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Too Human

MarketTantrik

By MarketTantrik,
in Games

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MarketTantrik

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TOO HUMAN

Toohumanboxart.jpg

 

Developers : Silicon Knights

Publishers : Microsoft

Genre : Action Adventure

Players : 1, Online Co-operative

Platform(s) : Xbox360

Release Date : TBA

 

BACKGROUND

 

Too Human is a video game currently under development by Canadian developer Silicon Knights. The game is based around the future of technology and its effects on mankind. The story is based on Norse mythology. It is the first installment in a series of three games with an estimated development budget of US$ 80-100 million each. This exceeds Shenmue as the most expensive video game ever produced.

 

As the Cybernetic God Baldur, players are thrust into the midst of an ongoing battle that threatens the existence of mankind. An ancient machine presence has forced the God's hand. In the first of a three part trilogy, Baldur is charged with defending mankind from an onslaught of monstrous war machines bent on eradication of human life. Players are treated to a nonstop barrage of action powered by the seamless integration of melee and ranged firearms combat. Battles unfold in awesome scale as players engage in spectacular battles with vast numbers of enemies.

 

Too Human is a game based on Norse mythology in which the player takes on the role of Baldur, one of the Aesir. In the ancient past the Norse Gods truly existed, although only in the form of cybernetically enhanced humans. Baldur, son of Odin is one of these gods and it is his charge to protect the human race from an onslaught of an advancing machine presence determined to eradicate all human life.

 

In Too Human, the story chronicles the ongoing struggle between cybernetic Norse gods, the invading machine presence and mortal men through an epic story. The story features many Norse gods and character from Norse mythology including Thor, Loki, Odin, Heimdall, Freyja, and Mimir. Every event, character and location in Too Human has a direct parallel to Norse mythology. The story features Yggdrasil, the tree of life, as a gateway to an alternate world known as Cyberspace that is accessed through the advanced technology of the Norse gods.

 

The machine presence in Too Human has a sinister purpose that is ironic when considered against the actions of the Norse gods. The human gods are using cybernetic implants to supplement their own abilities, thus becoming more machine. Apparently in an ironic twist the advancing machine army is harvesting human blood and limbs in an attempt to become more human.

 

Silicon Knights is reluctant to reveal the story details due to the game's high budget and story driven gameplay. Despite this a message is contained in the runes on the officially released box art for the game, reading 'Of God Of Man Of Machine'.

 

One of the major themes of Too Human is the extent of cybernetic upgrades that the gods use. In their battles against the approaching mechanical armies, the gods must continually enhance themselves through upgrading their cybernetics to keep up with their opponents, thus they become increasingly similar to their machine adversaries. Baldur, the title character is viewed by the other Norse gods in Too Human as being insufficiently enhanced, thus "too human".

 

On an interesting note, Baldur is literally a "Silicon Knight".

 

 

GAMEPLAY

 

Too Human is a third-person action adventure role playing game mixing elements of games like Devil May Cry and Diablo. It features twitch gameplay in the form of fast paced melee and ranged combat while also maintaining deep RPG elements including skill tree progression and dungeon crawling.

 

As a third-person action adventure game, Too Human features two innovations which are melee combat being controlled dynamically off the right analogue stick and a camera system that is controlled by AI. The right analogue stick controlled combat removes the issues of three dimensional depth perception during combat while the AI controlled camera system allows for a truly cinematic experience while also being an aide to the story telling.

 

The RPG elements of Too Human include its deep yet linear story, different selectable classes, customizable weapons, armor and cybernetics, skill tree progression and item hunting. Too Human has 15 weapon classes, including two-handed swords, hammers, polearms, pistols, rifles, lasers, and dual wielded one-handed swords and staffs. The character is able to customize their armor in terms of color and its effectiveness against certain forms of attacks while also being able to swap armor sets. This game features skill trees unique to all the various classes that can be customized to the player's liking, this combined with the fact that it also includes item hunting like Diablo greatly increases the replayability of Too Human. As part of a trilogy this game features a unique leveling system which allows the player to progress from level 1 to 50 in the first game then while in the second game the character progresses from level 50-100 and in the third the character levels from 100-150.

 

In Too Human, Baldur and all the other so called "Gods" use cybernetics to make them more than human. These cybernetics can increase the strength, speed and abilities of the characters using them. One of these upgrades includes the ability to have a spider as part of your armor that can separate from you and fight for you. A major theme of the game is Baldur's reluctance to use the cybernetic implants to their full extent and as such is "Too Human".

 

Too Human will feature online play similar to Phantasy Star Online which will allow up to four players to connect over Xbox Live for cooperative play. This includes a drop in/out system so people can join you no matter where you or they are up to in the game. It is expected that co-op players will be able to take advantage of class combinations to defeat difficult enemies and gather rare items.

