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A new hack and slash platform adventure game is making its way to a console near you Holiday 2009. Fairytale Fights, a brand new IP, is being developed by Playlogic Game Factory, with a name like that how can you not be sold? Don't let the name of the game fool you, Fairytale Fights is not part of the latest trend in tween games nor is it a fighter game where you battle. This game takes a whole new spin on the classic fairy tales you grew up with. Fairytale Fights will be released on the Xbox 360, PS3, and the PC.
Nikole's thoughts:
When I got the press release for this game a while ago I was not sure what this game was all about but I knew I wanted to know more. Built on the Unreal Engine 3, this game means serious business. My mind knows that when I read "Unreal Engine" I'm going to be seeing some violence. Violent this game is, with a Rating Pending status, don't be surprised to see this game get an M rating from the ESRB. The gore in this game is brutal, but it is so over the top that there is humor in it. Bad guys can be sliced and diced exposing their brains and even bones. That twisted humor is prevalent throughout the whole game. We got to see a Hansel and Gretel type level where children frolicked about slowly getting fatter and fatter so by the end of the level you could practically roll them around. Of course the children were also kill-able.
In the game you are a once famous and renowned hero who has since squandered away their fame. You are now on a quest to earn back all the glory being a story book hero entails. Despite the promised amount of gore this game is certainly bright and bubbly. At first glance it reminded me of Fat Princess with it's use of color and attention to detail but after several minutes of gameplay I saw so much more. An example of the attention to detail seen in this game is the dedication to the theme of books. Throughout the levels you can see how books are incorporated into different aspects of the level from houses, to paths, to waterfalls. One scene even has leaves falling from trees but if you look closer you will notice that they are pages from the books.
The first thing that really grabbed my attention when I saw this game was blood, and there was plenty of it. The boys over at Playlogic were very eager to tell us all about the "Volumetric Liquid System." This unique feature allows another layer of interactivity to puddles of blood, more so than I've ever seen before. Upon killing an enemy splatters of blood go are all over the place. You can then move your character around in the blood, making the puddle bigger, spreading it around, and even using it to slip around the level. Blood, and other liquids can blend together as well, making new potions, new colors and a big mess.
A new concept, one I hadn't really given much thought about, is that of real time fighting. There are no predetermined moves, there is only Salami Violence. Players will have complete control over what moves they use to kill an enemy. There is even a special mode in the game called Glory Attack and when using a slicing weapon players can open a side window that allows you to chop up the enemy any way you like, limb by limb if you are so inclined. There are over 100 weapons and you can carry two at a time so the idea of getting bored with killing seems unlikely.
Playlogic seems to be a company that knows the importance of multiplayer. Fairytale Fights will have single player mode, multiplayer mode with up to four players and on-line and off-line co-op. While in Story Mode a second player can drop in and out for co-op at any point of the game. This is a huge bonus for me, I sometimes find it hard to justify locking myself in my room for hours playing games but when I can make it social it's suddenly a-ok in my book.
I admit that when I first heard of this game I was expecting an XBLA or PSN title, something silly and similar to The Happy Tree Friends, but I was impressed by what this game has to offer. From what I saw I can see this being a game a few friends and I will play together. I look forward to hearing more about it in the next few months.
Raychul's thoughts:
I must admit, I went into Fairytale Fights now expecting much. I thought it was going to be another "should have been a flash game" kind of demo but I was surprised to be proven wrong. Fairytale Fights really appealed to me, it's an oddly adorable game based in fairytale inspired lands where you brutally hack n' slash your way through each level. I really love the controls as well since they weren't your normal "X" button for attack kind of set-up. Instead you have full control over your attacks by using the right-stick. A swing up will decapitate your enemy, a right swing will slash to the right and so forth. You can cut their heads off, dismember and even cut right through them separating their torso from the rest of their body.
Fairytale Fights also appeals to me because of the amount of blood in the game. You can track blood around the stages, slip and slide in the blood or just make an absolute mess. The weapons vary from blunt, sharp, melee, ranged and even magic wands or potions for a truly unique way to play depending on the player. I loved the little details like tombstones when you die change depending on well you are doing in the game and most of all I loved the fact that the full game can be played co-op with a friend. Needless to say, I will be picking up this game at launch and it is one of my top three favorite co-op games of E3 2009.
