Hellgate: London
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ESRB:
Blood and Gore,Language - Mild,Violence
Publisher: Namco Bandai Genre(s): Action, Role Playing Game Home Page: http://www.hellgatelondon.com/
Hell Comes in Scripted and Random Forms
Much of the action plays out in dark confines
Set in - surprise! - London in the year 2038, Hellgate: London pitches the player in the middle of a war. It's humans versus minions from Hell, and the epic battle has been raging for almost two decades. The London setting conveniently allows the story to Knights Templar lore, complete with references to the Crusades and Freemasons. The story was admittedly developed after the initial gameplay pitch – which, according to Roper, amounted to proposing a "a first-person shooter Diablo." The setting is safe territory for a compelling story with room for future extensibility. Here's to hoping that the narrative steers clear of contrived Dan Brown-esque plot devices. The game world itself is comprised of a number of delivered environments connected by randomly-generated combat sections. Random map generation in a 3D environment has a poor track record, but Flagship has promised the same level of quality found in the dedicated environments. If it works properly, this feature alone is exciting. Many of London's recognizable landmarks make an appearance, though they're ravaged by years of conflict. Safe zones - derelict Underground stations - will offer a break from the action. The main storyline, said to offer 30 to 40 hours of play, is punctuated by numerous side quests offered by NPCs.
When it comes time to rip apart demons and zombies, you'll have plenty of tools of destruction to choose from. The varied combat arsenal includes the usual range of weapons, from melee to long-range. In true RPG style, weapon characteristics are based on a character's class and properties, and weapon modifications allow for further customization. Don't expect to bring one-handed combat controls into the world of Hellgate; the first-person view dictates a more refined mechanic. Despite the necessary complexity that accompanies an FPS, Hellgate stays true to the melee combat that made Diablo fun. In this regard, more emphasis is placed on quickly dispatching hordes of enemies than on hyper-accurate aiming.
Hellgate: London is due on store shelves October 31 in North America (and a mere 2 days later in Europe and Asia). For those getting antsy, a pre-order is available for purchase right now. Pre-order bonuses include entry into a limited beta (which runs from September 17 to October 7) and a special "dye kit" for armor (color determined by which retailer the pre-order was purchased from). In addition, a "Founders Offer" teases those with an extra $149.99 (U.S.) burning a hole in their wallet with a lifetime (the game’s lifetime, not yours) Elite subscription. We'll wait for the full release before judging whether or not the game will carry on the acclaimed legacy of Diablo, but Hellgate: London looks to be an innovative successor to the hack-'n'-slash RPG genre.
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