Gamescom 2015: Breaking Down Mad Max Stronghold Trailer
With only a month away from the release of the anticipated Mad Max video game adaptation, the media hype has been oddly split. Giant banners and physical displays have been joined by a surprising lack of gameplay trailers and real information, giving the overall feeling that I have no idea what exactly to be excited for. The first promotional material I personally saw for the game was all the way back during Comic Con 2013, where they had a picture taking opportunity with a car modeled after the one in the game. Since then, only brief snippets of gameplay and a bare bones mechanics trailer have shown us what might actually be in store for us.
Today, the people at Avalanche Studios released the “Stronghold” trailer, giving us a glimpse into the different factions you will face. Check it out:
Despite the lack of lengthy developer walkthroughs and hands-on gameplay time, a picture of what the final product will look like is coming together. The trailer isn’t all new footage, but from what we can see the game isn’t all “Max against the world.” There are plenty of baddies for you to shoot, stab, ram, bludgeon, and blow up, but it seems like your allies are going to play an equally large part in the makeup of the wasteland. As an emotional journey, I’m not so sure how I feel about Mad Max, but the redemption tale adds a bit of humanity to the brutality, separating you from the savages.
What you are likely to see from the game is two parts Shadow of Mordor, one part Arkham Knight, and a dash of Rage. Avalanche is the studio that brought us Just Cause 2, so to assume that the explosions and violence will be anything less than insane is truly mad. The combat system seems to be reactive in the style that Rocksteady’s Batman series popularized, but with more of the brutal murder that made Shadow of Mordor so satisfying. The open world map seems perfect for vehicular traversal and combat, and will hopefully be a better playground than than the sometimes crowded streets of Gotham.
We know from the previous gameplay trailer that friendly strongholds will evolve as you assist them, but it is still unclear if you will be taking over these strongholds or simply assisting them. From the game’s official website, we get a brief overview of some of the friendly strongholds, which are diverse enough to each bring their own flavor while still maintaining the Mad Max wasteland feel. The only information thus far on how enemy strongholds fit in is that each zone has a boss that must be defeated in their stronghold, and whether or not you can make allies or enemies by choice is still up in the air. Whether or not the enemy strongholds will be cleared out and then re-inhabited by friendlies a la Far Cry 4 is questionable, so I’m not sure if the strongholds serve as a natural and evolving part of the world or just a checklist of increasingly difficult objectives.
It is concerning to see a game this close to release with so little information. I tend to be a cynic in these situations, but the possibility of a quality Mad Max title is so tantalizing that I’ll allow myself a bit of hope. I know that fans of the series and of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment titles might be on the fence at this point, so let me give you a couple of bright points that might tip you over the edge. The game will have a heavy focus on exploration, requiring you to scavenge scrap and food from the environment. Small animals can be killed and eaten, and even maggots from corpses when times are dire. The grappling hook cannon plays a big role in uncovering secret troves of scrap, which can be used to upgrade both your arsenal and vehicle. More side quests will become available as you help out your allies, giving incentive beyond the man quest to kill big bad guy Scrotus. It should offer a ton of content, especially for those looking to really sink their teeth in.
Beyond that, this is the studio that made Just Cause 2. While this is being developed by their Stockholm branch and Just Cause 3 by the New York branch, the team actually pitched the idea for this kind of a post-apocalyptic game before the Mad Max name was even attached. Many might claim a cheap movie tie in, which in some ways might be valid, but the game wasn’t conceived and created just to push franchise sales. That alone is enough to warrant a second look, even for the most cynical of gamers.
Personally, I will be getting Mad Max. While I was lukewarm towards Shadow of Mordor, there is an undeniable quality to these types of games. If you like these kinds of open-world ARPGs, then Mad Max shouldn’t be looked over. Look for more information in the weeks to come, and a full review when the game hits shelves September 1st.
Categorized:Horror Gaming News
