Rise of the Argonauts
Preview
Greek mythology at its best
by Vyle
previewed on PC
Gameplay
Jason isn’t just an explorer though. He needs to be able to fend off the many villains who seek to end his quest, and therefore, he comes equipped with combat in mind. Codemasters says that they are striving for ‘lethality’, with regards to the combat. Meaning that their engine detects whether Jason and his allies’ weapons have struck a shield, or flesh, and causing the characters to react accordingly. This will lead to more realistic and strategic battles, where approaching the right enemy with the right weapon, and even from the right angle, will make a huge difference.
Jason’s allies also follow an unconventional, but potentially ground breaking fighting style. Rather than granting the player complete, or even partial control over their allies, the Argonauts do as they please. Hercules will happily tear through the enemies bare handed, sending limbs flailing all over the battleground. But should Jason step close to the big man, he’ll switch his AI from ripping enemies limb from limb, to setting up team attacks, such as holding an enemy in place while Jason lops his head off. This is the proximity AI system that in theory could revolutionize squad based real time RPG battles.
Outside the combat, Rise of the Argonauts offers another refreshing concept, currently known as Deeds. These deeds are similar to achievement points on the Xbox 360 and range from killing certain numbers of enemies, to finding secret areas and winning the favor of different characters. These deeds, when accumulated are stored until you reach an altar that belongs to a God. When there, the deeds can be cashed in, so to speak, with Jason claiming he performed the deeds in the name of that particular deity. This will gain the God’s favor and reward you with benefits associated with them, such as equipment and ‘Miracles’. These ‘miracles’ could be combat assistance that can randomly take place during a battle, driving enemies wild and attacking each other, with other miracles also promised.
Favor doesn’t come without a price, though. If you gain favor with one God, you lose favor with their rival, and torments can be inflicted during battle (miracles that benefit the enemy). Each God comes with benefits that will drastically affect the way the game is played, so it would be a good idea to choose your God wisely.
Something to look forward to
Everything about this game currently screams passion, from the interestingly thought out setting and game mechanics, to the impressive art style. Certainly, Codemasters and Liquid Entertainment are taking this project seriously, and if it all turns out well, RPG fans will have something other than Final Fantasy XIII to be looking forward to.
With all that potential, here’s hoping Liquid Entertainment’s Odyssey provides another slice of epic gaming by way of Ancient Greece.
