BioWare Steps into 4v1 Multiplayer with Shadow Realms

[Slycne]

BioWare Steps into 4v1 Multiplayer with Shadow Realms

The one area that I do think shows some promise though is the setting. BioWare has never made a modern fantasy game, heck almost no one has, and I am interested to see how they will tackle it. The setting itself will supposedly be split between the modern world and a dark gothic fantasy world, and this will match-up or clash in a number of ways, though a lot of it sounds like it will be focused on the players customization. Your wizard might find an uzi to wield in addition to their spells or the warrior in the demo carried a big old battleaxe into melee, but was decked out in modern armor like you'd see on a bomb disposal specialist. The story was promised to be the same BioWare flair, but it will be told episodically, which I'll admit I'm both skeptical of but a little intrigued as well. Telltale, for instance, has done plenty of fine work with episodic storytelling, and those games arguably have more player agency than most RPGs, with episodes helping to keep choice branching from getting complex. BioWare believes that this is the best way to tell the story of Shadow Realms, and I'm at least willing to see how that pans out. It also doesn't hurt that James Ohlen, lead designer of Neverwinter Nights, Knight of the Old Republic, and my all time favorite Baldur's Gate II is on hand as director.

Shadow Realms is looking to the release on the PC sometime next year, though you can sign up now for the closed alpha [https://www.shadowrealms.com/register] now.



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[VoidOfOne]

Thanks for the hands-on preview, Justin. It was very helpful.

Honestly, when they first introduced this game at Gamescon, I was not sold. Seeing all the information revealed as of now, in how the game works (in the alpha), I'm still not sold.

Perhaps it was because BioWare made the promise of a new IP, and then this comes up, and it just feels... lackluster. Low and behold, this was not the new IP mentioned at E3, so I'm less frustrated. But still, I don't know about this. And BioWare has lost a lot of credibility over the years for me.

I'll be keeping an eye out, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[StriderShinryu]

Yeah, I just can't help but be underwhelmed by this. I mean, I actually really enjoyed the multiplayer in ME3 so I'm certainly not someone who feels Bioware can't do multiplayer but when I think of a new IP from Bioware this just isn't ever what I'd have in mind. Maybe the game itself will be great but I'm just really not excited at all.

 

[kael013]

Still sounds underwhelming to be honest. The gameplay sounds like it's a clusterfuck, so tactical gameplay is out and that's a bad thing IMO (the classes also seem pretty boiler-plate). I'm also not sold on the 4v1 thing completely; yes it would be cool to play a BioWare campaign with my friends, but my friends don't play RPGs. Want some feedback BioWare? Give us a single-player mode. Surely you've crafted some AI for the characters in case a player DCs, use it. Maximize the potential player base. Because I'll be completely honest: I don't trust random strangers to let me enjoy the storyline. I [i/]know[/i] there will be people who will nag me to skip a cutscene or talk over dialogue or whatever. Is a safe haven of a mode where I don't have to deal with that feasible?

On the other hand, modern fantasy! Magic and greatswords and handcannons, [i/]oh my[/i].

 

[WouldYouKindly]

Asymmetrical gameplay is a tricky thing to get right. Even then, you need to perpetually tweak it. I'm quite interested to see if they can actually pull it off. Until I see a final version, judgement must be reserved.

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

It probably doesn't help that it feels like they're jumping onto the Evolve train so soon along with making it PC only.

 

[Sanunes]

It probably doesn't help that it feels like they're jumping onto the Evolve train so soon along with making it PC only.

I am not sure if its "jumping onto the Evolve train" only because it sounds like they have been working on this for awhile now at least that is what I got from GamesCon.

From everything I understand this isn't the new IP from BioWare Edmonton, its something new from BioWare Austin the team that brought us The Old Republic.

I am not sure about this and have heard multiple different things about its design so until there is more concrete information its in the "something to watch, but low interest" category I put a lot of games.

 

[Burnouts3s3]

I think this is why they're pushing the Dragon Age multiplayer so much; they're attempting to finetune Shadow Realms.

I'm not sure why Bioware suddenly wants the Diablo audience.

 

[Wulfram77]

I think this is why they're pushing the Dragon Age multiplayer so much; they're attempting to finetune Shadow Realms.

I'm not sure why Bioware suddenly wants the Diablo audience.

Well, the Bioware audience has never been all that huge. They'd probably like to turn their critical plaudits and cultural impact into sales.

 

[Rawbeard]

I am glad the Doctors weren't there to see this happen...

 

[Fursnake]

I love Bioware games, but I am not feeling this one.

 

[Seracen]

Adding to the ambivalence of this announcement. I go to Bioware for engaging stories and characters, and amazing single player experiences. Sure, I enjoyed ME3's multiplayer, but only b/c I was in invested in single play. I do not relish the idea of basing my experience of a game off of MP modes.

Hell, this is why I played Left 4 Dead a month before letting it go, and didn't even bother with the second (played it at a friend's house). Moreover, this premise has already been done quite competently in "Secret World," even if the gameplay is different.

I will wait and see, but I rather doubt this will make me a convert. More and more, I am thinking DA3 will be the last game I really care about from BW, and that one I refuse to buy new or at launch (due to likely business practices from EA).

 

[Sillarra]

Bioware said to do a modern fantasy game, yet still falls back to the typical assassin, cleric, warrior, and wizard archetypes. Sure they will be customizable, but I'm not sure how far you can customize them to actually be unique. I also expect weapons to be limited to classes, or if there are no limitations on weapons some class will be more proficient than others that it's almost pointless to take weapons not designed for your class.