FREE! NAVIGATE |01 Issue 54 | June 2011 deus ex: human PCGZine revolution Free Magazine For PC Gamers. Read it, Print it, Send it to your mates… sword of the stars 2

exclusive! Star War s: brink The old republic wed! Exclusive playtest and revie pirates of black cove previewed! interview inside! red faction: armageddon HUNTED One of the first reviews of TERA BONUS MAGAZINE this destruct-’em-up! the first templar An MMO but not as we know it! CONTROL NAVIGATE |02

Don’t miss! This month’s highlights… PCGZine We’ve gone a little MMO crazy this month with not only a mammoth preview of Star Wars: The The First Templar Old Republic but also our latest impressions TERA Much more than an of TERA. Both premium titles are looking to Can this MMO from Korea compete? Assassin’s Creed clone revolutionise online gaming in their own way and are worthy of every PC gamer’s attention, MORE FREE MAGAZINES! LATEST ISSUES! regardless of genre preference. No matter how much we fight it, some of the Star Wars: industry’s most talented developers are turning their hands to crafting online-only experiences, The Old Republic and if it’s any consolation, most new projects BioWare’s bravest endeavour yet! look far and beyond what we’ve seen before. What an exciting time, and READER the E3 show is only just FEEDBACK! around the corner… Click here to tell us what Don’t miss ISSUE 55 subscribe for free! you think of Andy Griffiths, Editor Red Faction: Armageddon the magazine! [email protected] Epic adventure or glorified explodathon? WARNING! MULTIMEDIA DISABLED! If you are reading this, then you didn’t choose “Play” MEET THE TEAM QUICK FINDER when Adobe Reader asked you about multimedia when Probably the best games writers on the planet Every game’s just a click away! you opened the magazine. Sengoku Saints Row: The Third Without the multimedia playing, the magazine will look correct, but you will Star Wars: The Old Republic Deus Ex: Human Revolution be missing out on all of the extra content built into each issue, like videos, TERA Pirates of Black Cove animated screenshots, annotations, quizzes, competitions and more. Sword of the Stars II Red Faction: Armageddon Brink The First Templar We recommend you close and re-open the magazine and select “Play” when David Scammell Jon Denton Still can get over just how Is now obsessed with all things Section 8: Prejudice Black Mirror 3 asked about the multimedia to enjoy the magazine as intended. good Portal 2 is. Detroit. Word! CONTROL PLAYBACK OPTIONS:

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |04 Previews Saints Row: popularising FIRST purple since 2006. Saints Row: LOOK

Publisher: THQ Developer: Volition Inc. The Third Heritage: Red Faction Guerilla, Saints Row New city, still no rules Link: www.saintsrow.com ETA: Christmas 2011 What’s the story? Featuring the same disregard for decency in pursuit of fun, violence and general madcap action, Saints Row is back. The Third iteration is set in a new fictional city dubbed Steelport, moving on from Stilwater, and features the PREVIEW return of your customisable protagonist – whatever he or she was – in a plot FEEDBACK! which is set months after the second game. Click here to tell us what What do we know? you think of Story has never really been what this series is all about, but that isn’t to Saints Row: say The Third is going to take itself seriously. The elaborate array of costumes The Third – including cheerleader outfits – return in their madcap manner, with a mixture of silly and modern weaponry which is now fully upgradable via scopes and extra barrels. Car customisation returns with a similar approach featured in the previous games. For any other series this would Every game needs a tank! Competitive multiplayer, however, has be deemed over-the-top… Are you listening Rockstar? been dropped, in order to allow more development time to be spent polishing the game’s co-op potential. Anything else to declare? Most interestingly of all, Saints Row 3 will include a new XP-based levelling system akin to Grand Theft Auto’s San Andreas, with players able to specialise their character in a number of avenues. This series has always been accused of copying Rockstar’s star attraction, but it appears once again that Saints Row will be the comical cousin to GTA’s serious uncle.

CONTROL Rift_AshaDeathSpread_ Mechanical for: Trion Rift MaximumPC_2a.pdf PC Gamer 16" x 10.5" Client Project Filename Publication Trim Size PC Gamer Live: 15.5" x 10" 10.30.2010 Mechanical Round 1 February 2011 15.5" x 10" Trim: 16" x 10.5" Trion Rift Rift_AshaDeathSpread_ PC Gamer 16" x 10.5" Mechanical for: Date Comp / Mechanical MaximumPC_2a.pdfRound Number Insertion Date Live Size Bleed: 16.25" x 10.75" Client Project Filename Publication Trim Size PC Gamer Live: 15.5" x 10" 10.30.2010 Mechanical Round 1 February 2011 15.5" x 10" Trim: 16" x 10.5" Date Comp / Mechanical Round Number Insertion Date Live Size Bleed: 16.25" x 10.75"

Client Project Filename Publication Trim Size Client Project Filename Publication Trim Size

DateClient ProjectComp / Mechanical FilenameRound Number PublicationInsertion Date Trim SizeLive Size Client Project Filename Publication Trim Size Date Comp / Mechanical Round Number Insertion Date Live Size Date Comp / Mechanical Round Number Insertion Date Live Size Date Comp / Mechanical Round Number Insertion Date Live Size CONTROL

PLAYBACK OPTIONS: trademark of the Entertainment Software Association. All other trademarks All Association. Software Entertainment the of trademark ©2010 Trion Worlds, Inc. All rightsreserved. icon isaregistered The ratings trademark of the Entertainment Software Association. All other trademarks All Association. Software Entertainment the of trademark ©2010 Trion Worlds, Inc. All rightsreserved. iconisaregistered The ratings and tradenamesaretheproperties oftheirrespectiveowners. PRE-ORDER NOW! NOW! PRE-ORDER TRION WORLDS IS NOT RELATED TO OR AFFILIATED WITH BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT OR AZEROTH. OR ENTERTAINMENT BLIZZARD WITH AFFILIATED OR TO RELATED NOT IS WORLDS TRION and tradenames arethepropertiesoftheirrespective owners. PRE-ORDER NOW! NOW! PRE-ORDER TRION WORLDS IS NOT RELATED TO OR AFFILIATED WITH BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT OR AZEROTH. OR ENTERTAINMENT BLIZZARD WITH AFFILIATED OR TO RELATED NOT IS WORLDS TRION RIFTGAME.COM RIFTGAME.COM PCGZine NAVIGATE |06 Previews There are many more clans FIRST simulated here than in Shogun 2. Sengoku LOOK Publisher: Paradox So you think you know Feudal Japan? Interactive Developer: In-house What’s the story? Heritage: Crusader The strategy legend that is Chris King is shifting his focus from Europe to Kings series the Far East, in a grand strategy title which seeks to accurately emulate Link: www.paradoxplaza. Japan’s turbulent Feudal era from 1467 until 1630. All the staples of this com/games/sengoku studio’s previous games are here, including the ability to wage war against ETA: September other powers, use your family to maximum political influence and managing finances, but this is the first to have a finite victory condition to unite Japan and be proclaimed Shogun. PREVIEW FEEDBACK! Wait a second, haven’t we heard that before? Click here to tell Sengoku does share a similar premise to Total War Shogun 2, but this is a us what you much more cerebral experience with no glossy real-time battle system. think of Sengoku However, what this strategy title lacks in finesse, it makes up with an supremely deep simulation of the time, with plenty of historical characters and a detailed clan system which constantly evolves. New clan leaders are regularly declared and family members or warriors can double-cross their own kind to form their own clan or move to a competitor.

Agents and armies appear So how does it work? on the map in period attire. Whenever players start a new game they choose a clan to control, and throughout the campaign years they use honour to orchestrate their forces via a variety of sub menus – ordering hits on competitors via stealthy ninjas, using their sons as pawns in forging alliances or asking those low in the clan to commit seppuku – ritual suicide. King has promised that the GUI won’t be as click dependent as his previous games, and from what we witnessed that definitely seemed to be the case, with no more than four clicks to get access to the information needed. Anything else to declare? Sengoku will only appeal to a certain type of gamer, who isn’t afraid to sacrifice some visual excellence when in pursuit of a complex and evolving Navigating a series of menus is grand strategic experience. If Shogun 2 introduced us to the Feudal still a big part of this experience. Japanese period, Sengoku looks to educate us about it, and that’s definitely something to be encouraged.

