First game play trailer of Reckoning

I really like the guys working at 38 Studios for many reasons ranging from their past games to Curt’s pitching.  We’re all obviously waiting with bated breath for the unveiling of their MMO to see just how 38 Studios plans to, if at all, differentiate themselves from the rest of this complacent industry.  A decent start for them has been to create an RPG to lay the ground work for their future property.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is the first time we’ve seen actual visuals of the game play and not just concept or cinematic.  I was impressed with the art direction and the look enough to pass along the video.  I don’t think we can say much since it’s more of a cut in cut out montage of cool scenes they want to show off, but at least we get to see where 38 Studios’ head is at.

This is not a MMO, so let’s not hear those comparisons.   Looks like a gorgeous world with an art style that I am personally fond of in games.  I can only hope that the scope of the game is large enough to really take advantage of the potential for an art style like that to create a world that begs to be stared at and explored.  I want sprawling cities, vast forests, vistas with distant destinations I can visit, and a real RPG world to dig into.

  • WoW + Oblivion = Win. New IP is tough to pull off, but if the gameplay equals the visuals, sign me up.

  • Not sure about the gameplay on display there but Ken Rolston has written some of the best gaming stuff I’ve seen over my 25-year gaming career such that I recognised his name from Paranoia and Warhammer FRP rather than Oblivion!

  • @Mcface: I was thinking the same thing. I know we haven’t been given any reason to really think it will be like what Peter Molyneux claimed about Fable, but for some reason I got that vibe.

  • I’m hoping for the best because they really do have an all star staff but I just wasn’t as moved as you guys by the art.

  • This is one of the best things about 38 studios, they don’t show anything off until it’s more than ready. They don’t go for the over-hype, cause there will be plenty of regular-hype on its own.

  • Something towards the end actually brought the Soul Reaver: Legacy of Kain series to mind for me.

    I absolutely loved that game. And while it is completely dated graphically, the storyline hasn’t yet been matched in my experience.

  • This trailer sure does remind me of a trailer an MMO might put out. Anyone else get that vibe from it?

  • Looks really good, and promising. So far so good, but would like to see more before I make any statement on it… 🙂

  • I’m curious to know what the rest of the world and some of the more demon-esc monsters are going to look like with Todd McFarlane on the team.

    Have there been any more teasers or images released?

  • Sure is a Violator reference in the monster design on that page. I’ve always loved Todd’s work. Spawn was quite possibly my favorite comic, and later cartoon.

  • @Shadrah

    Yeah, there’s definitely a similarity in the face which is hard to dodge when you want to make a demon that is “all smiles”. What I liked is the touches they put on the ogre in the first video. You can see the shading styles and overall model art are VERY similar to how Todd did them with his more “dumpy” looking figures ie: Malebolgia and Sam.

  • You know, my teachers at school is actually part of the team that worked on the art of this game, was surprised to find it mentioned here. Big Huge Games, it’s located in Baltimore where I am currently going to college, I’ve met quite a few people who are working on this game, hopefully it turns out to be a good title 🙂

  • I had a chance to visit BHG in February and see this thing in action. It really is something to behold. And enough can’t be said about the team behind this game — heavy hitters (pardon the baseball analogy) all around. I genuinely believe these folks are going to pull off the impossible, and launch a brand-new, high-fantasy IP with some staying power.