20296 Overview of ELEX — a long-awaited return of the authors of "Gothic"

Overview of ELEX — a long-awaited return of the authors of “Gothic”



Wake up a fan of the Gothic series in the middle of the night and ask about his cherished dream. The probability that the response will include the continuation of the cult franchise (or at least restart). Sad but true: Piranha Bytes to the legendary “Gothic” return not in a hurry. In numerous interviews they have repeatedly stressed that the high expectations of gamers pose to developers is daunting and almost impossible task.

ELEX, given such initial conditions, can be considered as a decent way out: the principal novelty of the project unleashed “Piranhas” hands and allowed the Studio to use their best practices without the risk of disappointing fans. We figured out what happened, and, frankly, still am impressed.

So different, but so similar

Equally cool and crazy idea, technofantasy raised questions at the stage of announcement: medieval warriors in horned helmets next to the combat robots seemed exorbitant sur. But the “Piranhas” would not be itself if it had not managed to turn so paradoxical setting in something original and authentic.

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Yes, the universe of “Eleks” is operating according to strange laws, and at first it’s great confusing. She deliberately overdid the contrasts: the world is like a mixture of decorations to the “Mad max”, “Equilibrium” and (suddenly) TV series “Vikings”. But over time, everything changes — occurs at first, the dissonance disappears, and the story acquires a special “Gothic” flair. Which, by the way, was lacking in Risen.

The post-Apocalypse teaches us: not so scary end of the world, as what will follow. Here and for the planet, Magelan collision with comet was only the beginning of global change. The catalyst was the Eleks — a mysterious mineral of alien origin, capable of turning any living thing into a bloodthirsty monster. The old civilization (identical to earth) is destroyed, and came on her shift companies live by different rules and didn’t really like each other. According to the unwritten tradition of games from Piranha Bytes, one of these factions and we have to join.

On the southern borders of settled Berserkers — warriors and farmers who honor the laws of nature and reject any technology. The clergy, with their usual religious fervor, such extremes do not approve of and advocate for the intelligent use of machines and electronics. The third playable camp and did a solid robbers and hoodlums: the outsiders built in the desert city of garbage and tires and now indulge in it all sorts of lewdness with frills. Eleks need all it’s a currency, and fuel, and the source of magic, and even a drug.

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But desperate just the power of the mineral need of the Alba group of highly advanced super-soldiers who control the North. Cold, calculating and devoid of emotion they take Eleks food, hoping it will help them to evolve. A totalitarian doctrine, the unquestioned authority of the leader and the monstrous experiments on human beings — there is a full set of “evil” cliches. And we would probably be on it even laughed, if not for one thing: the main character — a former commander of elbow. Feel the looming conflict?

Normal heroes always go to bypass

For the first time rolevok from Piranha Bytes main character gave not only a name, but a coherent past. Ironically, he, however, completely devoid of charisma and in this sense plays a very handsome Ring. However, the continuity is felt. At least the fan service already waiting in the introductory video — there are sentenced to death and Jack’s dramatic falling off a cliff, and the stage itself freely quoted the original Gothic.

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Not to say that the game affects the variability, but ways to wager there is a lot of. Most of my adult life, Jack was under the influence of Eleks, so emotions and simple human feelings new to him. The character of the hero, thus, is formed on the move: steal, kill, threaten or be nice — the choice is yours. Multiply it on seamless open world, where to go where he pleases is allowed from the first minute and get a large-scale adventure in the best traditions of “old school” RPG.

What’s the “Piranha” came out brilliantly, so it’s the pioneering spirit, Magelan with all its contrasts are endlessly interesting to explore. On the way from one quest location to another and then we stumble on a secluded stash with loot NPC side and miniature pieces in their performance. Believe me: those who criticize “Alex” for a supposedly empty world, just don’t bother to read it in detail.

Here in an inconspicuous hut at the foot of the mountain, the bloody drama played out and you seem to have missed literally five minutes: all members are already dead and lying next to the crackling hearth. But a pack of mutated jackals attacking enemy scouts in the middle of the destroyed highway is the best moment to strike a blow in the back, you can imagine.

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A system of teleports and a jetpack make it easy to move between locations. But if the first decision is justified by the size of the world, a reaction zone leads to abuse. Indeed, why to clear a path to the next Bastion of elbow when you can use two accounts to fly over a very tall wall and deal with their leader one on one?