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CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |08 Previews Guild Wars 2 Publisher: NCsoft | ETA: TBA Batman: Arkham City Publisher: Warner Bros | ETA: 21st October This news got us really pumped. The city of Lion’s Arch will return in Guild Wars 2. A high-resolution map of the playable game It’s strange how one virtual place can sum area in Arkham City emerged over the past More golden nuggets of up an entire MMO, but its transformed month, ripped from a secret room inside gaming glory to come state looks absolutely wondrous and we Arkham Asylum. Unfortunately it isn’t very up can’t wait to talk to vendors, find quests detailed, but it does allude to the fact that and run around like mentalists. Check out Arkham City will be at least three times as 7 large as the previous game. Kingdoms of the trailer online! Amalur: Reckoning Hitman Absolution Publisher: EA | ETA: 2012 Publisher: Square-Enix | ETA: TBA Big Huge Games has released Finally IO Interactive has confirmed that gameplay footage from their they are working on a new entry in the recent showing at PAX East, with iconic Hitman series. Few details are commentary from Ian Frazier. known, but Agent 47 will once again star It’s definitely worth a search, if with proceedings mostly taking place in only to see some gnarly looking the US. Lots of Hollywood talent are being weaponry and monster design. associated with this one, so let’s hope they don’t taint it with blockbuster ideals. Diablo III Publisher: Blizzard | ETA: TBA Summer We don’t know about you, but we’re Trackmania 2: Canyon getting a bit tired of Blizzard teasing Publisher: Ubisoft | ETA: 2011 Diablo III. We just want to play the ruddy Dead Island A Beta date for Trackmania 2 has been set by Ubisoft. thing! Well, to prevent the impending July Racers will be able to sample this speedy sequel in July, revolt, an open Beta will occur at the end with the online framework, ManiaPlanet, also debuting. of summer which will allow fans of the As long as we’ll be able to race on elaborately designed dungeon crawler to put it through its June Supreme Ruler: tracks with massive jumps then we’ll be happy. Ghost Recon: paces. Now all we need is a release date… Cold War Stronghold 3 Future Soldier Publisher: Ubisoft | ETA: 2012 Dungeon Seeing as everyone seems to be Siege III Duke Nukem releasing a Triple-A shooter at the Forever end of 2011, Ubisoft has elected to Dungeons & push their’s back until next year. on FEAR 3 Dragons: Daggerdale Who says extra development time the is hard to come by? radar CONTROL Pre-order at to receive PLAYBACK OPTIONS: exclusive deMoN & assassiN Packs 03•06•2011

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CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |10 Previews hands-on

Publisher: EA Developer: BioWare Austin STAR WARS: THE Heritage: Baldur’s Gate, Dragon Age, Knights of the Old Republic Link: www.swtor.com Our Bounty Hunter wasn’t anything OLD REPUBLIC like Dirty Harry, but in our hearts he ETA: Autumn 2011 Much to learn, you still have… was. “Just try it, punk!”

ay what you want about BioWare, no developers hamstringing our play. spin only four issues ago, we were story-arc and share starter planets – two but they don’t like to do things by All we were given was a pre-made alien shocked and impressed with just how per class. There are generic quest-lines PREVIEW Shalves. Usually MMO developers Bounty Hunter avatar and asked to different the Bounty Hunter played, to follow but the main story, which FEEDBACK! only like to give a few hours worth of quest until the clock struck 10pm. and how his story panned out as well. BioWare promise Click here to access to their vulnerable alpha efforts, These immersion days are a very Each of the game’s eight good vs evil will be as long as Knights of the Old tell us what but with The Old Republic we were confident statement of intent from classes – Republic Trooper, Jedi Knight, Republic’s campaign, will be personal to you think of given an unprecedented 19 hours BioWare, especially as SW:TOR has yet to Jedi Consular, Smuggler vs Imperial your character class, with a selection of Star Wars: The worth of access over two days, to put have an official launch date. And even Agent, Sith Inquisitor, Sith Warrior and companions to be recruited along the Old Republic the game through its paces, and with though we took the Jedi Consular for a Bounty Hunter – have their own unique way. With all the character classes

Both the Agent and Bounty It pays to team up with players from other Hunter are tools of the Empire. classes, both in combat and story terms.

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |11 Previews “Despite witnessing Old Republic cont. to get the experience necessary to level, or do the so-called ‘right thing’. BioWare’s fully voiced quest accounted for this should equate to an The over-arching goal is to get briefings before, we still got a experience 8 times as large as KOTOR. yourself and your team enrolled in the Our journey began on Hutta, a Great Hunt, the galaxy’s number one massive kick out of them” gloomy under-developed planet which contest to get noticed for your bounty was ruled by slimy crime lord, Nemro hunting talents and Nemro holds the the Hutt. During our first steps emerging golden ticket, so the majority of missions from a cantina, we noticed the world involve making the giant slug happy. was in a constant state of battle However, the way this pans out is really between rival criminal gangs, giving us novel and unique. Class-specific missions ample opportunity to utilise our twin involve going into instance-sensitive laser pistols and wrist-mounted rocket areas where as soon as you initiate the launcher – not bad for starter skills. In next part of the story, you’re separated typical MMO fashion, vendors stand in a from the gameworld to do your own stationary position just waiting for you thing. Other classes can join you to help, to click on them, so you can hear (and potentially solve) their array of problems. The Electrodart is sure to shock your enemy. Some quests were shared content This one looks pretty between our class and the Imperial tough – not sure about Agent, who also started the purple cape, though. Nemro’s palace dominates on the same world. the Hutta skyline. Despite witnessing BioWare’s fully voiced quest briefings before, we still got a massive kick out of them. It’s a As a non-human, Imperial small touch which makes the world hardliners will usually treat you callously and with suspicion. seem so much more alive. There was the occasional fetch quest and hunt X of Y creature task, but occasionally there was an effort which showed a spark of BioWare’s brilliance. For instance, one quest featured us talking to a mother who wanted us to hunt down her husband who had kidnapped her son, in order to prevent the potential youngling from becoming a Sith Lord. The resolution here allows plenty of moral wiggle-room, with the Bounty Hunter’s ability to lie to almost everyone involved

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |12 Previews WARZONES How The Old Republic approaches PvP

The Chiss do feature and Only the lengthy Flashpoint mission gave yes, they are awesome! the impression of intergalactic turmoil.

The Old Republic cont. able to join him or her until their an estimated completion time, so you cut-scene sequence is complete. On can tell your friends to come back in five but not fellow classes, in order not to paper it sounds like a strange minutes or however long proceedings Big guns All action Lots of Valour upset the narrative balance. It sounds compromise and not conducive to a will take. complicated, but in real-terms it means multiplayer environment, but it does That said, teaming up in TOR is still when you’re in a group when two mean that your hero feels much more fun and vital during the early levels. All Bounty Hunters, one will initiate their important in the grand scheme. of the functionality you’d expect is here, story mission and the other won’t be Incidentally, these segments are given with the ability for dialogue options to BigAllLots action guns of Valour be tackled together and a random dice TOR’sTheAt the map PvP end was takes of asymmetrical,a battle,place in when arenas with all dubbed of both the ticketsteamsWarzones. havinghave We expired eachsampled class for one one represented. area team set and in Watching Alderaantheir ship whereJedi’sdescends, fight the playersgoal side-by-side was will for be two awardedwith teams soldiers to medals take did downcreate based their an on epic theircompetitor’s feel, performance. but battlesenemy These capitalwere chaotic. rewards ship roll to determine how certain orbitingThewill thenaction above, be felt equated more by controlling liketo Valour Global capture which Agenda, can points withbe used which an emphasisto possessed purchase on armour giant action cannons. exclusivethan strategy. to PvP. conversation options are tackled when in a group. At around level 10 we got access to the real tools of the trade, such as the care of an Imperial shuttle. always epic ‘Death from Above’ move Prior to this point, the intergalactic – raining missiles down on enemies struggle between light and dark was from an elevated position care of our barely touched upon, but it was thrust boosters for a few seconds, and the into the limelight care of a long ability to shock enemies and then freeze story-driven quest dubbed Flashpoints. them in Carbonite. In this case it involved the Imperial After performing a series of morally shuttle we found ourselves on being dubious activities for the Hutt – boarded by invading Republic forces, including bringing a head of a dissident after an elongated conversation with to the crime lord – we won our the ship’s captain. We won’t ruin the There are a fair number of pistols on endorsement and headed to the whys and wherefores, but the hour-long offer, some more exotic than others. planet’s space port, where we hitched section was the highlight of our play. a ride to the Great Hunt’s host planet, The action fully embodied the grand

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |13

Previews The Imperials of Dromund Kaas are always ready to look down on common folk.

Droids are rarely more than a nuisance.

The Old Republic cont. despised our profession almost as much as our non-human heritage. The world themes Star Wars has become known was a part-urban metropolis, part- for, and concluded with an epic battle English countryside with a Jedi Master, after slaying legions but the immoral undertones were clear of his Republic forces. to see – think Nar Shadaa but with more After completion we found ourselves trees. Unfortunately we didn’t have romance sub-story to reach fruition addition to seven other story-arcs on the planet Dromund Kaas, an enough time to be granted our own with our companion Mako, but we which we hope will be just as evolving, autocracy ruled by Imperial gentry who class-specific ship, or for the inevitable were impressed and surprised by what personal and entertaining. we played. Sampling the game in such a The Old Republic has all the controlled environment with only a trappings of an MMO, but a lot of the handful of players occupying each time while playing it felt more like a server does pose some interesting single-player BioWare game in a questions about how this experience persistent world – which sounds like a will be altered by the presence of distinction but it’s true. The gameplay thousands of other players, especially mix is odd, but it works and we suspect with the way core story missions are it’ll offer the easiest transition for dealt with, but those answers should be non-MMO players to sample the genre. forthcoming. In the meantime we’ll look If you just wanted Knights of the Old forward to having another hands-on Republic 3, that’s here in all its glory, in with The Old Republic soon.

how complete? first impressions? Mandalorian fashions do dictate PCGZine most armour choices, but there are 60% 85% a few more extravagant options. It’s starting to look like BioWare will deliver

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Interview The Republic throws the best parties.

