Too Human

[ugh the boot]

I thought i'd start a thread on my most anticipated game at the moment (not including anything Resident Evil...as usual). I've been very lucky so far because a couple of recent games that I was anticipating quite a bit have been released well above my expectations (Bioshock, Halo 3 & Stranglehold). Too Human now being top on the list has me excited for a couple of reasons....well actually 1 reason....it's from the makers of Eternal Darkness. One of my favourite games last gen not because of the graphics and not even because of the gameplay (although both these elements were top notch) it was something in a game that I never realised was going to have such a huge impact on me and to an extent I guess it already had but it took Eternal Darkness for me to realise what that was.....atmosphere. Eternal Darkness was set in a number of different periods but there was 1 element to all the different levels/characters that was cohesive the whole game and that was the attention to detail....not just in the levels but in the characters, enemies, items, weapons....everything....every facet of the game had been crafted to fit other aspects of design to a tee. From the authentic styles of holding/using weapons to the fatigue the characters would experience all the way through to environmental effects and design. I will admit sound was the next most impressive aspect of the game for me....the voice acting was up there with the best i've heard and the themes that were used in the game actually catered for my tastes perfectly (love H.P Lovecraft, Horror etc). So despite Too Human actually being wrought with delays because this game actually began production on the Ps1 in 1994 would you believe and has gone onto the Gamecube and has now finally ended up on the 360...an article from IGN that covers this: http://au.xbox360.ign.com/articles/781/781430p1.html

At first glance there are a few things about Too Human that make it seem like it will be quite different from Eternal Darkness, but one thing I do know is that the world will be consistent and chock full of detail, i'm also looking foward to the sound design as Silicon Knights have shown me that this can completely alter my experience of a game if done perfectly.

There has been quite a bit of controversy surrounding the game....mainly because the game has been in procduction for about 13 years from initial conception so there is a lot of doubt whether or not the developers are really able to pull it off. Personally I think when a developer has shown you previously that they are able to achieve projects with such high quality (Legacy of Kain series & Eternal Darkness) that we should have a little more faith in them. Would you release something to the public that was very close to your heart before you had time to perfect it? I know I wouldn't! Also more recently there has been the controversy of the Unreal 3 engine debacle with Epic, not too sure where the lawsuits have ended up (Silicon Knights sued Epic for basically lying about what the U3 engine could do because they have not been provided with sufficient updates/patches supporting early claims and Epic have countersued saying they never said anything of the sort and when other devs are having no problems with it Silicon Knights are just trying to point the finger of blame) so if anyone has any updated info on that it would be much appreciated.

In any case the best place to check out some of the updates for this game are on the official blogs by the developers which can be found at this website address: http://blogs.ign.com/silicon-knights

I know I could be setting myself up for dissapointment quite a lot by putting a lot of faith into this game and it's devs but that's the sort of effect Eternal Darkness had on me. I had never cared about detail and atmosphere in a game to that extent before and even though there were lots of elements of the game which I didn't like (spell and combat system) i'd never felt that sort of longing to see one more area/character or to pickup one more item in a game before. Everything just seemed to have this history/backstory about it that didn't make exploration seem trivial at all and I was immersed tenfold. I really really hope Silicon Knights can recreate this sort of atmosphere and attention to detail in Too Human and although the idea of norse mythology in the future where man battles machines in a tundric wasteland isn't the highest on my list of game settings if done right I can see myself again being completely engrossed in an adventure that Silicon Knights has crafted.

I know I haven't really covered much of the actual gameplay such as the fact that it will be an action game with lots of RPG elements such as levelling up, item collection and quite a lengthy single-player campaign which is supposed to be co-op the whole game (like Gears of War and Halo) but most of these details can be found on the Too Human blogs (the link of which I posted earlier above). Not due for release till early 2008 (I really hope it doesn't get pushed back any further as my faith could start to wane)

Anyways here's some screens....as you can see the game is actually quite gorgeous and I can imagine this sort of attention to detail will be consistent throughout the entire game (judging by the experiences of the past):







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Wii Friend Code: ugh - 0264 5224 8589 9060
Ps3 Id: ugh_the_boot

[Itachi]

ohhh yeah i can't wait for this game. The best thing i heard about this game was that you will be able to use your maxed out character from Too Human and use it for the next game and level him up even more. I can't wait for it. It's on my must purchase games
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[Karai Pantsu]

OGODTHOSENEWSCREENSHOTSAREHOT!!!

That fourth one down? Showing the details of the 'troll'? Awesome, pure awesome.

