreds of dead bodies scattered among the cars; body parts and blood-splattered walls implied of a terrible struggle. Pressing on, Jericho comes to the final rail car in which a group of mysterious-looking gunslingers and a band of vampires are wrapped in battle. Seeing this as the perfect distraction to gain entrance to the main storage area of the car, Jericho slips past. Coming upon a large coffin, there is no doubt in Jericho’s mind that this has to hold the gold he was told about. After breaking through the locks on the coffin, instead of finding gold, Jericho comes across the captured lord of all vampires. The ultimate evil has been unleashed and after biting Jericho, he escapes into the darkness.
After waking from his slumber Jericho is informed by the mysterious fighters he had seen previously that they are members of the Darkwatch; a secret society dedicated to ridding the world of evil. The Darkwatch had captured the lord of the vampires and were transporting him to a place where he would be banished forever. Instead, the greedy Jericho set him free and is in the process of becoming a vampire himself. Ooops…my bad.
Jericho promises to undo his mistake by fighting on the side of the Darkwatch. Seeing his passion, the Darkwatch agree and provide Jericho serum to curb is path into vampirism. To help him in his fight, Jericho is also given a number of advanced weapons that the Darkwatch have developed in their many years of fighting evil. Many of the local towns are now being tormented by the likes of zombies and vampires. So now, as Jericho, your mission is to save the people that are left and recapture the lord of the vampires. Sounds kinda cool, eh? We think so.
The controls of the game are pretty straightforward as FPS titles go with the move and look/aim functions mapped to the left and right thumbsticks. Triggers will shoot your currently armed weapons, and each gun also has a melee attack for close range combat. You’ll have the standard abilities like crouching or leaning out from behind a corner as well. So where does Darkwatch set itself apart? Well, there a quite a few.
Being that Darkwatch is so heavily story-driven, the game features branching paths, ala Knights of the Old Republic. Rather than these being text-based decisions, your actions will determine how the story plays out. For example, while trying to rid Hangtown of a bunch of zombie-like creatures, Jericho will have a choice to save or kill a few of the townsfolk. Being that Jericho looks like a monster himself, they don’t take too kindly to him and will often act aggressively. In the E3 demo we were shown a particular situation. By taking out the zombies threatening a local, he vows to repay you down the line. Later on in the level, a bunch of frightened people pent up in a church mistake Jericho for an evil vampire and drive a stake through his heart. The same man that we chose to save earlier makes good on his promise and pulls the stake out, giving Jericho a second chance. Had we chosen to let the zombies feed on him earlier the situation would have turned out far differently. This is just one example of how Sammy Studios is planning to grab gamers by the throat.
As mentioned earlier the Darkwatch have a particular aptitude for advanced weaponry. The normal six-shooter has been upgraded to a 24 shot rapid-fire revolver. The hilt has a razor-sharp blade for use in melee attacks. The rifle packs a solid punch with its quick 6 shot discharge. The shotgun features 4 barrels to take out a pack of vampires with one shot. We also had a quick glance at the sniper rifle, which is obviously deadly from long range and features various zoom levels. Jericho will have additional weapons like dynamite sticks and environmental objects like TNT barrels to make use of. Enemies have body-specific damage, meaning you can pop off arms, legs, or go for the lethal head-shot. It was pretty intense to see Jericho ripping through a pack of Reapers as body parts go a flyin’. As you eliminate the undead, they will leave blood clouds that Jericho can collect in order to upgrade his weapons and abilities. This serves as the leveling-up aspect of Darkwatch.
Being that Darkwatch is so heavily story-driven, the game features branching paths, ala Knights of the Old Republic. Rather than these being text-based decisions, your actions will determine how the story plays out. For example, while trying to rid Hangtown of a bunch of zombie-like creatures, Jericho will have a choice to save or kill a few of the townsfolk. Being that Jericho looks like a monster himself, they don’t take too kindly to him and will often act aggressively. In the E3 demo we were shown a particular situation. By taking out the zombies threatening a local, he vows to repay you down the line. Later on in the level, a bunch of frightened people pent up in a church mistake Jericho for an evil vampire and drive a stake through his heart. The same man that we chose to save earlier makes good on his promise and pulls the stake out, giving Jericho a second chance. Had we chosen to let the zombies feed on him earlier the situation would have turned out far differently. This is just one example of how Sammy Studios is planning to grab gamers by the throat.
