Post by Onix Solo on Oct 15, 2011 23:15:11 GMT -5
So I just got my Gameinformer, and the main article is all about Fall of Cybertron so here are the details:
Campaign[/u]
So, War for Cybertron had a pretty good campaign, but it lacked variety in enemies, game play styles, and settings. This time around, High Moon plans on changing this.
Gone is the completely co-op campaign. High Moon sadly cut it (they expressed their sadness for having to do this as well in favor of a more focused and varied single player campaign. This time around, the campaign is one, linear story. No Decepticon and Autobot campaigns, just on straight campaign. It begins with the Autobots, then the middle consists of decepticon centric story, and then back to the Autobots for the end of Fall of Cybertron's story.
They wanted a more varying game with a deeper story. Cutting co-op means that characters can be vastly different from each other. Each character has its own unique play style, ability and starter weapon.
The story centers around the exodus of Cybertron. Cybertron is dying. The story picks up right after WFC, but has been crafted as a good jumping on point for new comers. I'll discuss a few of the story elements next when I discuss the characters revealed so far.
They have also made enemies more varied and interesting. Enemies are now varied around the character and mission you are in. Many AI characters are unique to those very levels and game play styles. Gone are the cookie cutter enemies of WFC, where the Autobot and Decepticon AI were just reskinned versions of each other.
Characters
So the article reveals many characters that are part of the campaign, which makes me wonder just how many more are are to come that they are revealing these this early. The list of characters mentioned (or alluded to) in the article is as follows: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Jazz, Grimlock, Metroplex, Shockwave, Starscream, Megatron, Vortex, Brawl, Onslaught, Swindle, Blastoff, Bruticus. These aren't all specifically playable, but they are part of the game. But lets focus on the playable characters.
First up, Bumblebee. You start the game as Bumblebee. This first level is actually the end of the story. You are taught the controls and get hand of the game, all while aboard the Ark, fighting off the Decepticons as they pursue in the Nemesis and board the Ark. Eventually, the Decepticon take the control room, and in an act of self sacrifice to save Optimus from Megatron, Bumblebee throws himself in front of Megatron's canon blast. Bumblebee's optics fade and the story flashes back.
Cliffjumpers part in the campaign revolves around him and Jazz on a secret mission to find one of the Autobots greatest warriors who has gone missing, Grimlock. Cliffjumpers level revolves around stealth gameplay, and so, Cliffs special ability is cloaking. The part of the story they did talk about for Clkiffjumper involves him trying to get to Jazz, who has been trapped in collapsed rubble. In this level, enemies can be avoided, but they keep watch for anything abnormal. Some, when alerted to a possible cloaked enemy, can send out a pulse to knock out you cloak. These enemies switch between 3 modes. normally they patrol a given path, but when alerted to your presences, they change appearance with some fancy head gear for detecting cloaked enemies. When they are engaged they switch to battle mode, where they gain some extra armor and their weapons transform out.
Later, after being rescued, Jazz get a level all about moving quick and being smooth. Jazz's special ability is a tractor-beam grappling hook, allowing him to zip around to different platforms (in and Arkham Asylum kind of way) and get excellent sniping positions. Then he has his super sleek sports car mode for fast movement and get aways.
Grimlocks story is pretty interesting. Grimlock and his strike force have gone missing. Grimlock, not agreeing with Optimus's decision to leave Cybetron, has deserted, along with his team. Unfortunately, they have found themselves captives of Shockwave. Shockwave has been running experiments on them and the Insecticons (I guess evolved forms of the spiders from he first game from the sounds of it). Shockwave has reshaped Grimlock into a life form scanned from a very primitive planet (earth) in an attempt to create the ultimate destructive force. This comes at a price, as it has negative effect on it subject. Grimlock has taken the hit in his speech center, unable to communicate beyond that of a barbarian, even though he still retains his strategic mind. At some point, Starscream (playable, but not elaborated on) comes across Grimlock in Shockwaves lab (Grimlock is quite large compared to the seeker). He attempts to use Grimlock to his advantage by offering him a chance to work with him. Grimlock uses the opportunity to get free, and then beats the living crap out of Starscream. Grimlocks level involves a tirade through Shockwaves lab (possibly to free his other team members) while fighting Shockwaves Insecticons. Grimlocks play style changes as he posses only his sword and a gigantic shield. He also is unable to transform on command. Instead, as he destroys and rampages he build up rage, and when fully built he transforms in the lumbering T-Rex mode and becomes a fire breathing titan of destruction. Shredding Insecticons in a fury of teeth and flame.
