E3 06: Mage Knight Apocalypse Preshow Impressions

In preparation for this year's E3, we took an advance look at Mage Knight Apocalypse, the upcoming PC action role-playing game from Namco Bandai. Like the name suggests, the game is based on the tabletop Mage Knight game, though apparently, the development team has been given more than enough freedom to focus on making an enjoyable hack-and-slash game first--even going so far as to create an original story with all-new lore that will subsequently become part of the Mage Knight universe--rather than having to make sure every last little detail is canonical.

The game is apparently well into its development cycle; most of the framework for its different playable characters is complete. We got a chance to see the dwarf character in action; the character's skills are all included in a branching skill tree that includes melee and ranged attacks using the dwarf's rifle. While Namco Bandai expects players to experiment with different skill trees to create well-rounded characters and possibly replay the game additional times to try out different combinations, the game will also, apparently, award your character with suits of "epic" magical armor if you can top out specific branches of the skill tree.

Much of the game's development in recent months has not only been on finalizing the game's character classes, but also in making the game easier to play (and easier on the eyes). The game will have a minimap in one corner of your screen, as well as an ongoing quest journal that will automatically place markers for key quest locations on your minimap. And while you'll be able to save anywhere, the game's environments will also include additional autosave points to make sure you aren't caught flat-footed against tough fights without a recent saved game. In the meantime, the game's environments have been crafted to have a bright, colorful look that's more fanciful and cartoon-like than gritty and realistic, and feature swaying vegetation and soft light bloom. However, the game's environments are positively huge--we watched a zoomed-out view of one of the game's mountainous regions and saw that the level stretched for virtual miles in every direction. In addition, several levels will feature destructible geometry, such as crudely built wooden barriers and fence posts erected by monsters, which your characters can gleefully smash to bits while pummeling the foolish beasts that built them.

The team has also been working on a better combat experience by creating smarter monsters that will not only charge at you, but will also call for help and flee when outnumbered. Fortunately, the better artificial intelligence also extends to your companions (you'll be able to recruit a maximum of four from the different character classes), who will be preset characters your first time through, though if you decide to play through a second or third time, you'll be able to specialize your followers' skills as you like. You'll be able to quickly and easily give your followers basic commands by clicking on their iconic portraits and giving them orders. Either way, Namco Bandai definitely hopes players will play through the game multiple times, especially with friends, since the game's difficulty (and the relative strength of the fantastic monsters you'll encounter) will automatically scale up with your characters' level.

Mage Knight Apocalypse looks better and better each time we see it. Clearly, the developer intends to make a fast-paced, accessible, colorful fantasy hack-and-slash game with a ton of content to offer. The game is scheduled for release later this year.