Gore impressions

Canadian game publisher DreamCatcher and Nebraska-based developer 4D Rulers recently showed GameSpot the latest build of Gore, their upcoming multiplayer first-person shooter. The game features fast-paced multiplayer action similar to the type in games such as Quake III Arena and Unreal Tournament, but it adds some interesting elements such as a character stamina system, a location-based armor system, and eight different character classes with varying skills and attributes.

The build we saw was running smoothly during a LAN match, and the developers showed off some of the different levels, characters, and weapons that are featured in the game. We were shown a gritty inner-city environment--compete with dark alleys, narrow hallways and staircases, and a variety of rooms--as well as a futuristic low-gravity environment with jump pads reminiscent of those found in Quake III Arena. The designers plan to add several more levels, including one with a Western theme.

The developers are also making sure that the game's various characters and weapons are balanced. Some of the characters, such as the bartender and the big robot, are large and can take more damage than other characters, but this strength is counterbalanced by their lack of speed or susceptibility to certain types of attacks. Similarly, the weapons are balanced both by the rate of fire and ammunition concerns as well as by their secondary functions. The single-barrel shotgun, for instance, features a secondary energy shield mode that makes up for its relative weakness as a weapon. Other weapons' secondary modes, like the energy draining bubble, are designed to be particularly effective against certain opponents--in this case, the big robot.

Another feature that sets Gore apart from other action games is its emphasis on character stamina. Jumping and carrying heavy weapons will drain a character's stamina quickly, and characters will actually slow down and eventually pass out if their stamina drops too low. Some weapons, like the gas grenade, are designed to quickly reduce an opponent's stamina. And in order to help make the game more balanced, newly spawned characters are given an automatic advantage due to their full stamina.

The game's armor system adds another layer of complexity to the game. Each character has three primary hit zones--the legs, the torso, and the head--and the game includes armor elements designed to protect each one. A character wearing only torso armor may be able to withstand multiple shots to the chest before the hits actually begin to cause damage, while a shot to unprotected legs will cause damage immediately.

4D Rulers estimates that Gore will reach gold master status in approximately two months, putting it on track for release in late spring. For more information about the game, take a look at our previous coverage .