On the Decepticons side, Vortex take center stage for a level where he is to stop a convoy of energon from making it to the ark. Apparently this level shows off the larger scale of some of the levels. Vortex is helicopter meets jet. In his hover mode he has helicopter rotors, but kick it into high gear and the rotors transform away and jet engines transform out. Vortex is tasked with weakening a bridge for Brawl to finish off. Vortex;s special is the shock wave ability from the first game ( though I'd assume with some tweaks) to keep enemies away from him while on the ground. At some point, the rest of the Combaticons join up with Vortex, and in a level sure to please all of us, they merge into Bruticus for a playable level of all out destruction.
It's not exactly stated where Optimus's part in the story falls in the campaign. Optimus rushes into battle to stop the Decepticons from hindering the Arks launch. opotimus now sports a new design, and looks massive (I still think I prefer WFC Optimus, but this one is still awesome). Optimus's special ability is to call down an artillery strike, which he uses through out the level to thwart the overwhelming Decepticons. Optimus ends up on a massive gun, raining fire down on the Decepticons, but it isn't enough. Guided by the Matrix, he leaves the gun and enters into old part of the city. Old doors open for him and he realizes this is no normal city. He ask it for it's help, and the city begins to shiznitz into the massive Metroplex (larger than Omega or Trypticon) and Optimus stands in his palm. Metroplex queries Prime on what he commands him to do. (Possible Metroplex level?)
Megatron was also shown, and also sports a new design (and looks very awesome), but little else was revealed. his new appearance supposedly plays a huge part inf the story though.
Weapons, Gadgets, and Mechanics[/u]
If you've read the article about the weapons, you know most of the information on this, so I'm keeping this brief. All characters have a primary and secondary weapons, as well as an offensive and defensive equipment (not really elaborated on) and a set of grenades. Weapons can all be upgraded with energon you collect from enemies killed. You will find Teletran Terminals throughout the game that allows you to spend energon on your weapons to unlock significant upgrades to your weapons of choice.
The mechanics of the game have changed slightly. Every character can sprint and boost dodge. The camera is tighter on the character for a more focused gun play. You can also change the shoulder you look over with a tap of the button, to make looking around corners easier. Health now regenerates, and is no longer the segmented health bar from the first game.
Multiplayer
They didn't elaborate much on multiplayer, but ti is back. They talked briefly about customization. There are 4 classes again, but this time around, instead of just choosing a character model and colors, you choose individual parts from several choices, each providing varying abilities and stat changes. I believe it said you can choose between head, arms, legs and chest. You can then change the colors and choose their voice.
They also hinted at Escalation mode, but they didn't talk much about it other than to say they know fans like it and want it to return.
I will try and get some scans of some of the images.
Campaign[/u]
So, War for Cybertron had a pretty good campaign, but it lacked variety in enemies, game play styles, and settings. This time around, High Moon plans on changing this.
Gone is the completely co-op campaign. High Moon sadly cut it (they expressed their sadness for having to do this as well in favor of a more focused and varied single player campaign. This time around, the campaign is one, linear story. No Decepticon and Autobot campaigns, just on straight campaign. It begins with the Autobots, then the middle consists of decepticon centric story, and then back to the Autobots for the end of Fall of Cybertron's story.
They wanted a more varying game with a deeper story. Cutting co-op means that characters can be vastly different from each other. Each character has its own unique play style, ability and starter weapon.
The story centers around the exodus of Cybertron. Cybertron is dying. The story picks up right after WFC, but has been crafted as a good jumping on point for new comers. I'll discuss a few of the story elements next when I discuss the characters revealed so far.
They have also made enemies more varied and interesting. Enemies are now varied around the character and mission you are in. Many AI characters are unique to those very levels and game play styles. Gone are the cookie cutter enemies of WFC, where the Autobot and Decepticon AI were just reskinned versions of each other.
Characters
So the article reveals many characters that are part of the campaign, which makes me wonder just how many more are are to come that they are revealing these this early. The list of characters mentioned (or alluded to) in the article is as follows: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Jazz, Grimlock, Metroplex, Shockwave, Starscream, Megatron, Vortex, Brawl, Onslaught, Swindle, Blastoff, Bruticus. These aren't all specifically playable, but they are part of the game. But lets focus on the playable characters.
First up, Bumblebee. You start the game as Bumblebee. This first level is actually the end of the story. You are taught the controls and get hand of the game, all while aboard the Ark, fighting off the Decepticons as they pursue in the Nemesis and board the Ark. Eventually, the Decepticon take the control room, and in an act of self sacrifice to save Optimus from Megatron, Bumblebee throws himself in front of Megatron's canon blast. Bumblebee's optics fade and the story flashes back.
