We’ve all got that one favourite developer, that genius who can do no wrong with any game that they create. For Geoff, that Shigeru Miyamoto from Mario (Geoff’s note: This is patently untrue. Wii Music was an abomination), for Zoe, that’s her creepy crush Mike Bithell and for me, it’s Hideki Kamiya. This is the man behind games such as Devil May Cry and Bayonetta. Games that I adore. And expect his next game, Scalebound, to up the ante for action. But in a different way.
Speaking to Polygon at the Tokyo Games Show, Kamiya, producer Atsushi Inaba and creative producer JP Kellams explained that Scalebound would have a completely different template of style and action compared to previous games that Kamiya has worked on. “Monsters, dragons, large action [sequences], that is exactly what our key theme is for this game,” Kamiya said through a translator.
This large, epic-scale of battle taking place right in front of your eyes [and] the impact and dynamism that it brings to the experience, that’s going to be core to the game.
It’s still early days for the game, following an E3 2014 announcement, but what is known is that Scalebound will have players fighting with a massive dragon against other beastly titans. What isn’t known yet, is how this gameplay mechanic will actually work. “I can’t say a whole lot about how much of the detail or the control of the action you have over the dragon, but you will have a very good sense that this is a living, breathing partner on your side,” Kamiya explained.
Whether it’s through battle or through adventure, your relationship and your bond is going to grow throughout the story. Your player character and this dragon will form that bond and in that sense you will have a relationship…
It’s not just meant to be a tool for battle. It’s not meant to be just your pet.
Pressed for whether or not the dragon would be able to evolve its look and abilities over time, Inaba couldn’t explained that “we envision this game as something you’ll be playing for a long time.” But for the core gameplay itself, Kamiya explained that Scalebound would be more than just his usual action tricks with a giant monster added to it:
The way we’re approaching our development and building the game is unlike what we’ve done before, it’s a completely new take on how we make this [kind of] game. In that sense, I don’t look at it as going to be just for the very skilled, advanced players. It should be appealing to a wider range of players — it’s not going to have a very severe risk/reward type of feel. The dragon element, the fantasy world setting element hopefully will attract a wider audience and that the game itself, the combat system will match those expectations.
Because Scalebound will focus less on action and quick reflexes, this also means that Scalebound will be getting a graphical boost, Kamiya explained. “The most important thing for Bayonetta was more focusing on the action, the reflexes, the challenge,” Kamiya said.
That is not the main main focus [with Scalebound]. It allows for us to dig in deeper in terms of the quality of our visuals and our graphics… At first glance you’ll see the Platinum essence come through. Even that will be unlike anything you’ve seen before.
And one other departure from the Platinum mould, appears to be the hero himself. Don’t expect a dual-wielding fighting god this time around. “That sort of template or style [of dual-wielding weapons] is not what we’re aiming for,” he said. “There’s more to what we are building for the character.”
I’m not exactly worried about Scalebound having less action. When you’re dealing with Hideki Kamiya, that’s the equivalent of being told that you’re getting a car with less speed, kicked out of your Bugatti Veyron and given a Ferrari F35 to drive instead.
Last Updated: September 19, 2014
Sir Sails A Lot Llew
September 19, 2014 at 08:37
That there trailer be mighty fine! It be looking really great. But cinematic trailers make not the game. Arrrr
Hammersteyn
September 19, 2014 at 08:43
Aye!
Sir Sails A Lot Llew
September 19, 2014 at 08:44
I guess it’s all just to get the hype going to make it look cool. But I’d much rather see a trailer that includes actual gameplay
Hammersteyn
September 19, 2014 at 08:45
Exactly, like they did with FF15
Kensei Seraph
September 19, 2014 at 08:58
So do you prefer something like this?
MakeItLegal
September 19, 2014 at 08:39
looks epic
Hammersteyn
September 19, 2014 at 08:44
The trailer was meh, till he put the headphones on.
Sir Sails A Lot Llew
September 19, 2014 at 08:44
Yeah, real badass
Kensei Seraph
September 19, 2014 at 08:58
I may be in love with that header.
The trailer seems to be lagging though.
I’m going to have to restart Firefox with its 26 tabs.
RinceThis
September 19, 2014 at 08:58
You could say that the action is ‘bound to be scaled up?’ Guys? GUYS?
Anon A Mouse
September 19, 2014 at 08:59
Ba dum TSSS?
RinceThis
September 19, 2014 at 08:59
Thank you!
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 19, 2014 at 09:19
JRPG-PUN! 11/10!
RinceThis
September 19, 2014 at 09:27
Why thank you kind sir!
Admiral Chief o' thar 7 Seas
September 19, 2014 at 09:08
THAR BE DRAGONS!
Admiral Chief o' thar 7 Seas
September 19, 2014 at 09:10
Quite cool actually, but the whole headphones thing really is NOT my mug o rum, arrr.
Admiral Chief o' thar 7 Seas
September 19, 2014 at 09:11
I’m glad they understood the difference between a dragon and a wyvern
Kensei Seraph
September 19, 2014 at 09:14
I just hope that at some point in the game you get the chance to hunt so true wyverns.
It will help promote wyvern/dragon awareness.
Weanerdog
September 19, 2014 at 09:20
I am going to disagree and state that due to them being mythical the differences are purely based on the source material. There is nothing stopping a dragon from being Wyvernesque except the imagination of the creator and fans of a different perception.
Brady miaau
September 19, 2014 at 09:25
No, no. Big difference. I grew up on D&D and AD&D and reading Greek, Roman (Started age 3, thanks Granny), Norse and Germanic mythology.
So to me, this is almost self evident. And true, as based on myths and legends
Weanerdog
September 19, 2014 at 09:56
My point being is that in isolation which is how these beasts appeared in actual mythology the name was not important. Some were depicted with two legs other with four and some without legs at all. When the stories were translated any large reptile/serpent was referred to as a dragon. When someone started world building with different draconian species they needed new names and has merely used the word for serpent form different languages. eg Draak becomes drake and is used to name a small fire breathing reptile that is non magical.
D&D and AD&D has often got material from mythology and literature but it has been adapted to work in the game. A good example are Orcs, in D&D they are a separate race in tolkens books they are merely the corrupted army of the Enemy. Gnomes for example are generally a foot tall, yet in D&D they are much bigger and make damn good illusionist/thiefs.
Kensei Seraph
September 19, 2014 at 09:15
It actually looks pretty interesting.
I’m looking forward to seeing more.
Consider me slightly hyped.
HvR
September 19, 2014 at 09:17
Aarrr another free playable demo for me and me mateys.
WarDonkey1981
September 19, 2014 at 11:14
Shutup and take my money