A few weeks ago, I was searching for a few more hints on 3ds Max magics, but accidentally (or by luck of fate), I got hold of a new, innovative and curious FPS game: NecroVisioN, due to be released May 15th. I played it and, strangely for my little attention to FPS, I liked it.
The game itself uses a creative mix of vampires, demons, a bit of resident evil zombie touch and the desperating ambience of World War I. In NecroVisioN, you take the role of Simon Bukner, a young wanna-be-hero who joins the British forces to fight the Germans. However, like any war veteran would tell you, you soon face the reality of war: Destroyed buildings, mutilated soldiers, vicious violence and guts spread everywhere. But it's only the beginning of it. Pretty normal for the WWI-loving player so far.
However, as you spread far into the storyline, you discover the worst of it. Far beyond the trenches of the Great War, you cross your way through german experiments in secret genetic labs with ghosts, monsters and zombies, only to find yourself in the middle of an ancient secret war between vampires and demons, which has begun to spread through the human world. In the end, there's that usual cliche of saving mankind and bringing WWI to an end through an unthinkable-for-most alliance.
The story, though inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, is a bit over-the-top in terms of storyline, but it's not that important. The ambience, realism, creativity and breath-taking combats more than make up for it. You want to live in this dark underbelly of the already horrid Great War. The game is nothing if not dark. You see desperation everywhere, even to the point of soldiers killing themselves to forget these horrors, included in high quality graphics and cutscenes. Music is well made, where either you feel the tense of entering the fortress before the German Artillery destroys you or facing limitless armies of zombies with nothing more but your hands. You also get to use the real weapons used in WWI, from the infamous Luger pistol and the Gewher 98 and it's bayonet to powerful demonic artifacts, vampiric technology and visceral melee. Places like a german fortress are historically accurate, making you feel like if you're there.
In first sight, it looks like a traditional combat FPS with a few copied elements, like the adrenaline mechanic, based on Max Payne. You know, that thing of accelerating time to deviate shots, slow enemies and all that Matrix-like thing. Also, when being shot in the head, you only lose a small hit points while shooting your enemies like that grants you a bonus and kills them instantly. A bit un-realistic.
However, out of all combat mechanics, it's the combos that'll give the player the edge. They can work with everything, even with ranged weapons. For example, when shooting your enemies in the head you do a Headshot combo, or when killing multiple small enemies or a large one with a mounted bunker machine gun, you do a Harvester combo. And it's not that all. Close rage also gets it's sets, from the Herr Doktor (Limited only to bayonet) to the Circus Stab (when you throw something and instantly kills the opponent). That's right, throw, you gain the right to throw anything at your enemies, even a shovel.
Of course, interactivity, secret places, bonus artifacts and a sorts of puzzles also make their debut, as this unlock a series of magic powers in which to fight the bosses easily. Indeed, bosses. The Demo even introduces you one, and it won't fight alone, there's always those pesky undead and demons to help him and help you make your fight difficult.
The real problem in concern is the overload of graphics used in the game, which forces you either to buy a monster-computer or shut down most features for a fairly good performance. Also, there's a bit of difficulty in the learning curve of the game, so early gamers will have to save often and restart the game over and again until they get the hang of it. Another problem is the difficulty of finding needed objects in tight time schedules, making the player explore the ENTIRE level to find what it needs, to the point of getting back to places just to find a closed door just opened.
In the end, if you're looking for a real challenge, with original concepts, storyline, combos and weapons, tough fights, epic enviroment and explosions everywhere, then NecroVisioN is the game for you. But I wouldn't recommended this for noobs and newbs, as this game is not for fools and weak. And please, keep this away from children, as this is not your greatfather's usual WWI story.
