Home Gaming Quantum Break preview: do we have a timeless classic on our hands?

Quantum Break preview: do we have a timeless classic on our hands?

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One title many were dying to get more information on at this year’s Gamescom is Remedy Entertainments upcoming Xbox One exclusive, Quantum Break. The creators of Max Payne and more recently, Alan Wake, have been hard at work on a new tale, where manipulating time is core to both the game’s mechanics and narrative. Beyond this, not much was known about the title. I headed into my appointment behind closed doors at the expo, hoping to find out a little more on what looks to be a fantastic third-person shooter.

The thirty minute session was divided into two sections; a gameplay component and a segment on the live action series. For this article, I will be focusing on the gameplay specifically. The Microsoft conference earlier this week showcased some new Quantum Break action. My behind closed doors session showed a little more of what happened after that particular section of the game. The demonstration kicks off with Jack Joyce, the protagonist, on the move and searching for Paul Serene, the game’s antagonist.

My first thought is that for an early build of the game, Quantum Break looks phenomenal. I have no idea what resolution the final game will output at, but when it looks that good and runs as smooth as butter, what difference does it make? With so many months to go until release, the visuals will only be optimised further.

QB4

After a few minutes of walking, Jack finds Paul, who immediately does something which opens up what is referred to as a time stutter. This is a state of paused time that, from what I can tell, makes the environment loop back and forth erratically from past to present (and vice-versa) in… well, real-time (I really hope that makes sense).

The point is that we saw Jack having to navigate an environment that had large sections of structures, as well as huge containers, moving about and falling over, again and again, like a horribly scratched CD skipping repeatedly. The effect this had visually was incredibly unsettling.

The falling surroundings formed I suppose, a sort of puzzle/platforming segment of the game. With so many natural hazards about, Jack is forced to make use of one of his abilities, a time dash, to put some quick distance between himself and the hazardous environment.

QB 3

Falling debris isn’t the only thing looking to kill Jack however. Soon, he comes across soldiers, some of which too are capable of navigating the stutter, but only thanks to the experimental time technology they have at their finger tips.

Jack is forced make use of his dash once more to avoid incoming fire, and also his time shield ability, which as the name implies, deflects incoming fire. He also has a time stop ability that has a grenade area of effect of sorts – creating a bubble which stops enemies in their tracks… at least temporarily.

While all of this certainly looks like immense fun, I can’t help but feel that Jack is maybe a little bit too strong. It seems far too easy to dash around and make quick work of any enemy. That’s just my impression though, I may be completely wrong – maybe the game will be really challenging.

QB

Regardless, if you enjoyed previous Remedy titles, Quantum Break should be right up your alley.  It’s the love child of Max Payne and Alan Wake, with time manipulation thrown in for good measure.

Knowing Remedy, it’ll have both fantastic gameplay (which from what we’ve all seen, looks to be that way), and definitely a strong narrative component. I can’t wait to get my hands on it when it finally releases on April 5th 2016!

Last Updated: August 7, 2015

27 Comments

  1. How long has this been in development? I know Alan Wake took 5 years but come on! This should have been released with the Bone. I would have bought one.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      August 7, 2015 at 09:43

      Was announced May 2013 to get people to buy XBOX Ones. But people want games, not promises.

      Reply

      • Dutch Matrix

        August 7, 2015 at 09:44

        You sure! I read more on Twitter about trailers than actual games being played…

        Reply

      • oVg Up for a game of Gwent?

        August 7, 2015 at 09:45

        Microsoft need to focus more on 1st party and pump some money into these devs man. Instead they decide to close Microsft game studios.

        After the dev HELL of Alan Wake you would have thought they had sorted this shit out. Cant just rely on HALO and FORZA.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          August 7, 2015 at 09:46

          They sure are trying their best to rely on those. But it doesn’t help their cause if the mulitplayer is stuffed on their no.1 title.

          Reply

          • oVg Up for a game of Gwent?

            August 7, 2015 at 09:49

            That 180 is taking a long time to traverse. They need to beat SONY in the 1st party games department.

            Destiny is HALO and Project Cars is FORZA.

            Give us some new cool ADULT shit dammit. Alan Wake was so DARN cool but NO!, we need to redirect our funds to Kinect.

            As you say and waht we have been SCREAMING since the Bone reveal.