Publisher: EA Developer: BioWare Austin Do or do not… Link: www.swtor.com ETA: Autumn 2011 there is no try We discuss Star Wars: The Old Republic with the project’s Principle Lead Writer and Han Solo fan, Daniel Erickson

n a quaint yet deceptively large Old Republic. That game was really fun, office outside of Austin, Texas, so why don’t we do more of that? IBioWare are putting together their Honestly the question was if we asked most ambitious project to date: Star our fans, if you wanted an MMO of one Wars: The Old Republic. Returning to the of BioWare’s games, which one would universe which attracted this developer you really want? We all knew the answer Well, bounty hunters don’t have to Daniel Erikson is in charge of such widespread acclaim is something was going to be KOTOR. be ugly. They just eventually turn out BioWare Austin’s legion of the studio is grasping with both hands, that way. It’s the nature of the job. writers, and his previous including a gigantic voice actor cast and BioWare is all about the power of a work includes Dragon Age: that premier narrative quality that’s good narrative but traditionally in Origins, where he crafted one quintessentially BioWare. We caught up the MMO genre, players don’t care of the best opening quests with Daniel Erickson to ask how he so much about the story… of all time: City Elf. doesn’t dance around like a giddy Star But that’s a restriction, I honestly believe, Wars fanboy the entire time he’s at of the technical and of the effort. I don’t work and of course, how development believe that, in the early days of the of The Old Republic is going… MMO, they sat down and said ‘Hey, why don’t we go ahead and ship the You’ve been part of The Old ruleset of this RPG and not include any Republic from the very beginning. adventures’? Even for this game, it has What’s it like thinking about this taken this long before BioWare could say project’s early days? ‘Hey, we really think that we could do Sitting down those first days and that now’. discussing what we wanted to do, very When this was discussed years ago, quickly came down to what was really during the Neverwinter Knights time fun, and the answer was Knights of the period honestly, nobody had an idea

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |16 Interview

Shots like this give us goosebumps, they really do!

Interview continued there, as there aren’t stories in MMOs. casting decision can make you not want What we have not heard in testing is to listen to a guy. You may have to run how to do it. And even now it takes a people saying that they just skipped it. the conversation again or whatever, but monumental effort, as this game could In fact, it’s interesting to watch the people like stories; people like to see never have existed if there had not people who very fundamentally said what happens. An example I use is that How many people are going to choose the been a Mass Effect. If we hadn’t that is what they planned to do and it – if you want to go outside the RPG one of the Jedi classes? We’re guessing a lot! discovered an incredibly good way to basically never happens. thing – there’s no reason to watch a at least automate a great deal of the cut-scene in a Grand Theft Auto game. movie? Well I wouldn’t care. I’d like to Total self-indulgent greed! So James camera work, and the conversations. Do you think that’s because it’s There are no choices or options, but I bring back the intermission for the potty [Ohlen] was the Lead Designer for They figured out during Dragon Star Wars, because of the overall don’t remember skipping them. Why? break or whatever, but besides that, make Dragon Age: Origins. I was working on Age how to manage huge amounts of quality of BioWare or because of Because they were high quality. it as long as you want, as long as it’s there and so was Emmanuel Lusinchi voiceover and story tracking, and all of overall reputation? People say ‘it’s an MMO, so players good. We see the same thing, as good – he was the lead technical guy on that together only gave us the very I don’t think reputation helps you at all have a shorter attention span. Do content holds people’s attention and bad there, and we loved the Origins stories. beginning of what we needed to do once you start playing. If it’s boring you conversations have to be shorter?’ We content makes people walk away. The game ended up having Origins in this. It’s interesting now that what used just skip. I don’t think it’s based on mood proved that not to be the case in testing the title, but Origins’ stories were very to be a genre restriction based on want, either, or anything else. I’m not going to again and again. It’s the same thing with Having a specific story for each class close to getting cut early on in the became a genre ideal to where we ever say there won’t be conversations this bizarre race in movies to make them in the game is very different from process. They’re expensive and a lot came in and said: ‘We’re going to do that people may get a bit ‘skippy’ 80 minutes or 60 minutes. A bad movie the traditional MMO approach. of people didn’t see why it was this’. They said that you can’t put story in through. One unfortunate voiceover is too long at 10 minutes. A good What made you go for that? important to give every class their

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Each class in SW:TOR will have Each ship will act as the player’s home, with their companions a ship of their own design. mulling around and a host of activities to get involved in. There has to be a Pazaak table around here somewhere… Interview continued The original sell for me was ’I‘m a all of that in one RPG means that firstly writer for BioWare’. I wasn’t sitting there’s a flavour for everybody and niche that our games fall into. own intro to the game, but we would around thinking, ‘Man I’d like to do an everyone can find their piece which says Story is very accessible, so it’s very have loved to have done the whole MMO’. But when James and I started ‘This is the RPG I always wanted to play’ easy to get people in there. The story game that way. We always talked about talking about it, what I saw was the and secondly, getting together with becomes very important with it. It was never an idea for Dragon Age potential to do the biggest RPG ever your friends is really fun. something like Star Wars, because it’s so itself, because we knew the game was and the first fully class-specific one. steeped in lore that we need a vehicle “What I saw was already huge! But we wondered, ‘what if As great as the former games we’ve Is The Old Republic trying to get to introduce you to it. We don’t know we could’ve kept doing that’? Wouldn’t done are, we had to make the plots and players that don’t really like MMOs how much Star Wars players know. We the potential to it be great to have missions that kept a lot of the way people deal with you involved as well? don’t know if you liked the old movies do the biggest coming back to your origin? The only kind of generic. The class stories let Really we only really know how to do and never saw the new ones, or saw way anyone was going to give us the us establish your entire identity very one game. We do story-based games, them way back in the Seventies. We RPG ever and the manpower and the budget to do that differently. The Smuggler is living in a and it has the ancillary effect of bringing don’t know if you’re 12 and just love was if somehow the game was going to different world; a strange semi-action people in much easier. That is the reason Clone Wars, which means we need to first fully class- be so big, that people would play all of comedy where everything goes wrong I think traditionally our female gamer give you all relevant information without that content. Even if different parts of and there’s crazy schemes where he/she percentage is much higher than the doing it in a big depository. So doing specific one” the population played it all. In a is constantly in over his or her head, average in the industry, and our age the class stories lets us tell you what single-player game people mostly just whereas the Sith Warrior is almost living graphic goes older and younger than your character would know. The play the story once. in a Shakespearean drama. Getting to do the industry average. It’s a less predictable Smuggler doesn’t know who’s sitting

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Interview The Rattataki aren’t a race to be messed with.

Interview continued that people will turn to the person next the engine down, get an art style, prove to them and say, ‘Hey, where is my it out and get it into launch. Past launch on the Jedi Council, as they wouldn’t inventory’? They have a discussion and the players rule everything. If what they One of the things we always talk anyway, so we don’t need to give you the problem is solved. want is more space combat, and about is that if you turf someone out the information, but we get to teach multiplayer space combat is top of the to be funny, you’ve probably failed. you clearly through your quests what Do you guys have any plans to request lists, what are we going to give David Gaiter was the lead writer for “One of the it means to be a Smuggler; what your emulate the X-Wing vs Tie Fighter them? We aren’t going to say no! Dragon Age, and back in the Baldur’s place is in the world. Then we slowly style of gameplay? Gate days, he got drafted in to write things we always start to introduce you to your choices, so Well, we’ve shown the space game How do you accommodate all of HK-47, who was never a comedy piece. you can start to push out. stuff and right now it’s a solo game. It Star Wars’ different characters and They gave him an Assassin Droid and talk about is that Ideally, with the gameplay being fairly was one of those things where there worlds into one cohesive game? he didn’t know what to do with it, and simple at the beginning, as in most RPGs are lots of people who would love to The great thing about Star Wars is that didn’t terribly like the idea of doing it, if you turf or MMOs, the story catches you up and actually get it into doing the ‘multiplayer they all live in the same space. C3PO and started to write this rebellion someone out to your brain is more into that space, and thing’, but what we had to do was get lives in the same world as Darth Vader, against what droids are in Star Wars, then you start running into issues about an engine down. and there is nothing amusing about which turned into one our most classic be funny, you’ve learning to play. For instance, if you don’t Basically, what you’re talking about Vader in the original movies, whatsoever. pieces. You establish the ruleset, what play MMOs, at that stage you’re dedicated is putting in a completely secondary But then a minute later, you have C3PO the feel of Star Wars is and you let the probably failed” enough to it that you’ll do the work to game on top of the first one, so the wandering through the halls, so good writers go, and a lot of what you get is find out. What we see a lot of the time is most important thing right now is to get comedy pieces offset the tension. a complete surprise.

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CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |20 Previews Ah, test chambers. Always going to inspire fond memories… Hands-On

Publisher: Square-Enix Developer: Eidos Montreal Heritage: Studio debut DEUS EX: HUMAN Link: www.deusex.com ETA: August REVOLUTION PREVIEW Getting down and dirty in Detroit FEEDBACK! Click here to wo crazy facts for you: For far-fetched at all. It’s filthy, crime-ridden, During our now lengthy time with which frees you up to fulfil your role tell us what starters, nearly 50 per cent of the drowning in poverty and oppressive. the game, one thing is clear, and it’s that as Adam Jensen, the head of security for you think population of Detroit is illiterate. Okay, so the real Detroit probably this is a real return to form for a series Sarif Industries. of Deus Ex: T Right now. In 2011. Second fact – won’t be drenched in a light-brown filter damaged by a lacklustre sequel. There’s So you’re working for Sarif, doing his Human nanotechnology exists here and now. and be perpetually dark in a few years, no messing about underground. Much bidding and trying to work out just who Revolution Put those into context, and Deus Ex: but there’s a closeness to the bone that like the revolutionary original game, the hell smashed into his research facility Human Revolution’s near-future version makes Deus Ex: Human Revolution that you’re straight into work, learning the and took out a number of his staff. At of the motor city really isn’t that much more resonant. parameters of the game’s systems, first, it seems like a daunting task, not

You’ll spend time in your It’s a violent game office, checking emails and when it needs to be. speaking to co-workers.

