TechSmart 121, October 2013 TechSmart 132, September 2014 | Page 47

GAMES

Gamers gone Wild
Another new game announcement,
this time coming from Michel Ansel,
the man behind Rayman and Beyond
Good and Evil, is Wild. While it’s not
yet clear what the game is actually
about, there’s no disputing that the
PS4 exclusive has no shortage of
ambitions. Apparently players will be
able to slip into the form of any wild
creature they desire. Additionally,
Wild will boast an open world the size
of Europe (yes, really) with its own
seasons and weather (presumably
not just rain) set to take place 10 000
years ago. In other words, it appears
to be set in a time when men were
men, or wolves, or eagles, or boars
(not the kind you find at cocktail
parties, the other kind).

Now for something familiar
Remember Quantum Break? Of course you don’t. Well, Gamescom confirmed that the Xbox One time
bending action title, which is envisioned as being one part action game and another part live action show,
has not fallen into a black hole. The gist of the ambitious game/series is that players will need to contend with
a shady corporation (aren’t they always?) called Monarch, as well as a fracture in time which would wreck far
more than just your next long weekend. Here’s hoping we see a mashup between Fringe and Alias.
Another title that to date has offered only glimpses, and again featured at Gamescom, is Bloodborne. What
you need to know is that it is courtesy of From Software (Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2), and thus you can
fully expect a grim and spooky world and gargantuan or genuinely intimidating foes, who are apparently
dedicated to spilling as much of your vital blood as possible. Highlighted at the show was the game’s
Regain system, in which players are encouraged to deal damage in an eye-for-an-eye approach after being
struck by their enemy, and thus garner the chance to recover some of their lost health.

And something even Beta
Rounding off the show were two beta announcements; the first of these that up to four players will be able to
return to Albion in Fable Legends, with that beta coming on the 16th of October. As if that is not enough to
cause the Xbox One faithful to shout from the rooftops, the Halo 5: Guardians beta was slated for 29th of
December, and will run until 18th January, hardly coincidentally, just in time for the holidays. Those picking up
the Halo: The Master Chief Collection on the 11th of November will have immediate access.
So did Gamescom deliver the goods? We dare answer in the affirmative. Hold onto your wallets, because it
looks like the rest of 2014, and well into 2015, is going to be an amazing time ahead for gamers. [RN]

September 2014 | TechSmart

45