As mentioned earlier the Darkwatch have a particular aptitude for advanced weaponry. The normal six-shooter has been upgraded to a 24 shot rapid-fire revolver. The hilt has a razor-sharp blade for use in melee attacks. The rifle packs a solid punch with its quick 6 shot discharge. The shotgun features 4 barrels to take out a pack of vampires with one shot. We also had a quick glance at the sniper rifle, which is obviously deadly from long range and features various zoom levels. Jericho will have additional weapons like dynamite sticks and environmental objects like TNT barrels to make use of. Enemies have body-specific damage, meaning you can pop off arms, legs, or go for the lethal head-shot. It was pretty intense to see Jericho ripping through a pack of Reapers as body parts go a flyin’. As you eliminate the undead, they will leave blood clouds that Jericho can collect in order to upgrade his weapons and abilities. This serves as the leveling-up aspect of Darkwatch.
Jericho will have a number of special abilities, like Bloodvision and Vampire Jump, being he is half-human/half vampire. Bloodvision will allow him to easily differentiate the living from the dead, and with the number of characters on screen this is a valuable ability indeed. Not only are humans found in each level, but other members of the Darkwatch society will come to aid Jericho in his fight. Accidentally taking down these guys will certainly spell trouble. Details on Jericho’s other abilities are still a bit lean at this time.
A cowboy needs a trusty horse and Jericho is no different. His steed goes by the name of Shadow and will come into play during the game. At this point the camera switches to a third-person view with a targeting reticle being displayed for taking out the bad guys on the ground. Shadow also has a charge ability to run down enemies with a single blow.
The demo shown at E3 was a PS2 version, and being it looked impressive running on that hardware, we can’t wait to see the results on the Xbox. The physics engine (using the Havok engine) made for many moments that you’d expect in an FPS set in the Old West: enemies falling off of rooftops, dynamite sticks sending zombies flying high into the midnight sky, etc. Basically if there is any part of the environment that looks like it should be shot, then it can be shot. You can shoot down the whisky bottles in a saloon, or even make dead bodies sway from their noose. There is definitely a dark visual style to the game that matches its story. The team at Sammy is making sure that no detail is overlooked.
Darkwatch will also feature multiplayer game modes like deathmatch, team deathmatch, and capture the flag with 8 to 16 players via Xbox Live and System Link. Additional modes are promised, but Sammy Studios was unwilling to divulge the details just yet.
If you can’t tell we are more than just a little excited for Darkwatch now that we’ve seen it in action. With an intriguing story and incredibly intense gameplay, Darkwatch looks to take a bite out of the FPS competition. Currently set for a spring 2005 release, we’ll have much more on Darkwatch in the upcoming months. "
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1084394514.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1084394502.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1084394540.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1084394542.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1084394509.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1084394500.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074692082.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074692084.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074692004.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074692006.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074692009.jpg
^Ice stage..me likey...
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074692013.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074692018.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074691863.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074691865.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074691868.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074691872.jpg
Since military and sci-fi based FPS games have been done to death, when deciding to design their own shooter, Sammy Studios chose to take a different approach. Why not build a solid story first in which the supernatural world of the vampire meets the Old West? Sure, this may sound like a major stretch for a focus of an FPS, but as crazy as it initially sounds the concept just might work. We are speaking of the upcoming FPS from Sammy Studios, Darkwatch. Combining all the elements of a slick shooter with a highly cinematic storyline, Sammy is betting that Darkwatch will set itself apart in more ways than one.
