When Liquid Entertainment revealed its new action-RPG, Rise of the Argonauts, I almost wept rainbows, I was so happy. That was only because all I could think about were stop-motion skeletons and the chance to finally shatter some clay-fashioned bone in a videogame based on Jason and the Argonauts. Much to my bitter dismay, there will be no such thing, but what I can tell you is that this game is an ambitious one indeed, as its developers wish to completely revise the action-RPG genre.
Talking to Eurogamer, Argonauts‘ lead designer Charley Price derided the stale gameplay of the past, claiming that it was plagued by “antiquated trappings.” He also shed light on the more modern and flashy gameplay we may see in this Greek yarn, with tales of some very interesting mechanics. Physics and context will play a key role in Argonauts, with well placed sword stabs able to wound and outright kill enemies. No more hacking and slashing until death — stab the right spot and the swine’s going down.
Freedom, however, is the order of the day. There is no linear path of exploration and every choice you make affects what your pantheon of gods think of you, leading to your earning favor (or presumabley, contempt) and having your abilities alter accordingly. “The atmosphere that we are seeking to create is one where the player truly feels that the gods are always watching, and every action he performs will impact their favour in some way, which in turn has a distinct impact on the player’s progression through the game as a whole,” Price explains. I now hate Charley Price, because he’s made me lust for this game more than ever before. I really can’t afford yet another must-have title on the market, but what can I do? I am a slave to the gods.
[TheGoldenDonut earns +10 favor for the tip]