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |21 Previews It’s very moody, very Blade Runner. mean machina Deus Ex’s Detroit, broken down

Deus Ex continued becomes apparent how enormous Eidos Montreal’s effort actually is. Within “The sheer volume of Living free Stack happy Augmented only do you have to play through minutes of walking out of Sarif Industry’s content in Deus Ex: reality Human Revolution’s gloriously option- doors, there are a myriad characters who filled FPS missions, you’ve actually got to want your attention for side missions, Human Revolution solve the whole this mystery, too. gossip and augmentation options. And is astounding” When Human Revolution does break don’t forget, because this is Deus Ex, you LSAivingtackugmented happy free reality out into its more ‘open’ setting, it can choose to interact, ignore, even kill them. This is a game that practically It’sRememberHe maynot openworld look hours like Chuck spent in the Liddell, stacking traditional, but bodies he’s Rockstar actuallyand bin sense, bagsan augmented but in Deus Ex?Ex: human, HumanWell you a Revolution man can dowith that doesagain,tech boltedlet but you now onroam to everything make the streets him has more of actualDetroit powerful, physics and take more instead on insightful tasks of staying at your and rigid leisure.more like aware. a board. Is it refines the word ‘openworld’. The sheer morally right? You decide. Roll over screen for annotations volume of content in Deus Ex: Human Revolution is astounding, the attention to detail impressive and the atmosphere spot-on, if a little cliched. Still, don’t let that dull your Hopefully in the remaining few enthusiasm for what is one of the weeks and months of development frontrunners for game of the year. This is time, Eidos Montreal can tighten up proper adult entertainment – mature the dialogue interactions – there’s a and thought-provoking in the way so few too many stilted French-Canadian few games are. Just a few short months conversations for our liking, as they to go, and you too can know what it break the illusion somewhat. feels like to live in Detroit. PCGZine how complete? first impressions? 90% 90% A fine and welcome return to greatness predicted

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CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |23 Previews “TERA is a world with Hands-On great characterisation and historical Publisher: Frogster resonance” Developer: Bluehole Studio Heritage: N/A Link: www.tera-europe. TERA com/en/index.html Is this MMORPG from Korea Tera-ble or Tera-fic? ETA: 2011 MORPG combat isn’t exactly surprisingly sandy, event in Germany This is a world unlike any other, the most stimulating of the and it made an indelible impression. with a stunning level of detail. PREVIEW genres. Clicking to auto-attack Powered by the Unreal Engine 3, FEEDBACK! M while watching an enemy’s HP slowly looking at the two continents of TERA different races, with eight different Castanic’s capital appears more Click here to run dry with nary an animation to is a rich and fulfilling experience, with classes, ranging from the panda-like demonic, oppressive, and secretive. tell us what you communicate its impending doom none of the dull greys and blacks Popori to the Amazonian Castanics, as Needless to say, TERA is a world with think of TERA has been typical of online games for usually associated with Epic’s tech. well as Human and Elf options. Each race a great characterisation and historical a very long time now, and it’s Instead the world is vibrant, with has their own detailed style and locale resonance, with forests, deserts, something that Bluehole Games are imaginatively devised monsters and which plays up their identity and place villages and dungeons, which we looking to rectify forever with their new locations which scream a level of in the world. For existence, the Elves are found were very enjoyable to just game TERA. We were lucky enough detail usually only seen only in the elegant and boast advanced tech, with roam around in. to recently sampled this exciting new artistic powerhouse Guild Wars. a city which looks like it warped in Aside from the high level of polish online prospect at a glossy, and Players have a choice of six assuredly straight out of Star Trek, whereas the applied to the visuals, TERA’s other ace

Bosses are not only constrained Players can hitch a ride between regions, with to dungeons, but also roam the checkpoints never further than a five-minute walk away. world at large, looking for prey.

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |24 Previews Magic fractures and bends light, creating some lovely What else is in store? combat effects. More details of TERA’s MMO Functionality

Some (ahem) cultural sensibilities remain.

TERA continued further accentuated by combos being second basis. Massive bosses also roam possible, thanks to applicable skills the land, with multiple attack phases, in the hole is combat. Rather than just popping up next to the reticle – and visual transformations and attack cues, PvP Run your Personal targeting an enemy, players will have to it’s all context sensitive. We played as a which again is a nice touch. There are own town vendors aim either short-range melee attacks or pre-made level 35 Mystic, and even some great special effects to convey the projectile volleys at their enemies, with though she only boasted range-based more ethereal side of combat, and for shots to the head or torso causing more skills, there were skill pop-ups hinting more Warrior-based classes, collision damage than just aiming willy nilly. It what skills to utilise next, be they a detection has been dialled up. How this PvPRPersonalun your vendorsown town sounds like a small detail but it leads to powerful magical rebound recovery radical combat vision is achieved is by AsThis you end-gamecute would creature expect feature above from involves is TERA’s one of players exciting the personal being combat declared vendor system, designs, Mayors PvP is ofwhichbeing settlements focusedallows you on ato lot. Fivein-game.sell items versus Eachin five towns clan and andwill 10 settlementsversusbe able 10 to Capture control while thecertain questing Flag, districts, King around of the and the Hill fromworld. and there TheyDeathmatch they don’t can last skirmishes which feels a great deal more when downed or an area of effect spell TERA’s miraculously efficient netcode, modeelectforever a match leader and you’ll variants democratically need will to be pay available, who for their chooses withupkeep, a more tax but rate to it’sbe and aadded nice adds item in new future trading facilities. updates. option. involving than typical systems. This is which drained HP on a second-by- but Bluehole wouldn’t be pressed on the finer details. TERA hails from South Korea and the online centre of the world does hold TERA not only looks the part but some different values to our own when offers a lot of new elements which it comes to MMOs, by Frogster’s own players haven’t seen in the MMO genre admission. As a result the European before. In a controlled atmosphere version of the game will boast over 600 everything worked as it should, but it’ll quests and a promise that players won’t be interesting to see how the game need to grind to get ahead, instead all plays out when it’s launched later in they’ll need to do is story quests. 2011. Hopefully we’ll have more soon. PCGZine how complete? first impressions? The imaginative and varied enemy 60% 85% design rarely fails to impress. Something new and different in the MMO space

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Clones © 2011, Tomkorp Computer Solutions Inc. Published under the license by Lace Mamba Global Ltd. All rights reserved.

/LaceMambaGlobal @LaceMambaGlobal CONTROL

clones_pcgzine.indd 1 19/05/2011 15:45 PCGZine NAVIGATE |26 Previews The player-controlled ship battles feel much more arcadey than Commander: Conquest of the Americas. Preview

Publisher: Paradox Interactive Developer: Nitro Games Heritage: Commander: PIRATES OF Conquest of the Americas Link: www.paradoxplaza. com/games/pirates-of- black-cove ETA: Summer BLACK COVE Well if Sid Meier isn’t going to give us a new Pirates…

PREVIEW ome games are born out of new pirate (out of a choice of three) from eventual goal to take down the ruling their shoulders and the Buccaneers are FEEDBACK! ideas and others out of inspiration. vagabond to undisputed Pirate King. clan of the Caribbean: The Black Cove. masters of the musket, with the ability Click here to SPirates of the Black Cove is very How you do this is rather simple. The Pirate, Corsair and Buccaneer to take foes out from a great distance. tell us what much the latter, inspired by Sid Meier’s You’ll need to gain favour with each of factions each have their own defined As you carry out missions for these you think of Pirates! with a dash of Monkey island the three factions on a host of tropical character, strengths and weaknesses. guys you’ll gain experience and be able Pirates of thrown in for good measure. The linear isles, by carrying out quests for their The Pirates are mangy sea dogs who to purchase their specific skills or recruit Black Cove story-driven campaign takes place in the leaders. As your chosen avatar gains like getting drunk, but are hardened crew from their clan. For instance, make Caribbean during the sixteenth century notoriety, their skills, ship and crew will and determined, Corsairs are more the Corsairs happy and you’ll be able to and features you guiding a humble become more powerful, with the thoughtful, with birds constantly on gain a new bird’s-eye perspective of the

The UI is very friendly and The art style is very cartoony, approachable. Perhaps too but it isn’t without its charms. simple for some tastes?

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |27 Previews

On-land raids are all about Some of the building designs range orchestrating your forces properly. from the sublime to the absurd!

Pirates continued automatically patch up holes in your The gameplay formula we’re told is complicated, as there is the need to ship – very useful, we’re sure you’ll agree. 60/40 per cent in favour of RTS recruit different unit types for each battlefield, whereas if you follow the As you may have guessed, proceedings gameplay over roleplaying elements, faction, and marshal them yourself Pirate line you’ll unlock a crew member are very tongue-in-cheek, and this with a campaign which will take at in missions with the ability to add who has a barrel for a leg, who uses experience takes the salty sea-dog least 10 hours to get through, new units to your horde via upgrading his over-abundance of wood to formula in new and inventive directions. dependent on how many side-quests your bases’ facilities. Those looking for are undertaken. There are six chapters a deep RTS like East India Company in all, and each will be bookended by or Commander: Conquest will be colour cut-scenes which echo the disappointed, but this is a much lighter game’s brilliant concept art. and fluffier experience. Naval combat is very much about A lot of Pirates of Black Cove’s using your weapons, be they regular success will be determined by how well cannons, or homing barrages to their Nitro Games can interject gameplay maximum advantage while ensuring with the funny atmosphere players your foes don’t get too close. As you expect from the source material. It won’t move to your location you’ll see other win any awards for originality, but it forces going about their business should at the very least scratch that and inevitably battles do occur. The Pirates! itch, which is no longer catered on-land elements seem much more for in modern gaming.