During last week’s E3 we had a chance to get an intimate peek at what makes Darkwatch so special. n the game of Darkwatch you’ll take on the persona of Jericho Cross, an outlaw whose primary reason for getting out of bed in the mornin’ is to rob trains. Everybody had to make a living in the Old West, and Jericho made his by stealing. During one full moon night Jericho was waiting on a train that he had been informed would have a mother load of gold; an opportunity too good to pass up. As the train appeared out of the darkness, Jericho could instantly tell this was a train like he had never seen before. The hulking mass was armor plated, looking more like an alien vessel than a train.
After boarding the train, Jericho was surprised to find hundreds of dead bodies scattered among the cars; body parts and blood-splattered walls implied of a terrible struggle. Pressing on, Jericho comes to the final rail car in which a group of mysterious-looking gunslingers and a band of vampires are wrapped in battle. Seeing this as the perfect distraction to gain entrance to the main storage area of the car, Jericho slips past. Coming upon a large coffin, there is no doubt in Jericho’s mind that this has to hold the gold he was told about. After breaking through the locks on the coffin, instead of finding gold, Jericho comes across the captured lord of all vampires. The ultimate evil has been unleashed and after biting Jericho, he escapes into the darkness.
After waking from his slumber Jericho is informed by the mysterious fighters he had seen previously that they are members of the Darkwatch; a secret society dedicated to ridding the world of evil. The Darkwatch had captured the lord of the vampires and were transporting him to a place where he would be banished forever. Instead, the greedy Jericho set him free and is in the process of becoming a vampire himself. Ooops…my bad.
Jericho promises to undo his mistake by fighting on the side of the Darkwatch. Seeing his passion, the Darkwatch agree and provide Jericho serum to curb is path into vampirism. To help him in his fight, Jericho is also given a number of advanced weapons that the Darkwatch have developed in their many years of fighting evil. Many of the local towns are now being tormented by the likes of zombies and vampires. So now, as Jericho, your mission is to save the people that are left and recapture the lord of the vampires. Sounds kinda cool, eh? We think so.
The controls of the game are pretty straightforward as FPS titles go with the move and look/aim functions mapped to the left and right thumbsticks. Triggers will shoot your currently armed weapons, and each gun also has a melee attack for close range combat. You’ll have the standard abilities like crouching or leaning out from behind a corner as well. So where does Darkwatch set itself apart? Well, there a quite a few.
Being that Darkwatch is so heavily story-driven, the game features branching paths, ala Knights of the Old Republic. Rather than these being text-based decisions, your actions will determine how the story plays out. For example, while trying to rid Hangtown of a bunch of zombie-like creatures, Jericho will have a choice to save or kill a few of the townsfolk. Being that Jericho looks like a monster himself, they don’t take too kindly to him and will often act aggressively. In the E3 demo we were shown a particular situation. By taking out the zombies threatening a local, he vows to repay you down the line. Later on in the level, a bunch of frightened people pent up in a church mistake Jericho for an evil vampire and drive a stake through his heart. The same man that we chose to save earlier makes good on his promise and pulls the stake out, giving Jericho a second chance. Had we chosen to let the zombies feed on him earlier the situation would have turned out far differently. This is just one example of how Sammy Studios is planning to grab gamers by the throat.
As mentioned earlier the Darkwatch have a particular aptitude for advanced weaponry. The normal six-shooter has been upgraded to a 24 shot rapid-fire revolver. The hilt has a razor-sharp blade for use in melee attacks. The rifle packs a solid punch with its quick 6 shot discharge. The shotgun features 4 barrels to take out a pack of vampires with one shot. We also had a quick glance at the sniper rifle, which is obviously deadly from long range and features various zoom levels. Jericho will have additional weapons like dynamite sticks and environmental objects like TNT barrels to make use of. Enemies have body-specific damage, meaning you can pop off arms, legs, or go for the lethal head-shot. It was pretty intense to see Jericho ripping through a pack of Reapers as body parts go a flyin’. As you eliminate the undead, they will leave blood clouds that Jericho can collect in order to upgrade his weapons and abilities. This serves as the leveling-up aspect of Darkwatch.