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The game mechanics do provide a lot of freedom: nothing prevents to lead a pack of quest monsters directly to the character that issued the contract for their murder. He lay monsters, and then, without batting an eye, unbuckle the promised reward. That’s only if the “NPC” in the process accidentally killed, the whole thing will be covered with a copper basin, so the magic combination of save — load are treated consistently.

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Logically, the possibility of such impunity of abuse should completely kill the atmosphere and lowering the temperature. But the reality is exactly the opposite: every task, every encounter with the enemy turns into an endless field for experiments. So what if you scaled the roof of the destroyed plant and threw grenades at the enemy from a safe distance? Who said that the enemy may not be a “blind spot”? In the end, why the fight had to be honest? Everything that is not forbidden — is allowed, and even then you can improvise for hours.

On the face of terrible, good inside

Leveling a character, too, leaves room for maneuver. Not only that, each faction has its own chips, developed the system side of features allows you to grow JAXA virtually anyone. Want to hit the craft and alchemy? Forward. Prefer hunting skills and survival? Why not. Additional skills well-distributed in subclasses and, if desired, it is possible to master all, without exception.

Arsenal so generally surpasses the wildest imagination: in addition to archaic swords and crossbows, the hero equally deftly managed with lasers, plasmagene, rocket launcher and even a flamethrower. This is in addition to magic spells Berserkers and technical tricks of elbow will be a good help in the battle of Magalon.

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It would seem that the tale is in fact, a natural Paradise. Yes, but the combat system has never been the hallmark of Piranha Bytes. Seriously, the mechanics of the fights so clumsy, forcing simply to avoid direct contact with the opponent. At a low level of complexity you selecively goal as long as the character is not exhausted, then cashing out to your energy bar a little bit filled. On high as each battle turns into a long and painful process with digressions, rifts and unplanned flying a jetpack.

Alas, this latest problem does not end there. The game is collected on the basis of the Genome Engine, created for the third “Gothic”, and hide it not under force even to numerous modifications along with PhysX as a physics engine. Hopelessly outdated graphics, AI tupit regularly, and part of a cardboard facial animation ELEX vlegkuyu udelyvaet latest Mass Effect. In General, given the high entry threshold (initially dismantled the monsters of the character with a pair of spitting), the unprepared person such “delights” definitely shocking, if not disappointing.

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That is why we allow a small deviation of acquittal. To evaluate a new title “Piranhas” with an eye on big-budget AAA projects at least wrong. For reference: on the third “the Witcher” I worked with a staff of 240 CD Projekt RED and a half thousand specialists outsourcers. While the development team of “Eleks” is the thirty people in the Studio and invited a dozen freelancers. Against this background, any claims to the picture or the gameplay seem ridiculous and untenable.

However, the average player such nuances don’t impress, which is unfortunate. After all, if to judge ELEX at the cover, you risk missing one of the best virtual adventure in my life. Moreover, in contrast to the ambiguous series of Risen, this time, it is also truly original. In fact, this talented and incredibly nostalgic-the author’s project, made with heart and genuine love for the genre.

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Yes, here at every step … Convention, which is easiest once and for all to accept: a bottomless inventory, and armored robots fall apart after a couple of well-aimed shots from an ordinary bow. But every Bush on the vast Magalona planted manually. And for the fate of the satellites are experiencing real as best friends. No, it’s certainly not “Gothic”. However, the cult Saga about a Nameless ELEX does not concede one iota.

Advantages:

  • a new game from the Studio that gave us the legendary Gothic;
  • multiple passing options and flexibility side story lines;
  • giant open world, which is constantly something going on;
  • surprisingly a successful combination of fantasy and science fiction;
  • the atmosphere of epic adventure in the spirit of “old school” RPG.

Disadvantages:

  • legacy all: the engine, graphics, combat system,
  • high barrier to entry — with newcomers here don’t bother.

Output

  • Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • Developer: Piranha Bytes
  • Publisher: THQ Nordic
  • Release date in Russia: 17 October 2017
  • Localization: subtitles
  • Similar games: series Gothic and Risen, Fallout: New Vegas
  • Is it worth buying now? Yes, especially if you miss the classics from the “Piranhas”

To download on the PlayStation 4

To download on Xbox One

Download on PC

The author of the text: Anna Vasilieva

Source: 4pda.ru

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