Vampyr (video game)
| Vampyr | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Dontnod Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | Focus Home Interactive |
| Director(s) | Philippe Moreau |
| Artist(s) | Grégory Szucs |
| Writer(s) | Stéphane Beauverger[1] |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 4 |
| Platform(s) |
Microsoft Windows PlayStation 4 Xbox One |
| Release date(s) | 2017[2] |
| Genre(s) | Action role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Vampyr is an upcoming action role-playing video game developed by Dontnod Entertainment and published by Focus Home Interactive. It will be available for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2017.
The plot revolves around vampire doctor Jonathan Reid who is coming to terms with his undead condition. He must deal with being torn between the Hippocratic Oath and his newfound bloodthirsty nature. The player is under no obligation to kill to finish the game. Dialogue options can be used for hunting prey to feed on, which replenishes strength and levels up the lead character. Melee and ranged weapons are employed while combatting enemies. London serves as a semi-open fictionalised world navigated through districts, all amenable to destruction should the average health of its citizens diminish.
Vampyr is based on the 1918 London Spanish flu pandemic. The setting was researched by travelling to London and the visuals were made with fictional and factual reference points in mind.
Gameplay
Vampyr is an action role-playing game played from a third-person view.[3] The player controls the game's protagonist Jonathan E. Reid,[4] a vampire doctor whose thirst for blood compels him to kill innocent people. To do this successfully, he must gather information about his targets—study and change their habits, collect clues and maintain certain relationships by communicating with the inhabitants of London,[5][6] which serves as a semi-open fictionalised world built around hubs of neighbourhoods tethered to other interlinking areas.[7][8]
If one so chooses, anyone in the game could be targeted, which will have consequences that affect the story.[5][9] Reid can turn people into vampires[10] and will only be able to enter a house with an invitation.[11] Locals each have their different backgrounds, relationships and daily routines. If killed, they will impart to Reid their last thought.[12] The "Mesmerise" ability can determine the behaviour of weaker targets, like coercing them into revealing important information[13] or guiding them to less conspicuous areas so as to feed without resorting to combat.[8] Feeding on human blood will unlock new vampiric powers in addition to providing nourishment.[4] One can heal injured or sick victims, and if eaten,[10] gain more from them in the process;[6] the rate of their affliction can be viewed using Reid's vampire senses.[14] Each district will have a score based on the average health of its citizens.[15] It is possible to finish the game without taking a life,[3] which best preserves the character's cover as a doctor[16] but leaves him incapable of levelling up.[1] Reid can wield improvised melee weapons, such as a saw, as well as ranged weapons in the fight against other vampires, mutated vampires known as "skulls",[lower-alpha 1] and vampire slayers, who can more easily detect Reid's kind.[5][14][17] Weapon improvement through crafting is made possible by looting items from the bodies of victims. While using vampiric powers in combat, the player character's health and energy drains. This forces him to feed so he can immediately replenish his strength.[4] With the vitality attained from killing a human being, Reid is able to boil the blood of his enemies and cast blood spears.[18] He can also utilise his "Spring" ability to scale locations otherwise out of reach and charge more rapidly across gaps,[3][8] which once upgraded can do damage on impact and grant temporary invincibility.[19] The capacity to rush forward at unusual momentum may be deployed to avoid combat altogether.[20]
Development
The development began with a team of 60 people – later expanded to around 80 –[21] many of whom worked on Dontnod Entertainment's previous project Life Is Strange.[6] For a short time, the developer considered to set the game in 1950s America,[9] but to inspire a more gothic mood it was discarded in favour of the 1918 London Spanish flu pandemic. Art director Grégory Szucs stated that the paintings of Phil Hale influenced the art style, also for the purpose of atmosphere.[2] Dontnod conducted field research on the setting by visiting London and taking photographs,[6] and studied the events surrounding the period, using both factual and fictional reference points to create the visuals, realised with photorealistic lighting,[22] and post-processes running on the Unreal Engine 4.[5][2]
The killing of innocents in the game as the price for immortality is intended to explore the dualism of the protagonist's survival as a vampire while also being a doctor, either by adhering to the Hippocratic Oath or capitulating to the vampiric nature.[2][23]
In August 2016, Dontnod had overcome the major obstacles in developing the game on Xbox One and assured that there would be no downgrades despite its hardware disadvantages.[24]
Notes
References
- 1 2 Benson, Julian (6 April 2016). "The Life is Strange Developer's New Game is Kind of Twisted". Kotaku.