PCGZine how complete? first impressions? 70% 80% An established formula given new life

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www.gamerzines.com CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |29 Previews Hands-On

Publisher: Paradox Interactive SWORD OF THE STARS II: Developer: Kerberos Heritage: Sword of the Stars, Fort Zombie Link: www.paradoxplaza. com/games/sword-of-the- LORDS OF WINTER stars-2 A new chance to tame the final frontier ETA: 16th August he last time we looked at Sword However, before we get into all that, own ship designs. Like other 4x games, interface has improved upon since the of the Stars II, we were shown let’s provide some context. the campaign doesn’t follow a story, original. It still retains its colourful Tthe impressive new engine and Lords of Winter continues the story instead stars and planet configurations nature with the ability to control each PREVIEW told about how Kerberos were aiming of the original Swords of the Stars and are completely randomised, allowing system and delegate each planet’s FEEDBACK! to evolve the 4x strategy genre into will include six imaginatively designed events to unfold in a different way resource potential, and it properly Click here to all-new directions. The dedicated playable races which range from every playthough, with AI making conveys that ‘Lord of the Universe’ tell us what you team from Vancouver certainly talk humans to the insectoid-like Hivers, as decisions on a turn-by-turn, battle-by- vibe thanks to the selection of think of Swords a good game, and we recently well as a brand-new race dubbed the battle basis. nebulae in the background and the of the Stars II discovered how accurate their words Suul’ka. This mystery race are known for What was immediately apparent ability to zoom in and out. actually were when we found some their brutality and little else, but they when we got our hands on the game Unfortunately we couldn’t take a time to sit down with the latest build. will sport all-new technology and their was how much the main campaign look at the diplomacy module with a

We want one. Seriously Kerberos, where can we buy one?

The UI is brand new, yet still retains that Sword of the Stars feel.

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |30 Previews icing on the space cake Lords of Winter’s other features

The camera is fully The Bezarro weren’t known for rotatable, allowing you their great naming traditions. to get the best view.

Sword of the Stars cont. will be granted special bonuses or but we would assume these would weaknesses, dependent on how the represent the perfect opportunity to representative of Paradox Interactive production process goes. For instance, introduce gamers to the universe. Campaign Ship control Encyclopedia looming over our shoulders, but we your dreadnought could have a weaker Last but not least we sampled multiplayer did get a look at the ship manufacturer. hull rating or be a bit quicker than the some real-time space combat, which is Like before, all ship classes – be they galactic standard. initiated whenever two fleets occupy small cruisers or massive leviathans Kerberos are aware that some of the same space. We’ve said before just – can be constructed, via clonking SotS’s subtler features may be a bit too how beautiful these ship models look, CampaignSEncyclopediahip control multiplayer together different ship segments to alien for newcomers so there will be a but when you witness them sending AnAsTo fullywelloften asintegrate fan-requested telling which new players enemyfeature into your is coming the ships mix, tocan SwordLords attack of of next,Winter: the Stars players the II abilitywill are featureable to playto plota anbumper their entirecourse,in-game campaign altitude encyclopedia, and with what a explainingfriend. bits to The focus eachsystem on. races’ Allwill ships history,facilitate will units fire a drop-in, toand defend other drop-out themselvesinteresting structure, create your vessel of the stars. The selection of scripted missions just to volleys of neon at each other, it really whichautomatically,info. We means didn’t if but actuallyyour we buddy suspect see leavesit for there ourselves then will the be butAIa variety will we take were of overtoggles assured until to itthey alter will return. bestance. there. emphasis on randomisation permeates ensure everyone is on the same page. hammers the point home. Controlled in this element too, as every ship created We didn’t have access to these missions a typical RTS manner, players can target specific components of each enemy “The crew’s at 5%” – they craft. If you want to neutralise their After spending a brief spell with had a heavy night! weapon batteries or disable their shields, this 4x strategy title, it’s clear that on the you can with a simple click of the enemy surface at least, Sword of the Stars II is vessel. Each ship has a nifty reticule shaping up to be something special. display which shows their current hull, We won’t know for sure until we’re neck shield, crew and power status – it looks deep into a campaign playthrough, but like something out of Babylon 5, only in it’s safe to say that we’re very excited a good way. about this overdue sequel. PCGZine how complete? first impressions? 70% 85% Looking stellar so far…

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |31 Reviews “The story has never been this series strong suit, yet against all odds Red Faction: Armageddon proves it really should be” Darius is cocky and Armageddon crazy in equal measure. Publisher: THQ Developer: Volition When Mars attacks! Heritage: Saints Row series, Red Faction: hances are that if we mentioned menace at the same time. Armageddon Guerilla, Freespace the name Volition to you, three is an over-the-shoulder third-person Link: www.redfaction.com Cwords were instantly spring to shooter which proves just how ETA: 10th June mind: Saints Row and openworld. Way enjoyable that one man army feeling too few gamers played the excellent really can be. System Requirements: guilty pleasure known as Red Faction: You play as Darius Mason on a Mars Dual Core CPU, 2Gb RAM, Guerilla when it appeared on PC in 2009, which is still wrought with war between GeForce 8800GT, Radeon and when we heard the developer was Red Faction and the mysterious Cultists. HD3870 series or higher taking the destructive series in a brand During one notable skirmish the planet’s new, more linear, plot-led direction then Terraformer is taken out, forcing the we were apprehensive to say the least. entire planet’s population underground, Story has never been this series’ strong and if that wasn’t bad enough, the suit, yet against all odds, Armageddon protagonist unwittingly lets loose a proves it really should be. Gameplay is new monstrous threat which has the still just as enjoyable – both making the potential to kill every single human most of the GeoMod engine’s insane on the red globe. Making the player destructibility and introducing a new responsible for the threat proves really

In true RF tradition, The joys of expect plenty of Nano forge vehicular action. Here are some of Armageddon’s niftiest tricks in action Repair Impact Shell Shockwave BESERK Vital when navigating the Best used when enemies This shield ability protects This ability whips enemies This momentary power-up environment, this ability are directly in front, this Darius from any attacks into the air and places increases the speed and allows you to rebuild ability sends an energy via a protective orb. them in an anti-grav field. power of attacks. almost anything at all. wave directly ahead.

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |32 Reviews Ruin mode is a great addition Just call me ‘Captain Carnage’. and very, very addictive.

Every game needs a sniper rifle, even when the before settling to shoot their beams, arsenal is as eclectic as Armageddon’s. projectiles or whatever else they have handy. Coupling the bevy of exotic Red Faction continued The freedom which won such warriors featured in the past, even weapons with the Nano Forge abilities plaudits in Guerilla has been reigned in, though some still do get in, and they (see ‘The Joys of Nano Forge’) feels interesting, and the drama inherent but that doesn’t mean the experience is can completely change the way you fantastic and very empowering. All to the situation is communicated via any less fun to play. The impressive fight. Some will leap all around the level constructed environments will collapse beautiful cut-scenes which are both arsenal of weapons is still just as barmy, well-written and well-animated. Darius including the gravity gun which propels The suits have shrunk, but they’re himself is the typical Hollywood one target (be it monster or structure) to still just as fun and destructive! archetype, proving cocky yet likeable – another point at increasing speed, and like if Han Solo and John McClane has a the Singularity rifle which creates a lovechild. The tertiary characters are also localised gravity well before a massive fully formed and well-rounded with Kara explosion. And the destruction is still as proving the spunky love interest, Winters game-changing, with pathways often the gruff military General, and SAM a collapsing under enemy pressure. The sarcastic AI. Occasionally it does all get experience has been focused into these a wee bit clichéd, but the way events singular pathways which usually open unfold feels genuine. up to massive areas, therefore allowing Surprisingly, for a Red Faction great freedom of combative expression game the plot has been fully fleshed and usually you’ll need to manage out, which is a very pleasant surprise, dozens of enemies attacking you at and the openworld format has been once. It can get pretty hectic but you completely done away with. Instead can improve and add to your abilities in the campaign has been shrunken the game by spending salvage collected down, with Darius needing to walk from the environment. down specific paths in order to The aliens are a much more achieve any given objective. interesting threat to deal with than the

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE z |33 Reviews pulsometer Signs of life No! Not the We can go outside New Game+ Terraformer! now? Finally! Goodies

Holy moly, these The one-man army cut-scenes look good! just got better!

“The action never feels like Plenty of different types of Martian monsters have been awoken, but it was to be enjoyed with few are more formidable or angry anything less than a than the Behemoth. mouse and keyboard” Red Faction continued back together instantaneously with the environments, these sections aren’t platform and looks wondrous in full Nano Forge is effortlessly cool. There are quite as impressive as they should be. Direct X 11 glory, with action which under the strain of battle, which makes requisite vehicle sections too, with some Most of the campaign’s spent never really feels like it was to be combat feel epic, and the fact you can new and improved mechs to stomp underground which sounds off-putting, enjoyed with anything less than a instantly put all buildings and walkways around in, but due to the stricken but Volition introduce enough variation mouse and keyboard. that isn’t so much of an issue. There are When measured by content alone, Roll over screen for annotations moments when you finally get to fight Armageddon is a triumph with fantastic above the Martian surface, but at certain set-pieces and excellent destructive points we did yearn for some fresh air. gameplay. So much so that we wish Despite how enjoyable this experience there was more of it. Regardless, there’s is, there’s unfortunately a big problem: nothing guilty about this pleasure and running time. We finished the campaign that’s undoubtedly a massive step in less than seven hours, which for a forward for this series. premium-priced release is an issue. There’s a wave-based co-op mode and score-attack destruction mode dubbed PCGZine A fantastic adventure Ruin to supplement the well-paced plot, which we wish lasted for as well as some nifty new game+ content, but some gamers may feel a bit a while longer short changed. Empowering combat % Volition has taken this franchise in an Good plot with satisfying conclusion all-new direction and it’s a success on most fronts. For a multi-format release it Too short for its own good has been fully optimised for our 85

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CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |35

