Preview - Ryse: Son of Rome
Ryse might just be the best looking game we've ever seen on a console. Developer Crytek has a long history of creating stunning looking titles in the Crysis series, but this really looks a cut above what we've witnessed elsewhere. Lighting reflects off armour beautifully, fire effects are a joy to behold while the art style is simply lovely. If this is what the next-generation is capable of, we're more than happy with the results.
Players will be taking charge of Marius Titus, a Roman general and all round badass warrior. Ryse is set in an alternate timeline so events aren't based on a true story, but Crytek is taking inspiration from real incidents that occurred in Roman times and using that to develop the game's combat and tactics. Without wanting to spoil anything, Marius is on a quest for revenge and seemingly nothing can stand in his way.
It might be great to look at, but what about the most important aspect - gameplay? Well, it turns out that's pretty solid too, if a little unspectacular. There are only really two attack moves, and you trigger these by using the X and Y buttons on the controller. That doesn't leave much room for experimentation, and combined with the block and roll buttons it won't be long before you've pretty much mastered the combat system.
That doesn't mean Ryse is a hack and slash game though, and it feels nothing like a God of War or a Devil May Cry. It's a much slower, more thoughtful affair which works well, however we're unsure if the combat will keep you entertained by the time you've reached the midway point of the game as fighting can seem like a tiring practice after the first few levels.
Crytek are changing things up a bit with what they call executions, and these are different quick-time events that can trigger some pretty gruesome animations. Unlike the demo shown at E3 earlier this year, you're not told what to do during an execution by different buttons appearing above an enemy's head. Instead your foe will flash blue or yellow several different times and you have to press the right button at the right time.
Accomplishing the quick-time event perfectly will result in a better looking execution, a better rating and restored health. Apparently there are over 100 different execution animations to see throughout the entirety of Ryse, which is nice considering you'll probably be executing thousands of adversaries throughout your journey.
As Marius is one of the finest Roman warriors around he also gets to command an army during battle. This can include telling archers when to shoot or working as part of a shielded tortoise that the Romans were famous for. It's a great way to break up the constant action of You vs. The World and make you feel like you're involved in a larger struggle. You can even use the Kinect to shout voice commands like, "Fire!" which will probably frighten the life out of anybody who overhears you.
We managed to test out a level around halfway through the game's main story and it involved Marius and his troops seeking to free some imprisoned Romans. The level was set at night in a fear-inducing forest and there were traps placed everywhere that you had to destroy, otherwise you were instantly killed. Coming across a prison site with campfires was a perfect setting for showing off the power of the Xbox One, with the lighting effects being among the best we've ever seen.
At the end we were treated to a boss battle, but unfortunately this came across as quite tedious. Bosses have a large health bar and overpowering attacks that you have to avoid by rolling out of the way. After a boss has his back turned you can then attack and chip away at his health, but you have to repeat this several times before getting anywhere. At the end you're treated to a nice cut scene but overall it didn't hit the highs of what we'd experienced earlier in the game.
As it stands, Ryse is one of the most visually stunning games we've seen on a console and the perfect game to show off what the Xbox One can do. Concerns come in the form of tiresome combat and draining boss battles, but the mechanics all work well and it definitely looks like something that could keep us engaged right up until the story's finale. This could end up being the surprise hit for the Xbox One.