- 1 2 3 4 Makuch, Eddie (2 December 2015). "This New World War 1 Vampire Game Explores a "Dark and Brutal" World". GameSpot.
- 1 2 3 Robertson, John (29 February 2016). "Dontnod's new game Vampyr is nothing like Life Is Strange". VG247.
- 1 2 3 Nunneley, Stephany (18 June 2015). "Dontnod releases a teaser and details on its upcoming RPG Vampyr". VG247.
- 1 2 3 4 Moreau, Philippe (2 December 2015). "Everything you need to know about Vampyr, from the team behind Life is Strange". PlayStation Blog.
- 1 2 3 4 Diver, Mike (29 February 2016). "Exploring 'Vampyr', the New Game from 'Life Is Strange' Developers Dontnod". Vice.
- ↑ Bolding, Jonathan (29 February 2016). "With Vampyr, Life is Strange Developers Take A Dark Twist". The Escapist.
- 1 2 3 Robertson, John (29 February 2016). "Vampyr: Life Is Strange Developer Takes on the Undead". IGN.
- 1 2 Farokhmanesh, Megan (25 April 2016). "From Life is Strange to Vampyr: Dontnod's dark turn". Polygon.
- 1 2 3 Delahunty-Light, Zoe (14 November 2016). "Life is Strange team's new game Vampyr lets you kill EVERYONE to save London, or destroy it". GamesRadar.
- ↑ Maguire, Matt (21 June 2016). "Vampyr captures the horror of being forced to take a life". Gameplanet.
- ↑ Totilo, Stephen (29 June 2016). "In Their Next Game, Life Is Strange Developers Are Tempting You To Make Evil Choices". Kotaku.
- ↑ "Vampyr Gameplay Showcase - IGN Live: E3 2016". IGN. 16 June 2016.
- 1 2 3 Vazquez, Jessica (21 June 2016). "E3 2016: Eat, Pray, and Brood in Dontnod's Upcoming Game, Vampyr". Game Revolution.
- ↑ Farokhmanesh, Megan (22 June 2016). "Vampyr focuses on the type of bloodsuckers we know best: the scary ones". Polygon.
- ↑ Eiser, Martin (29 February 2016). "Dontnod's next game is another fresh IP, and this one looks like it's got real bite.". Gamereactor.
- 1 2 Stuart, Keith (28 June 2016). "Vampyr – at last, an interesting game about vampires". The Guardian.
- ↑ Relph, Lauren (21 September 2016). "Interview with the Vampyr… Xbox One art director". Windows Central.
- ↑ Griliopoulos, Dan (7 March 2016). "Unlife is strange in Vampyr". PC Gamer.
- ↑ Moreau, Philippe (29 September 2016). "Get to Know the Combat System of Vampyr on PS4". PlayStation Blog.
- ↑ Handrahan, Matthew (18 October 2016). ""There are not as many questions. We have more freedom now"". GamesIndustry.biz.
- ↑ Unreal Engine (6 July 2016). E3 2016 - Vampyr Developer Interview. YouTube.
- ↑ Chalk, Andy (18 June 2015). "You'll be able to feed on anyone in Vampyr, the RPG about a vampire doctor". PC Gamer.
- ↑ Parijat, Pramath (23 August 2016). "Vampyr On Xbox One Won't Have Any Kind of Downgrade, Major Development Hurdles Already Passed". GamingBolt.com.