Running on a brand new Techland developed engine, Hellraid is a new IP from the same people who’ve brought us Dead Island and the upcoming Dying Light. At Gamescom this year, I got access to a behind closed doors screening of the new hack n’ loot-er.
Reminiscent, in appearance, of the hand to hand combat in the Elder Scrolls series, Hellraid offers up some good old brutal, first person melee action. Following a soldier who’s abandoned his post in search of both his family and answers, Hellraid takes you on a gruesome trek through dazzling vistas, procedural dungeons and hordes of hellish enemies.
Whilst at a glance, the combat may resemble a trip into Skyrim’s world, in motion, it quickly becomes clear that there is much more going on under the hood. On top of being able to wield all manners of death instruments from maces to staves, there is also an underlying feeling of weight during each swing and hammer blow. Decapitations and limb dismemberment occur often enough to still be entertaining, yet rare enough to be something to look forward too. According to the developers, it’s not only sword wielding lunatics that get all the fun either; as those who love the ranged staff attacks are also able to lop limbs off.
Whilst facing off against multiple enemies, the evasive dodge proved invaluable; with correct timing, could be used in conjunction with heavy attacks to exploit the enemies speed. Upon encountering a ranged archer, the video depicted the player selecting an upgrade from the mesmerising skill tree, to equip a shield. According to the devs, the game has over 100 upgrades to work yourself through, ranging from passive abilities such as magic resistance, to more active skills that could alter your playstyle.
Like all good RPG’s, Hellraid possesses a loot system to handle any weapon cravings you might have, upgrades can not only affect the statistical natures, but also can be enchanted with other effects too. Combined with the character levels and procedural dungeons, I’m hoping that the game will have extensive longevity written all over it.
Whilst the demo on show did have some repeating enemy animations, particularly when fighting multiple renditions of the same enemy type, we’ve still got until 2015 for the Techland to sort out any technical issues. Running their new engine has certainly paid dividends in terms of graphical fidelity. The surrounding landscapes and texture details looked astounding; the sound effects sound suitably meaty too.
As one of my favourite games from the event, 2015 can’t come quickly enough; I truly can’t wait to get my hands on it.