I wonder, if it lives up to its possibilities, will Too Human become the Next Big Thing on the XBOX after the Halo trilogy? I hope so. Really want this game to turn out well.
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[Capoeira]

I really wanted to like this game for the same reason you pointed at; these guys made Eternal Darkness, but I just can't get over the art direction.

The overall look of the game is so incredibly unappealing to me. The enemies, the armour, even the environments to an extent. There's a cold, dead look to everything that I just can't 'warm' to. I can appreciate that they are taking the subject matter of Norse Mythology in a totally different direction, but that direction is one that does very little to grab my attention.

It's such a shame seeing as I respect SK as a developer and have a huge interest in all things Mythology but they could not have got the art in the game any more wrong, IMO. It's a complete turn off.

IGN also have some more recent media from the game; a Video Diary focusing on the lead character Baldur as well as a new trailer.
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Say You Want A Revolution

[ugh the boot]

Yea I have to admit 'space/futuristic' locales/settings aren't my favourite either (infact it's my least favourite), but if you look closely at maybe the first 4 screens i've posted there is a real hybrid there....it's like a futuristic look combined with a very feral type of machine....they look thick and brutal...kinda like a primitive monster would not to mention that the game is supposed to be based around an environement which is in ruins (old or new....ruins FTW!!). I just love how everything looks dirty or worn, even the characters have scars, their armour is damaged and upon even closer inspection (at some of the other screens) you can see huge statues looming in the backgrounds hinting to an age of old which could've been a lot more spiritual or old fashioned in nature.
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Wii Friend Code: ugh - 0264 5224 8589 9060
Ps3 Id: ugh_the_boot

[ObsoletE]

this was one title behind my want of an Xbox.

the concept behind the interaction of man and machine with cyborgs and the like is incredibly appealing to me (see: my username) and games there simply aren't enough titles that deal with this.
additionally, i love high-fantasy games, so a combination of High-Scifi and High-Fantasy is a match made in valhalla for me.

the issue between Epic and SK has me a little concerned, but i think i'll leave my faith with SK, as, like UtB, ED and the Legacy of Kain games are amongst my favourite titles ever.

looking at those screens, and knowing the Shadowrun Lore - it makes me wonder what the Shadowrun game would've been like had SK been hired to make it.
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My Play-Asia Affiliate Link.

[Karai Pantsu]

[B3NBO]

I have loved the look of this game ever since it was announced it will be the best game to come out, but it probably wont be out for quite a while. I can't wait for it though the graphics are beautiful I love the art direction and it sounds really fun.

[ohayes]

definitely one of my most anticipated titles for the 360, I have absolute faith that this game will be great and Dyack will pull it off again
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[LeonJ]

Well done boot. Good write up and post.

I am expecting big things from this title. I want this to be a cinematic experience. I love the feel of the trailers and think this could be an epic game.

That and it's coming out early next year when it's normally a gaming drought.
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Shin J Leon.

XBL - LeonJ
PSN - LeonJ

[Capoeira]

[Sin Ogaris]

Yeah, I'm with Cap, I loved the style they had when it was initially announced (for GC), what with the big fat dude with feces all over him. Now it's a bit too much grey and blue and OMG the same!

That being said it is one of my most anticipated games, and has been for a long time, this game will be incredible, it's SK, it can't be anything but.

[NismoR34]

Once again Ugh we share a similar taste in games.

Too Human is definitely one of my most anticipated games from next year and when you consider that games like GTA IV and Alan Wake are also due next year, 2008 is already shaping up to be as good as this year has been so far.

I'm loving the art direction of the game and what SK are doing with the Norse mythology of it all as well. Plus as you've mentioned, it's Silicon Knights - the same guys behind the brilliant Eternal Darkness. That alone is enough to get me excited, so seeing what they've done with it so far and it also being extremely awesome is just a bonus really.
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Raptured Reality

[Karai Pantsu]

Bunch of new stuff to help slake your thirst for Too Human:

1up has a hands-on preview of Too Human up! Sounds pretty good so far - framerate is pretty much solid now, although capped at 30fps. But, really, with it looking so hot 60fps was a stretch. Also, it pretty much sits right between action and RPG (50/50 split). Although I'm not sure about the choice to remove the player so far from combat (push right stick towards enemy to melee...) - but its pointless getting too worked up about that without trying it.
They have a good streaming vid linked that briefly shows the different character types (among other things).

Also Kotaku posted a cool new (short) video called 'Man vs. Machine' - but instead of linking to that low-res streaming version I'll point you at the HD version on GameTrailers

Edit: Hrmm, just checked the 1up preview and it doesn't link to the classes video - so here it is.
Sorry!
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[ugh the boot]