            GAMES GAMES GAMES.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            August 7, 2015 at 10:06

            STFU! MOAR SPERTS & TEE VEE!

          • oVg Up for a game of Gwent?

            August 7, 2015 at 10:17

      • WitWolfy

        August 7, 2015 at 09:56

        • oVg Up for a game of Gwent?

          August 7, 2015 at 10:13

          lol

          Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          August 7, 2015 at 10:20

          HAHAHAHAHA! That takes balls!

          Reply

      • Brady miaau

        August 7, 2015 at 12:30

        totallTotally.

        Reply

  2. Hammersteyn

    August 7, 2015 at 09:44

    Super jealous!

    Reply

  3. Ryanza

    August 7, 2015 at 10:04

    When ever they use slow motion in console games tends to mean that aiming and shooting with a controller is just fucked up and shit.
    Quantum Break uses slow motion as the base of the gameplay. Slow motion tends to get old really fast and when not using you see how shit the gameplay actually is.
    Quantum Break will be shit. I could see it from the start.

    The story, time travel, will be boring. I doubt people will play until the end unless the game is 5 hours long.

    Quantum Break will just be a boring slow motion shitty game. At least Max Payne had story and was still fun without the slow mo. Alan Wake had story, the sounds and didn’t rely heavily on slow motion.

    I’m glad Quantum Break is exclusive to Xbox One meaning that I and millions of others won’t play nor care about this shit. Well Xbox One needs games even if it’s shit games.

    Don’t Support DRM. Cyberpunk 2077 is coming.

    Reply

    • Pariah

      August 7, 2015 at 10:12

      Welcome back. I see nothing’s changed. 😛

      Reply

    • oVg Up for a game of Gwent?

      August 7, 2015 at 10:15

      Na, if done properly like Remember Me then it will work.

      Reply

    • oVg Up for a game of Gwent?

      August 7, 2015 at 10:15

      What does your Gwent deck look like?

      Reply

    • Johann

      August 7, 2015 at 10:29

      God, who left his cage open again?

      Reply

    • Brady miaau

      August 7, 2015 at 12:30

      “The story, time travel, will be boring. I doubt people will play until the end unless the game is 5 hours long.”

      This is an opinion, right? I am not sure I agree. I hate FPS, but this may be fun game. Max Payne (3?) on Xbox 360 was, and this surprised me, fun. Fast paced, actiony, FPS. I actually think this game may be pretty cool. Not day one buy for me, but yeah, looks pretty good.

      Reply

      • Ryanza

        August 7, 2015 at 13:39

        I’m not saying all time travel stories are boring but for this game, Quantum Break, the whole time story and time travel story will suck. Even if they do get it right, the the gameplay looks bad and will get boring really quick.
        So Quantum Break won’t have a strong story and the gameplay is going to suck.

        Now Max Payne 3. As a Max Payne fan I didn’t like Max Payne 3 because it wasn’t Max Payne. I’m talking about story here. I’ve heard from other Max Payne fans who didn’t like Max Payne 3 and it comes down to the story.
        Now as a fast paced action shoot-a-thon, I liked Max Payne 3.
        So with Max Payne 3, the story didn’t live up to a Max Payne game but the gameplay was fun. With Quantum Break, the story is not going to be great and the gameplay won’t be fun at all. Or at least will get boring really fast.

        And yes this is 2015 and you don’t buy games on release day and people shouldn’t buy this shitty Quantum Break on release day. From what I have seen, Quantum Break is at best a budget buy game that is not worth full price.
        Yes I’m sure you can find something to like in Quantum Break for $5 but for $60 there is nothing to like about Quantum Break.

        Reply

  4. Alien Emperor Trevor

    August 7, 2015 at 10:04

    To answer your question: maybe, maybe not, maybe both. huehuehue

    Reply

  5. CodeDisQus

    August 7, 2015 at 16:57

    Looks crazy interesting!!! Titles like this make the X1 appealing!! Just hope it’s more Gears of War level of awesome then Fable level of kak!

    Reply

  6. carlton

    August 8, 2015 at 04:05

    And another fantastic Xbox one exclusive. You can always tell which system sucks when the comments are polluted with jealous fan boy hate bots. Man that ps4 fan base is truly pathetic.

    Reply

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