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| | Title:
Demonik
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System:
Xbox 360
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Genre:
Action / Shooter
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Publisher:
Majesco Games
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Developer:
Terminal Reality
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Release:
2006
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Online:
Yes
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ESRB:
Rating Pending
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Demonik is one of those games that dabbles in the likes of what made some games like Destroy all Humans, and Psi-Ops interesting titles. Wielding the ability to manipulate the gravitational density of objects–or possessing a human to shoot another human–is something players will have the option of doing in Clive Barker’s upcoming title for the Xbox 360.
Supernatural activity and outer-worldly events are something that Mr. Barker is well acquainted with, whether it’s on film or between the hardcover of a novel. More importantly, Clive Barker has created some amazing images on-screen (both in the world of video games and cinema), that has burned their mark into the imaginations of viewers everywhere. Clive’s first hand in video games came about in the anticipated, and popular PC game, Undying. It proved Clive could bring his masterful story-telling ethic and original perspective in horror right from the movies, and into a video game.
Under the development studios of Terminal Reality, and overseen by publisher Majesco, Demonik is Clive Barker’s second attempt in the world of computer generated gaming. The project is a hefty piece of terror and action, as players will take on the role of the persecutor. It’s a bit of a twist, considering that players are normally the character who flees from the monster, or hunts the monster. Instead, players will be the monster in this game. As they can possess, torment, torture, drown, emblaze, and gun down everyone upon whom you have been assigned to exact revenge.
Demon on a mission
To ensure a certain level of quality, Clive Barker himself had a hand in the character development and story-related elements. All of which effect the overall plot direction of the game and characters. It doesn’t mean it’ll be Oscar-worthy stuff. But then again, many games have come through with original and heavy story-telling where big-budget Hollywood films have otherwise failed.
In this game, though, the main character is an enslaved demon from the pits of the underworld, named Volwrath. Treacherous and powerful creatures who are enslaved until summoned upon are given the name, Demoniks. Volwrath, the grotesque, gargoyle looking beast, is the protagonist that players will direct and control in their quest for freedom, through the toils of revenge. The main reason that Volwrath is even able to see the daylight of earth, is due a summoner who has called him forth to do her bidding. The first thing on her to-do list is for you to exact some priceless revenge.
While the reasons may be unknown, the goal and rewards seem rather evident: kill to grow stronger, and grow stronger to gain your freedom. As Volwrath, players will have an assortment of tasks to complete in many different ways. Everything in the environment, part of the environment, and surrounding the environment, is entirely interactive. Hence, giving players a dominating position in executing numerous fatalities, mayhem and destruction in just about any manner they please.
Volwrath, the wisp
As a Demonik who is just getting re-adjusted to the life of destruction, decimation and maniacal mayhem, players will need to stay strong by continually possessing and re-possessing victims. By possessing someone, Volwrath grows stronger through the usurpation of their life-force. Eventually, the host begins to turn. As they turn, it becomes evident of their other-worldly embodiment and soon they will either be overtaken by Volwrath, or gun down by authorities. If a host is overtaken, players will need to find a new host to possess; otherwise it’ll be very difficult to penetrate into strongholds, bases, facilities or other locations as they turn more and more demonic. Unless of course, the player is feeling like a real decimator and wants to wreck more havoc than drunk college students on spring break with their parents’ credit cards.
The neat part about possessing someone is the ability not only to control their every action, but also to be able to infiltrate any area to which the host would normally have access. So possessing a security guard wouldn’t get you any funny looks until the host begins to change physically due to the possession. By that time, players can easily possess another individual of their choosing. Though, during the process of jumping from one host to the next, players will go into a “Redeemer” mode. Basically it’s a first-person view where you can fly around as a wraith to try to possess someone. Be warned though, solid objects are something this wraith cannot pass through, so you’ll have to knock before entering the ladies’ locker room.
Even though possessions are a neat trick, they don’t work on the Demon Hunters in this game. They are a ruthless bunch of crusaders out to destroy and ruin everything that you stand for. Worse yet, for Volwrath, they are immune to every trick up his sleeve. All his powers are useless against them, except for material objects...such as bullets. So the humanoid Demon Hunters will just have to be taken care of with humanoid guns.
Volwrath, the mighty
The beefier assortment of weapons, though, is not automatic pistols, assault rifles, machine guns, dual wielding weapons, fists or pipes. Though, all of those weapons are available for you to use–but I’m talking about the super abilities as a Demonik. Players will have at their disposal 25 different powers with three levels of upgrades for the specified ability.
The Devil’s Hand is a standard power that you can increase as you progress throughout the game. This deadly power enables players freely to move and control where to slam, throw, bash, or crush an object, or person. For instance, you could drown an enemy in a pool of water, oil, chemicals, or acid. Or you could get creative and burn up the legs of an enemy by dipping their lower body in fire. You can then follow that up by throwing them into a pile of flammable barrels, only before putting them out with an entire can of gasoline.
The Swarm ability is pretty much how it sounds. You can swarm your enemies in a multitude of various insects, bugs, scarabs, and even locusts. This is a vicious display of power, as players who set upon their foes the wrath of “The Swarm” will have foes left with little more than bones.
Hellfire is another ability players will have at their rightful disposal, as a Demonik. You can set ablaze just about anything in your path and casts down a hailstorm of flames. As you grow stronger with this ability, so do your options for more destructive results when you use it.
While there are other powers for players to manipulate, maim, and destroy with, one stands out as one of the more cruel in the bunch...”The Plague”. Players will have the ability to forcefully inflict pain and immeasurable amounts of suffering on their foes with this dark power. For instance, players can single out a specific body part to infect with such vile malice that the body part becomes limp and may even fall off. But it doesn’t end there. Players can then use the Devil Hand to toss the infected body part into a group of unsuspecting civilians. Only to watch them become infected with the incurable infection. Wait, but it doesn’t end there...you can rain down upon the infected group of people, locusts. Not only can you have the locusts to eat their rotting flesh, but they can do so while droplets of fire melt away the remains of the leprosy ridden carcasses. Obviously, Volwrath is one demonic dude.
Artistry of destruction
David Finch, a respected artist in the field of comic books, is lending his talents to Terminal Reality for Demonik. The models are apparently being done by the artist, and his skills shine through with next generation qualities. From what I’ve seen some aspects of the lighting and shading wasn’t quite at the powerhouse visuals that we might expect from a next gen title, but that’ll change come release time.
The levels, though, looked detailed enough with quality textures and destructible elements. There are about ten levels in all, with massive interactive properties attached to each of them. As I mentioned earlier, you can interact with the levels in any way you see fit for causing havoc or unleashing massive destruction. From throwing people through glass; squashing heads with beams or other obstructions; or using everything in a room to crush your enemies in a corner.
Demonik deathmatches
After finding out how much insanity and malice one can create in the single-player experience, just think of how much pain and suffering one can dish out in the multiplayer arena? Everything that’s available for you to use in the single-player game will be available for you to use in the multiplayer experience, giving players the ultimate test in their Demonik skills via Xbox Live.
Be sure to check back in with Xboxcore.com for more info, as the February 2, 2006 release date draws near for this title.
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