New Legends Hands-On

New Legends is a third-person action game that has a heavy dose of melee combat and storytelling. In many ways, it is a natural progression from designer Justin Chin's previous work, the award-winning Jedi Knight. In New Legends, there are a host of weapons at your disposal, all with varying attributes that will make combat more exciting and deep.

There will be about 18 or so weapons in New Legends, although you will only be able to carry four at a time throughout the game and in multiplay. That means you'll have to make choices about the weapons you use and a carry. Should you use one slot for the tankpuncher, in anticipation of having to take out some heavy vehicles later in the game, or take a sword, which is much faster and more versatile, for taking on the infantry you know are in your way? Among the many melee weapons in the game are a Chinese triple staff, broad sword, axehammer, chains, and more.

There will also be traditional ranged weapons though, among them a shotgun, a flechette gun, rocket launcher, and a bow and arrow. To balance the two types of weapons - melee and ranged - Chin says that you'll be weighed down more with ranged weapons. When using a rocket launcher for example, you will move a little slower than someone wielding a sword. Ranged weapons will also have to punch through armor before they can damage your health, as in first-person shooters, but that melee weapons will bypass armor completely. Finally, ranged weapons will also be a little slower in general. There will not be any skills, like the Force powers in Jedi Knight, but Chin says that your character will indeed grow in the story and in appearance, although not in gameplay skills or powers. It is the melee weapons, which you acquire gradually, that will be the focus of the action in the game.

One feature of New Legends is that you can wield two weapons, one in each hand. You can have a sword in one hand and a shotgun in the other, allowing you to dice close-range enemies and fire away at long-ranged troops. The two mouse buttons, right and left, will control the firing of these weapons. There will also be two-handed weapons, like the heavy tankpuncher or the massive axehammer, that will take up both hands but do much more damage. Different weapons, of course, will have different speeds and attributes. The dragon claws, for instance, which are three-pronged claws worn over your hands, are the fastest weapons, but require you to get into very close range. The tank puncher, for instance, can actually punch through walls, letting you take out people who hide behind cover. It is also the weapon of choice for destroying heavily-armored vehicles. Some weapons will also have secondary fire.

In addition to melee and ranged weapons, you'll also be able to hold a shield, which will further protect you from ranged fire.