E3 06: Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom Preshow Hands-On

Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom is the upcoming game from Sony Online Entertainment for the PlayStation 3 that is set in the same universe as the popular PSP action role-playing games. The title was officially unveiled in March at SOE's pre-E3 event but, at that time, we were able to see only a trailer in motion. With E3 so close, we had the chance to get our hands on the work-in-progress demo version that will be playable on the E3 show floor, so that we could see just how the title plays.

The demo starts you out in a modestly sized village located in what's being called the barbarian lands. The village's population nosedives when the corrupt king's forces show up and start murdering folks. Fortunately, you happen to be around and, after a brief cinematic that sets the scene, you head out to put the kibosh on the forces of evil. The playable character in the demo is actually a brand-new addition to the cast, which has been modified since the game's announcement. As was mentioned at its debut, Dark Kingdom will feature three playable characters. However, the poster boy for the game, the large, hulking "brute," has been revamped. The beefy brawler has been given a makeover and a name change, as the development team has refined the look of the game; given the more realistic spin the game's art style is moving in, the brute, with his stylized look that was big on exaggerated proportions, was retooled. The brawler class is now called the warrior and features a more realistic, Conan-like appearance complete with detailed armor and a big hammer. The look meshes well with how the character plays--big on smashing and bludgeoning. The demo level had us guiding the warrior from the village under siege to a boss encounter at one of the enemy camps. The journey isn't exactly a walk in the park, as you'll find enemies intent on killing you every step of the way.

The gameplay in the demo was easy to pick up, thanks to a simple two-button attack system. We were able to string together light and heavy attacks to create a modest array of combos. In addition, we were able to perform a special attack that fired off a flaming trail on the ground that was good at taking out enemies, which drained a secondary meter below our health. Besides relying on the warrior's array of butt-kicking skills, we were also able to pick up objects in the environment, such as rocks, explosive barrels, or even enemies, which we were able to use to deal with mobs of foes. In one case we were even able to trigger a conveniently placed pile of barrels that took out a large group of enemies bearing down on us. Defeating enemies yielded different-colored orbs that offered bonuses. Red orbs restored health, blue orbs refilled our special meter, and yellow orbs gave us "essence," which is the currency you'll use in the game. Though there won't be shops per se, the game will let you do some buying and selling at the save points strewn throughout each of the levels. You'll have a few slots on your character to trick out with gear but, more importantly, your main weapon will be customizable via gems you can equip in slots. We came across a chest that contained a hammer for us to use although it wasn't necessary for the demo. In the final game you'll find weapons and other items in crates that you'll use on your adventure.

With Dark Kingdom still a work in progress, the presentation is coming together slowly but surely. The team continues to refine the game engine to enhance the graphics. The visuals in the game have progressed a fair amount since the first trailer and reflect the beginnings of polish. The warrior character model is looking very sharp thanks to a high level of detail. The enemies we faced came close to matching his detail, but didn't move as smoothly. However, thanks to the implementation of Havoc physics, your foes certainly die in a variety of interesting ways. Though the demo version of the game is still a work in progress, there is already a modest array of special effects peppered throughout the level, which offered some nice bits of eye candy. One subtle touch that was interesting was a new technique the team is using called parallax mapping that, like bump mapping, simulates 3D depth. In Dark Kingdom's case, the technique is being applied to the cobblestones in the village--they appear to have depth but are, in reality, just a texture. The frame rate in the demo wasn't always consistent, but we expect that it will improve.

Based on what we played, Dark King appears to be headed in the right direction. The gameplay is coming together and seems solid. SOE doesn't appear to be reinventing the wheel but is instead just focusing on making an accessible action RPG. The visuals are looking sharp, even at this early stage, thanks to a rich color palette and a high level of detail. The only hitch we expect is that the game's accessibility may wind up being both a blessing and a curse. If it does wind up being a launch title, it will have to stand up to heavy scrutiny. Hopefully SOE will have time to polish things up and ensure the visuals and multiplayer experience are fleshed out enough to sate gamers. Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom is slated to ship at the PS3 launch later this year.