Reviews There’s never a sense that Brink is anything more than an online shooting gallery” Publisher: Bethesda Brink Developer: Splash Damage Organised chaos Heritage: Enemy Territory: e don’t envy any developer your teammates in a competitive and Resistance), there’s never a sense Quake Wars trying to establish a new online environment. Best enjoyed that Brink is anything more than an The number of character Link: www.brink team-based shooter in this without the help of bots, matches online shooting gallery. There are customisation options thegame.com W are impressive. day and age. Between Team Fortress 2 accommodate as many as 16 players cut-scenes for each of the 16 missions, OUT NOW and Battlefield, nobody has time for on eight different asymmetrical maps. as well as well-acted audio diaries, but any effort which is anything less than anyone looking for a good tale here System Requirements: extraordinary. Straight off the bat, Brink Game structure will be disappointed. It’s a strange Now That’s a good idea Dual Core CPU, 2Gb RAM, was under a lot of pressure, and the The structure of the game amalgamates compromise, especially as we suspect Brink’s moments of brilliance NVIDIA GeForce 8800GS/ problematic launch certainly didn’t help a traditional campaign structure with a a lot of time has been dedicated to ATI Radeon HD 2900 Pro that, with plenty of annoying bugs and multiplayer setting, so even though crafting the compelling apocalyptic or higher missteps. However, despite the patches there is some resemblance of a story for premise and the aesthetics which go and fixes, it still wasn’t the multiplayer both of the game’s factions (Security with it. Luckily however, Splash experience we were hoping for. Brink is a class-based multiplayer shooter which is less about reactions and more about maximising your team’s combat efficiency by accomplishing objectives and buffing

Gun Character SMART editor progression movement GunSCharacterMA editorRT movement progression Brink’sThisWhenever one-button gun you editor hit movement isa newa fantastic XP level system tool. you’ll Each lets earn youweapon points (body has to type spendseveral allowing) on components purchasing vault over tonew chooseenvironmentalabilities from, for each culminating elements class, such insuch as new better as effects, boxes, turrets gatesdesigns when and andyou fences skins.play in asYou’re a an fluid engineer just movement.swapping or outIt’smore verycomponents generic reminiscent abilities but seeing of such Mirror’s asthe Sprinting rotatable Edge’s FPS Reload. models movement It’s up a close small and is touch isa reallyjust but as nice powerful.it means touch. your character’s path is decided by you and nobody else.

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |36 It’s a shame the Ark’s history isn’t covered in more It’s moments like these you Reviews depth than cut-scenes and audio logs. Splash Damage Brink continued pray somebody has your back. have taken the time to craft a fiction but not utilise it. Damage has really delivered in the multiplayer stakes… The class system really saves Brink’s bacon, with goals for each mission optimised for certain disciplines and a clever XP mechanic which rewards teamwork at every opportunity. Players will need to regularly hot-swap with all the different classes to progress in matches, but there’s plenty of room to find a role you like. Each are as you would expect, with the engineer able to place turrets, the spy proficient in disguise, the doctor to heal and the soldier to blow things up. The bots are good, but you can’t beat playing with humans. Endlessly replayable? The advantage of good multiplayer design is that, in theory, content is endlessly replayable, but because matches rarely last more than 20 minutes, you’ll get through Brink’s Roll over screen for annotations content extremely quickly and grow increasingly tired of it. There are lots of level-specific unlockables for each class, but we didn’t feel compelled to play more to progress our character. Ultimately, Brink is a polished multiplayer shooter which suffers from a basic lack of content. We couldn’t help wanting more info about the story and a few more locales to fight in. There are more maps in the works, PCGZine A brave and beautiful but asking players to fork out full-price for this offering as it stands is a hard sell. shooter that should have However if you’re aware of the inherent a lot more content value before taking the plunge then Well-designed team gameplay % you’ll find Splash Damage’s latest very Enjoyable and unique premise enjoyable. Just don’t expect it to stay on your hard drive for very long. Not enough mission content 78

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |37 Reviews

Publisher: Kalypso Media The First Templar Developer: Haemimont Games Conduct a Crusade with a friend Heritage: Tropico 3, Grand Ages Rome emember when Assassin’s Creed have built a melee-combat-focused to get its hooks into you. Partly this is Link: www.haemimont was first announced? When we third-person action game for two, with due to the excellent combo-heavy Um guys, the games.com/TFT were all really excited that a time another player able to fight at your side, combat, which becomes more camera is over here. OUT NOW R other than the 20th Century was getting solve puzzles and enjoy the linear complex once you unlock some fancy covered in a game? Before Ubisoft campaign alongside you. upgradable moves and punishing System Requirements: revealed all that future, ancestral DNA As first impressions go, The First one-hit kill finishers, but it’s really the Committed to the cause Dual core CPU, 2Gb RAM, memory baloney? Well, you’ll be pleased Templar doesn’t make a great one, exotic locales visited which propels Rewards, loot and character progression NVIDIA GeForce 8800 to hear that this third-person actioner with bland ‘click to strike’ combat, poor progression – including recreations GTS/ATI Radeon HD 3800 doesn’t have a futuristic get out clause character models, and voice-acting of Acre, Ascalon and other places in or higher and instead takes place entirely in the which feels very uneven. Yet after the the Middle East. The lighting and 13th Century. rough opening hour, this game begins architecture does a fantastic job of The plot follows the tale of two Knights Templars (Roland and Celion) in their pursuit of the Holy Grail, as their order is on its historic downward spiral, beset by Saracen, Hashashin and even the Holy Inquisition. Haemimont Games

Templar Outfits Skills chronicles TemplarSOkillsutfits chronicles AudioRatherTemplars diaries than were aare traditional pious so cliched to the skill nowadays,point tree, of refusingThe but First The all Templar First unnecessary Templar’s uses the gifts are order’s actually and outward insignia quite neat.assigns the Scatteredof basis vanity, of improvingbutaround who the wants each game’s to protagonist’s quest levels around via tombstones, combat in the sameproficiency. the clothes 40-plus allHere articles the players time, are Special moves are usually context-specific fullycanright? choose voiced New outfitandnew range moves, components from add diary to healthare entries found reserves toin Templartreasure or Zeal code chests and of conductandother can nifty andbe worn tell theby rather than button presses, so they are easier storyimprovements.the protagonists. of how the XPTemplars Frivolous, is earned were but in establishedbattle,fun. so check and whatthis screen led to regularly.their downfall. to perform once you get the hang of them.

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |38 Reviews The First Templar cont. “I know what you’re thinking, but I didn’t set fire to those supplies.” emulating the period and makes up for the odd sloppy-looking NPC. As you move from gorgeous level to gorgeous level you’ll learn of corruption within the church (heaven forbid…) and meet a lovely lady named Marie who’s also playable. Obviously the game has been built from the ground-up to accommodate online co-op play and it works well, but the AI is good enough to successfully fill in, and there’s always the option to hot-swap between two lead characters. Controls have been optimised for both keyboard and mouse as well as gamepad, with no method proving superior to the other. There’s no The locations in The First elaborate platforming or anything. In Templar rarely fail to fact there’s no jump button at all, deliver the wow factor. instead the challenge comes in avoiding medieval traps, fighting your way successfully through legions of soldiers, Roll over screen for annotations and hunting around for bonuses via secret treasure chests. The slew of differently themed levels do their bit to mix up the action, with elaborate dungeons, cities under siege and occasional stealth elements which ensure the experience rarely feels like a The finishers are a mixture slog. There are optional philanthropic of the fancy to the barbaric. side-quests too. First Templar recovers from its early missteps to forge a meaty and PCGZine A solid and entertaining enthralling historical experience. adventure, which is just The greatest success of all is that this adventure is entertaining without lacking a bit of polish resorting to mythical elements. Instead, Makes the most of the setting % Haemimont has stuck to the source Great co-op implementation material with religious vigour and it works really well, creating an enjoyable Voice-acting is shocking at times and pure experience. 82

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |39 Reviews Section 8: Prejudice Publisher: The melee finishers are a bit silly, TimeGate Studios Challenging gamers’ perceptions of value although still very satisfying. Developer: In-house Heritage: Section 8, imeGate Studios first gave the priced predecessor, promising not gone far beyond what is expected. Axis and Allies world Section 8 in 2009, and only a fully evolved multiplayer Player progression is tracked akin to Link: http://waris despite being a strong all-round experience for up to 32 players in four Battlefield and Call of Duty, where The Section 8 Formula prejudice.com T sci-fi shooter, it didn’t perform as well different environments, but also a experience is rewarded for kills, team Why Prejudice works so well OUT NOW as it should’ve. Most developers would story-driven campaign which takes activities and match wins which then have let the franchise be consigned to the universe in some interesting unlocks new skills and weaponry. It’s The secret to Section 8’s success is the Dynamic Combat history, but the Texan team decided directions. The premise involves a great touch and compliments the Missions which come in to play at regular intervals during System Requirements: to publish the sequel for themselves Section 8 and Arm of Orion forces existing choice of jumping in and matches. You’ll be fighting for control of one of a map’s Single or Dual Core CPU, digitally and adopt a new pricing once again facing off in highly deploying equipment in the field in bases and then suddenly a VIP will arrive needing to be 2 Gb RAM, NVIDIA GeForce mechanism, ditching the established advanced mechanised armour (think a really effective way. escorted to an enemy base, or critical components spawn 7800/ATI Radeon X1900 £30 model and instead selling Prejudice Iron Man) and a slew of weaponry. We could talk about how much fun on the battlefield requiring collection. There are numerous or higher for a paltry £9.99. Many have tried a The six-hour experience doesn’t it is to drop-in on enemies from 30,000 mission types which funnel the action to new areas of the similar RRP-slashing tactic before, but re-write the rulebook, but it does feet, or the joys of stomping around in map, and are an invaluable tool to mix up gameplay. most have resulted in tepid experiences. introduce the universe in a great way the mech or tank, but put simply, However, that definitely isn’t the case with accomplished voice-acting and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t with this sequel, as it blew away all of enjoyable set pieces. try Prejudice yourself. This is one of the our expectations. Of course, the mainstay of this rare times when a developer delivers PCGZine Prejudice is a substantially more shooter is multiplayer and this is on every single promise, and we well-rounded experience than its fully another area where TimeGate has demand you give it a try.