 

 

PLAYER CLASSES

 

There are 5 classes available in Too Human with more to be added in downloadable content. Each of these classes have their own direction in the skill tree although this can be changed by the player to produce unique classes. Similar to the talent trees of World of Warcraft, a player cannot max out all the stats of their character. This means that to experience all the variations of all the classes, multiple playthroughs will be required.

 

Bioengineer

The first of these classes is the Bioengineer which focuses on cybernetics and combat. The Bioengineer acts similarly to a medic repairing damage sustained on the battlefield, while also providing health bonuses for himself and allies, allowing them to fight deep into enemy territory. The Bioengineer prefers to fight with his dual sidearms.

 

Commando

The second class is the Commando who fights using technological gadgetry and uncommon methods of warfare. The Commando focuses on long range combat using rifles although when attacked at short ranges, he is more than proficient at using mines, countermeasures and demolitions. The Commando focuses on harrying tactics, while still remaining a force in his own right due to the fact that when forced into melee combat the Commando will draw his hammer instilling fear in his opponents.

 

Champion

The third class is the Champion, Odin's representative on the battlefield dealing out divine retribution. The Champion is a warrior class focusing on caustic force field and anti-gravity based attacks who also increases the combat effectiveness of his allies. In melee combat, one-handed swords are the Champion's choice.

 

Defender

The fourth class is the Defender, the stereotypical tank. Blessed by Odin and protected by ancient runes the Defender is the core of the Aesir's defensive strategies. Defenders wear heavy armor to absorb damage so that their allies can deal out Odin's retribution. Defenders wade out to battle armed with mighty staffs.

 

Berserker

The final starting class is the Berserker who is the master of close combat, delighting in its fury. The Berserker focuses on all-out offense, ignoring its own defensive needs. Berserkers fight with a twin-blade fighting style and are supported through the spirit of the bear. All Berserkers will willingly charge into battle for the glory of Odin.

 

 

DEVELOPMENT BACKGROUND

 

Norse mythology is the backbone for Too Human. To create the game, Silicon Knights dug deep into the ancient Eddas and found its heroes and its villains buried within. These works, written hundreds of years ago, tell of gods, of giants, and of monsters. You may recognize the god of thunder, Thor, whose mighty hammer unleashed thunderclaps. However, you have probably never heard of Baldur. He is the pretty boy of gods by some definitions and maybe not the ideal choice for a warrior hero. He is said to represent goodness, joy, forgiveness and peace, but in Too Human he carries a big sword, wields two powerful guns, and he's out to destroy anyone or anything that gets in his way.

 

Too Human was originally in development for the PlayStation as a 5-disc action-adventure game. It was shown at E3 1999, but shortly before its completion Nintendo announced an exclusive partnership with Silicon Knights, and the game was moved to the Nintendo GameCube in 2000. A teaser trailer was shown at SpaceWorld 2000 showing what appeared to be a re-building of the PlayStation game. The game never surfaced though, and the partnership between the two companies was ended. After this, the title was still thought to be in development for the GameCube, but those plans have since been canceled.

 

In the May 2005 issue of EGM, Silicon Knights announced a partnership with publisher Microsoft to develop a trilogy revolving around the Too Human universe exclusively for the Xbox 360. The game was originally being developed using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3, but is now being developed using an internal engine based on Unreal 3. On July 19, 2007 it was announced that Silicon Knights were suing Epic Games due to "breach of contract", including "inadequacies" of Epic's support, service, and cooperation with Silicon Knights concerning Unreal Engine 3. On August 9, 2007, Epic Games countersued Silicon Knights, claiming that they were using their engine as they pleased without any cost. If Epic won the case, Silicon Knights would be forced to pay in excess of $650,000.

 

 

VIDEO

 

There is an absolutely smokin hot HD trailer from their E3 2007 showing, available on the Xbox Live Marketplace. So download it now and enjoy it. The trailer is entirely rendered in engine and looks super sweet.

 

For those of us not yet fortunate enough to have access to LIVE, here's the trailer link at gametrailers

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/21482.html

This is the SD version, the page has a link for the HD version as well.

 

SCREENSHOTS

 

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SchizoidFreud Newbie

SchizoidFreud

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Too Human Demo Coming......And expect the full game in 2008.

 

Too Human is coming in 2008. Not 2009, 2010, or "2000-never" as some have speculated. This according to Silicon Knights founder Denis Dyack. Friday, Dyack responded to a negative post on the official Too Human message board stating that Too Human would be out and that a Marketplace demo was forthcoming.

 

Dyack's post reads:

 

"Too Human will be out in 2008. A firm date with tons of new info is coming soon. This will be followed up with a playable demo. The demo will speak for itself.

 

Hang in there."

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MarketTantrik Newbie

MarketTantrik

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Its a Third Person Action game on the lines of Devil May Cry and God of War. It has RPG elements with power and abilities getting boosts as you progress thru the game.

 

It will be interesting to see the Unreal Engine III powering a TS like this. Altho Gears set the precedent, the camera followed the character pretty close. In this case, the camera will float much further away and will change angles depending on the situation. Would be nice to see how UE III copes with this.

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