Cliffjumpers part in the campaign revolves around him and Jazz on a secret mission to find one of the Autobots greatest warriors who has gone missing, Grimlock. Cliffjumpers level revolves around stealth gameplay, and so, Cliffs special ability is cloaking. The part of the story they did talk about for Clkiffjumper involves him trying to get to Jazz, who has been trapped in collapsed rubble. In this level, enemies can be avoided, but they keep watch for anything abnormal. Some, when alerted to a possible cloaked enemy, can send out a pulse to knock out you cloak. These enemies switch between 3 modes. normally they patrol a given path, but when alerted to your presences, they change appearance with some fancy head gear for detecting cloaked enemies. When they are engaged they switch to battle mode, where they gain some extra armor and their weapons transform out.
Later, after being rescued, Jazz get a level all about moving quick and being smooth. Jazz's special ability is a tractor-beam grappling hook, allowing him to zip around to different platforms (in and Arkham Asylum kind of way) and get excellent sniping positions. Then he has his super sleek sports car mode for fast movement and get aways.
Grimlocks story is pretty interesting. Grimlock and his strike force have gone missing. Grimlock, not agreeing with Optimus's decision to leave Cybetron, has deserted, along with his team. Unfortunately, they have found themselves captives of Shockwave. Shockwave has been running experiments on them and the Insecticons (I guess evolved forms of the spiders from he first game from the sounds of it). Shockwave has reshaped Grimlock into a life form scanned from a very primitive planet (earth) in an attempt to create the ultimate destructive force. This comes at a price, as it has negative effect on it subject. Grimlock has taken the hit in his speech center, unable to communicate beyond that of a barbarian, even though he still retains his strategic mind. At some point, Starscream (playable, but not elaborated on) comes across Grimlock in Shockwaves lab (Grimlock is quite large compared to the seeker). He attempts to use Grimlock to his advantage by offering him a chance to work with him. Grimlock uses the opportunity to get free, and then beats the living crap out of Starscream. Grimlocks level involves a tirade through Shockwaves lab (possibly to free his other team members) while fighting Shockwaves Insecticons. Grimlocks play style changes as he posses only his sword and a gigantic shield. He also is unable to transform on command. Instead, as he destroys and rampages he build up rage, and when fully built he transforms in the lumbering T-Rex mode and becomes a fire breathing titan of destruction. Shredding Insecticons in a fury of teeth and flame.
On the Decepticons side, Vortex take center stage for a level where he is to stop a convoy of energon from making it to the ark. Apparently this level shows off the larger scale of some of the levels. Vortex is helicopter meets jet. In his hover mode he has helicopter rotors, but kick it into high gear and the rotors transform away and jet engines transform out. Vortex is tasked with weakening a bridge for Brawl to finish off. Vortex;s special is the shock wave ability from the first game ( though I'd assume with some tweaks) to keep enemies away from him while on the ground. At some point, the rest of the Combaticons join up with Vortex, and in a level sure to please all of us, they merge into Bruticus for a playable level of all out destruction.
It's not exactly stated where Optimus's part in the story falls in the campaign. Optimus rushes into battle to stop the Decepticons from hindering the Arks launch. opotimus now sports a new design, and looks massive (I still think I prefer WFC Optimus, but this one is still awesome). Optimus's special ability is to call down an artillery strike, which he uses through out the level to thwart the overwhelming Decepticons. Optimus ends up on a massive gun, raining fire down on the Decepticons, but it isn't enough. Guided by the Matrix, he leaves the gun and enters into old part of the city. Old doors open for him and he realizes this is no normal city. He ask it for it's help, and the city begins to shiznitz into the massive Metroplex (larger than Omega or Trypticon) and Optimus stands in his palm. Metroplex queries Prime on what he commands him to do. (Possible Metroplex level?)
Megatron was also shown, and also sports a new design (and looks very awesome), but little else was revealed. his new appearance supposedly plays a huge part inf the story though.
Weapons, Gadgets, and Mechanics[/u]
If you've read the article about the weapons, you know most of the information on this, so I'm keeping this brief. All characters have a primary and secondary weapons, as well as an offensive and defensive equipment (not really elaborated on) and a set of grenades. Weapons can all be upgraded with energon you collect from enemies killed. You will find Teletran Terminals throughout the game that allows you to spend energon on your weapons to unlock significant upgrades to your weapons of choice.
The mechanics of the game have changed slightly. Every character can sprint and boost dodge. The camera is tighter on the character for a more focused gun play. You can also change the shoulder you look over with a tap of the button, to make looking around corners easier. Health now regenerates, and is no longer the segmented health bar from the first game.
Multiplayer
They didn't elaborate much on multiplayer, but ti is back. They talked briefly about customization. There are 4 classes again, but this time around, instead of just choosing a character model and colors, you choose individual parts from several choices, each providing varying abilities and stat changes. I believe it said you can choose between head, arms, legs and chest. You can then change the colors and choose their voice.
They also hinted at Escalation mode, but they didn't talk much about it other than to say they know fans like it and want it to return.
I will try and get some scans of some of the images.