Being that Darkwatch is so heavily story-driven, the game features branching paths, ala Knights of the Old Republic. Rather than these being text-based decisions, your actions will determine how the story plays out. For example, while trying to rid Hangtown of a bunch of zombie-like creatures, Jericho will have a choice to save or kill a few of the townsfolk. Being that Jericho looks like a monster himself, they don’t take too kindly to him and will often act aggressively. In the E3 demo we were shown a particular situation. By taking out the zombies threatening a local, he vows to repay you down the line. Later on in the level, a bunch of frightened people pent up in a church mistake Jericho for an evil vampire and drive a stake through his heart. The same man that we chose to save earlier makes good on his promise and pulls the stake out, giving Jericho a second chance. Had we chosen to let the zombies feed on him earlier the situation would have turned out far differently. This is just one example of how Sammy Studios is planning to grab gamers by the throat.
As mentioned earlier the Darkwatch have a particular aptitude for advanced weaponry. The normal six-shooter has been upgraded to a 24 shot rapid-fire revolver. The hilt has a razor-sharp blade for use in melee attacks. The rifle packs a solid punch with its quick 6 shot discharge. The shotgun features 4 barrels to take out a pack of vampires with one shot. We also had a quick glance at the sniper rifle, which is obviously deadly from long range and features various zoom levels. Jericho will have additional weapons like dynamite sticks and environmental objects like TNT barrels to make use of. Enemies have body-specific damage, meaning you can pop off arms, legs, or go for the lethal head-shot. It was pretty intense to see Jericho ripping through a pack of Reapers as body parts go a flyin’. As you eliminate the undead, they will leave blood clouds that Jericho can collect in order to upgrade his weapons and abilities. This serves as the leveling-up aspect of Darkwatch.
Jericho will have a number of special abilities, like Bloodvision and Vampire Jump, being he is half-human/half vampire. Bloodvision will allow him to easily differentiate the living from the dead, and with the number of characters on screen this is a valuable ability indeed. Not only are humans found in each level, but other members of the Darkwatch society will come to aid Jericho in his fight. Accidentally taking down these guys will certainly spell trouble. Details on Jericho’s other abilities are still a bit lean at this time.
A cowboy needs a trusty horse and Jericho is no different. His steed goes by the name of Shadow and will come into play during the game. At this point the camera switches to a third-person view with a targeting reticle being displayed for taking out the bad guys on the ground. Shadow also has a charge ability to run down enemies with a single blow.
The demo shown at E3 was a PS2 version, and being it looked impressive running on that hardware, we can’t wait to see the results on the Xbox. The physics engine (using the Havok engine) made for many moments that you’d expect in an FPS set in the Old West: enemies falling off of rooftops, dynamite sticks sending zombies flying high into the midnight sky, etc. Basically if there is any part of the environment that looks like it should be shot, then it can be shot. You can shoot down the whisky bottles in a saloon, or even make dead bodies sway from their noose. There is definitely a dark visual style to the game that matches its story. The team at Sammy is making sure that no detail is overlooked.
Darkwatch will also feature multiplayer game modes like deathmatch, team deathmatch, and capture the flag with 8 to 16 players via Xbox Live and System Link. Additional modes are promised, but Sammy Studios was unwilling to divulge the details just yet.
If you can’t tell we are more than just a little excited for Darkwatch now that we’ve seen it in action. With an intriguing story and incredibly intense gameplay, Darkwatch looks to take a bite out of the FPS competition. Currently set for a spring 2005 release, we’ll have much more on Darkwatch in the upcoming months. "
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1084394514.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1084394502.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1084394540.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1084394542.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1084394509.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1084394500.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074692082.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074692084.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074692004.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074692006.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074692009.jpg
^Ice stage..me likey...
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074692013.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074692018.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074691863.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074691865.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074691868.jpg
http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/808/1074691872.jpg