‘Dropping’ into battle is still one of the best When in doubt, get in a feelings to be had in a multiplayer shooter. bigger mechanised suit.

PCGZine A ridiculous amount of play for your pound!

Great expansion of the core formula % Surprisingly enjoyable campaign Thrilling multiplayer combat 94

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Reviews “Even newcomers will see that something isn’t quite right with Black Mirror III this young man” Publisher: Lace Mamba Sometimes you just know Global Into the mind of a madman evil-doings are afoot. Developer: Cranberry Production oncluding chapters are always an evil spirit linked to the tragic Gordon varied activities throughout, ranging Heritage: The Guild series difficult… do you aim for family from the original game. The from avoiding gothic contraptions or Link: www.mamba-games. newcomers or concentrate on possessed one needs to wander around securing provisions for policemen, Less spook, more talk co.uk/black-mirror-3the- C satisfying existing fans? Black Mirror III the sleepy village of Willow Creek, in an and illogical solutions rarely rearing How BM III maintains a scary atmosphere final-chapter-p-68.html is without any doubt firmly placed in the effort to cure his affliction and keep his their ugly head. OUT NOW latter camp. This 2.5D point-and-click newly acquired alter ego at bay. Overall this threequel is more of the Flickering lights? Peculiar moans in the background? A lot of adventure follows a tried and tested The plot meanders on at a slow, same talking, walking, collecting and games try to be frightening, but so few deliver. Thankfully, System Requirements: formula, but if you’ve played this but methodical pace with everyday combining formula, just slightly better Black Mirror is less about the cheap scares and more about 1.4 GHz CPU, 1 Gb RAM, cerebral horror series before then you locations giving way to more spooky executed – which we suspect is exactly maintaining an oppressive atmosphere with villagers that DirectX 9.0 compatible cannot miss this fitting finale. environments later in the lengthy what most fans will want. It’ll take most don’t seem to trust the protagonist and cut-scenes which 128 Mb graphics card with Events follow directly on from the campaign, all of which are meticulously players a long time to get through show off some truly grizzly scenes. It takes a while to get Shader 2.0 previous game, with protagonist Darren detailed. Unfortunately some sub-par everything here and the journey is going, but eventually you’ll see some truly spooky sights. Michaels arrested for murder and arson voice-acting performances occasionally mostly worth it until you reach the end. in-front of a gutted mansion. Even ruin the mood, but for the most part Wrapping up a trilogy is always difficult, newcomers will see that something isn’t the story is told in an enjoyable manner but Black Mirror III’s climax feels rushed quite right with this young man, and it supported by well-written dialogue. and disappointing. That doesn’t make it isn’t. Not only is he suffering from an Puzzle design is one of the game’s a terrible game, just an inevitably identity crisis, but he’s also possessed by real strengths too, with interesting and unsatisfying one.

Cut-scenes provide a good Locations have plenty of detail reward for your hard work. to take in and study for items.

PCGZine A slow, but enjoyable adventure with a very confusing resolution Tells a good story for the most part % Little effort to ease newcomers in Poor voice-acting performances 63

CONTROL PCGZine NAVIGATE |41 Next Month PCGZine Issue 55 Issue 55 Out June 23th! Download MORE FREE MAGAZINES! LATEST ISSUES! issue 55 for free on 23rd June!

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we’ll have all of the news from the show floor! All rights reserved. This publication may be copied in its entirety without Cranberry Publishing Limited modification for non-commercial purposes, for example but not limited www.cranberrypublishing.com to copying to CD-R for a friend, but it may not be offered for download from any website or similar without the prior permission of the copyright holder. You are free to, and encouraged to, link to the original Commercial Director: Duncan Ferguson file for download from our website and you can find help on doing so here. While the greatest care is taken in producing this guide, we do not Telephone: 07770 648500 accept responsibility for the loss of any data or any other damage caused Email: [email protected] by following the instructions in this publication. We always recommend that you keep a backup of your hard disk data and ensure that you check PLUS Call Duncan to discover how e-publications can work for you! all files for viruses before installing or using any new software. None of the information in this guide is intended as legal advice. All articles are for information purposes only. Websites mentioned in this publication Tropico 4Call of DutyThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Editor & Staff Writer: Andy Griffiths are not affiliated to or controlled by the publisher. We are not responsible for the contents of these sites or any changes made to them. Multimedia assistant: James Rawnson All contents © Cranberry Publishing Ltd 2011 Metro: Last LightMass Effect Batman:3 Arkham City Company registration number: 4987058

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THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE INterview FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF PCGZINE, P3Zine and 360Zine The final word from inXile Entertainment

extensive The Crucible preview Why you should care Hunted’s ace up the about this co-op sleeve unveiled! adventure!

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Contents Meet the Stars 03 Welcome Introducing Hunted’s protagonists o-op is rarely thought of as more than an add-on; another feature added to the back of the box to sell more copies. However, Playtest 04 Cwith Hunted: The Demon’s Forge, this is far What we think about from the case. Built from the ground-up to accommodate two players working together, this is the game the ultimate buddy experience enhanced by a dark fantasy setting, epic dungeons to explore, loot to lust over and its very own editor. Joys of Co-op 07 Why Hunted should be Hunted: The Demon’s Forge is far more than just another enjoyed with others blockbuster. Underneath its polished and pretty exterior beats the heart of a hardened dungeon crawler which rewards exploration and player commitment. We had The Crucible 08 the privilege of getting exclusive access to this exciting third-person actioner and needless to say, it definitely Detailing Hunted’s got our blood pumping. Dungeon Editor

In this magazine we take a closer look at what exactly sets this title apart from its rivals – without spoiling the Interview 09 plot – and we also have an exclusive interview with the We chat with Bethesda talent behind the game, not to mention your chance to get a copy of the game for free on your format of choice! Competition 11 We hope you enjoy this very special magazine. Win some top Andy Griffiths, Editor “Hunted: The Demon’s Hunted goodies! Forge is far more than just another blockbuster”

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hat better way to introduce Hunted than by job done. He has a crossbow for long-range attacks, taking a look at its playable stars. Described but he isn’t as proficient as his sassy colleague. Wby inXile’s Matt Findley as exactly the opposite Honestly, he seems like a bit of a softie at heart. He of what players would expect from their appearance, despises anything remotely creepy or crawly and this fantasy duo are sure to steal plenty of hearts looks to get ahead whenever possible, as long as – well one is anyway… the means are just and the rewards plentiful. CADDOC E’LARA This straightforward warrior may look like the Duke The female part of this duo is much more like the Nukem type, with his bulging average gamer: rash, muscles and grumpy unpredictable and always demeanour, but in actual ready for the next thrill. fact this mercenary One of the last Elves on boasts a keen strategic the planet, you’d think her head. Not one to let his rare status would give rise emotions get the better to caution, but instead of him (due to a mistake she rarely thinks about her in his younger years tragic past and focuses which led to his wife on the next moment of meeting an early adrenaline-pumping action demise), he’s a grizzled she can grasp with both veteran of many battles hands. She’s always and he’s been around busting Caddoc’s chops the block more than about being too old and once. Caddoc relies on careful, but as we soon his trusty sword and realised, Hunted’s world shield skills to get the isn’t one without dire consequences…

o we’ve introduced the “Caddoc is haunted by a nightmarish protagonists but what about vision of a mysterious evil entity and Sthe game itself? Well as we mentioned before, in essence E’lara ribs her professional partner in Hunted: The Demon’s Forge is a third-person dungeon crawler with the usual manner” a fully fledged cover system and Formats: PC, Xbox 360, co-op dynamic. PlayStation 3 The plot kicks off with a glossy macguffin. This leads them to all Publisher: Bethesda in-game cinematic introducing the to investigate the affects of their Softworks adventuring duo, bemoaning their actions and attempt to set free the Developer: inXile monetarily poor existence, with untrustworthy Seraphine from her Entertainment Caddoc haunted by a nightmarish spiritual binding. Heritage: The Bard’s Tale vision of a mysterious evil entity E’lara’s mistake won’t be undone Link: www.hunted and E’lara ribbing her professional easily, as the world is being ravaged by thegame.com partner in the usual manner. Soon the disgusting Wargar, an Orc-like race ETA: June 3rd (Europe) the duo stumble upon a spooky which are as ruthless as they are ugly. May 31st (North America) magical artefact which gets them Their origin is unclear and their motives noticed by a seductive ghostly unknown, but they’ve taken to raiding mistress named Seraphine (voiced towns and slaying entire human by the luscious Lucy Lawless) who populations before burning the becomes bound to E’lara after she centres to the ground. Like all other touches the mysterious magical great fantasy worlds, Hunted’s is in a

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PLAYTEST continued “Dialogue between the starring state of chaos, which leads to some duo really helps to give very entertaining set-pieces and bosses to slay across six lengthy chapters. proceedings a fun and fluffy tone, Both E’lara and Caddoc have their own combat specialities but neither are with dark undertones bubbling limited to them, as both can elect to nicely beneath the bravado” use either bows, swords, hammers and daggers. Fights follow the usual hack and slash tropes, with the ability to perform combos on enemy soldiers, Enemy classes which is handy as they usually come at Three of the foes you’ll be facing during you in droves, requiring tactics of mob Hunted’s six different chapters management and occasionally taking cover to hide from enemy arrows or magical barrages. All of this sounds like a regular hack-and-slasher, but the dialogue between the starring duo really helps to give proceedings a fun and glossy tone, with dark undertones bubbling nicely beneath the bravado. However what really stood out from our experience with the game was just how much inXile allow players to deviate from the main path. In every chapter there are opportunities to tackle Wargar Archghoul Minotaur optional sidequests. While we were Archer navigating a dark dungeon with very dank corridors and hassled intermittently by a giant spider, we discovered a room WargarArchghoulMinotaur Archer adorned with a giant up-lit treasure TheseBilledThe Minotaur uglyas the fellows ‘greatest Juggernaut are thehorror mainstayis more ever utilisedabout of the brawn Wargarin war’, than force,these brains, alongbosses but with are that their chest, at which point a wall opposite soldierandoesn’t absolute brethren. phase nightmare this Due powerful to toa lack kill. foe of Possessing armour,armed with they a blood an prefer almighty magic to stay shield axe. back Avoid and and a slid open and a pop-up emerged pepperpeskytackling firebolt foes this with monstrosity spell, arrows. these Players head guys on, shouldwill instead take be allprepared wait your for cunning himto slay to tochargelegions take andofdown. detailing an objective which would lead thesefire plenty guys. of arrows. to the mysterious container opening. Loot lust is something very few multi-format releases cater for, but it’s alive and well in Hunted, and players will often be tempted to go the extra mile for a special sword or bow, with drops

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Bash move which when activated made PLAYTEST continued the bald warrior carry out a deadly which are randomised. Special shoulder charge on enemies. Magic is weapons usually having a coloured aura the other major attack avenue, with surrounding them, so you’ll know moves often requiring little time to when you earn a good one with charge with the potential to set ablaze, the HUD offering up vital stats. electrocute and freeze enemies. “Hunted is a game It isn’t all about weapons though, Hunted is definitely a game with with plenty of as both characters also earn plenty of strings to its bow, including crystals when completing fan-requested split-screen co-op, and strings to its bow” missions which can then be from what we sampled, it could be one spent on unlocking new abilities of the few fantasy games to be a hit via the skill wheel. with not only the hardcore but the During our time playing as Caddoc casual crowd too. It’s an accessible, we unlocked an explosive orb option beautiful and cinematic experience, which worked a lot like a magical which promises an evolving and grenade, as well as a powerful Shield entertaining campaign.

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“Hunted’s melee-centric combat unted: The Demon’s Forge has enable more powerful status been designed from the ground attacks. Also, at key moments in the is a much more natural bedfellow Hup to accommodate co-operative, campaign, players will need to arm whether a player is working together ballistas to take down more powerful for co-operative play than its with a friend or an AI buddy. But what threats, while their partner slays shooter cousins” exactly does this mean in real terms? oncoming enemies. These stand-off Players begin the game either as moments are carefully placed, so Caddoc or E’lara, with the other they don’t feel routine and create that give it such a unique flavour. character appearing on-screen with great moments of tension. Hearing Caddoc and E’lara goad you – either online or locally via Every essence of combat feels a each other on during the campaign split-screen. There’s also the lot cooler whenever you tackle it with often echoes what players will be opportunity to switch between the a friend, even the dull-witted ones. doing themselves over Xbox Live, two characters whenever they come inXile are keen to throw players a PSN or Steam chat. across special obelisks liberally bone now and then with some of the Crucially, the developers have sprinkled throughout the game’s more challenging puzzles, with taken time to listen to their fans branching levels. The structure will protagonists often giving audible when creating this experience, be familiar to those who have played commands or hints about what to adding additional co-op-specific either Gears of War or Army of Two, do next. It’s a system which will be on-screen cues and rewarding but in all honesty, Hunted’s melee- appreciated by most players, players with multiple playthroughs centric combat is a much more especially as usually you just want with friends. If you have a natural bedfellow for co-operative to get on with the fighting. regular game-playing compadre play than its shooter cousins. All these elements culminate in a waiting in the wings, Hunted Taking down enemies with a really memorable co-op experience, should definitely be on both sword and shield while your but it’s the protagonists themselves your radars. compatriot hits them from afar with arrows never gets old, and inXile have gone even further to ensure teamwork is rewarded as much as possible. Gamers have the ability to revive their ally whenever they are about to expire by throwing down a respective potion in their vicinity, and they charge each other up to

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hroughout the campaign you’ll The method behind forging your variety of weapon sets. Further amass enough gold to fill Fort own gauntlet starts by choosing a details are discussed in the video TKnox, and what better way to layout on a red grid, and selecting below, but we were shocked and spend it than in Crucible mode; a a theme. From there you’ll need to impressed with just how powerful map editor which allows players to choose a location, enemy types, and easy to use it was once you’ve create elaborate dungeon runs and number grasped the basics. utilising all the enemies, Crucible mode should locations and weapons expand this title’s life from the main game. “Usually this kind of editor is exponentially, with players All the content is awarded more gold for determined by the reserved for PC owners, but this completing run-throughs, amount of gold found and the ability to share and in-game and is split into functionality is present in every download other gamer’s 29 different tiers, with version of Hunted” creative efforts online. the earliest unlock Obviously the success of granting skeleton this mode depends on how well it’s enemies and the last enabling your of waves. Finally there’s also the adopted by Hunted’s community, but run to be populated by the evil ability to transform the experience from what we’ve seen it should prove antagonist Annuvin for an impressive with mod slots, which include to be a fan favourite. 190,000 gold. Usually this kind of bonuses and hindrances such as editor is reserved for PC owners, but automatically replenishing health or this functionality is present in every adding a time limit, and the loadout version of Hunted. where players must choose from a

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EXCLUSIVE Hunting for Hits Interview We wanted to know more about Hunted so chatted to Matt Findley, the President of inXile

There have been less ‘fantasy’ fantasy backdrop. There will be a lot create a dark fantasy action game games over the past few years, of players that are familiar with this from the start and one that offers a with a lot of developers working on style of gameplay and will feel at more mature experience. We also modern concepts. Do you think home with it as soon as they get wanted to cover a large range of Hunted: The Demon’s Forge can do their hands on it. emotions, and with the story we its part to popularise the setting Beyond the accessible controls, explore themes of addiction, morality once again? we know that Hunted genuinely and betrayal. We were inspired by the The great thing about Hunted is that offers something new and exciting Middle Ages and try and give a sense it’s a modern take on the dungeon with broad appeal that will also tempt of history and tell a story through the crawl, with ‘modern’ gameplay newcomers to fantasy. environments as well. mechanics. It has universal appeal We have been talking about this That said, we also wanted to inject and applies co-op cover-based action game for years and as a team are some humour into the game and avoid game mechanics to this classic all massive fans of fantasy, and too many genre clichés. There is some formula set against a have a lot of collective experiences great banter between Caddoc and E’lara, in this area. We have a lifetime of and we use this as a device to playing and making these types lighten the mood at times. As you of games! progress through the game we have gone for some diverse The world of locations to ensure that there is Hunted is dark, lots of variety, ranging from dark violent and quite dungeons to lush forests. seedy, with plenty of skin being flashed Coupling the classic dungeon all over the place. We crawler formula with the third- aren’t complaining, person action template is really but why did the studio a no-brainer. Why do you elect for these motifs? think so few developers Our intention was to have done it successfully?

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Interview continued getting the right voice talent when blocks and crafting a game like Hunted? parameters to We’re not sure why it’s not been We wanted Lucy from the outset as create their own done before, and the initial press she is perfect for the character of levels and create an and consumer responses echoed Seraphine. Seraphine acts as a spirit experience you can this. We have wanted to create this guide and is a beguiling character, share and play game for a few decades now and and Lucy’s voice and acting online. Essentially, finally feel we are at a point from a experience was perfect. we’ve given the tools technology stand-point to deliver Casting the right voice is really to create infinite levels on this vision. important particularly for such an and modes. Although we are revitalising an important character within the plot It was an ambitious older genre, we are able to do this and one that has a complicated task but we feel we with amazing graphical fidelity and relationship with our protagonists. have pulled off a really add the co-op aspect to resonate cool system that is both with a new generation of gamers. The ability to build your own maps deep and intuitive but Also, unlike many dungeon crawlers, via the Crucible mode is a very nice not intimidating either. Hunted has a meaningful plot. We touch. How difficult was this mode also develop this template further to put together, and is it easy for Are inXile planning to by adding the concept of character players to use? add new components to ideas for Hunted 2 already. Are growth, exploration and developing It’s not so typical in a console that mode via DLC? you guys any closer to getting skills and abilities as you progress. game to be able to create your own I can’t really confirm comment but the sequel green lit? levels. We wanted to give gamers watch this space. We’re not able to confirm plans at Getting Lucy Lawless to voice the chance to create their own this stage but rest assured this is Seraphine was a massive coup for dungeons. We allow players to jump Developers from inXile have said something we are looking into and you guys. How important is in there, and provide the building before that they have plenty of have lots of great ideas.

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Let the adventure begin!

COMPETITION! Three Hunted Bundles to be won! We’ve teamed up with Bethesda to offer three lucky readers a copy of Hunted: The Demon’s Forge on their format of choice (PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360) along with an assortment of goodies associated with the dungeon crawler, including an almighty T-shirt and belt buckle! For your chance to win one of these Hunted Bundles, all you need to do is answer the question on the right-hand side of the page and enter your details before 30th June. Winners will be chosen at random at the competition’s end. Good luck!

For full competition terms and conditions, please see www.gamerzines.com

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