Hello everyone, my name is Julien “Patch” Desourteaux, the game director of Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood, * takes a deep breath * a beat’em up oriented action RPG. At Cyanide, this is our first major foray into the action genre, and what better way to start than playing a werewolf?
As Cahal, you will participate in a bloody campaign against the evil oil and gas company Endron, whose activities upset the balance of nature and threaten the way of life of the Garou (werewolves) and humanity in his outfit.
The development team and I are very happy to share more details about the game and a first look at some pure gameplay footage, introducing you to some of the forms, abilities and skills of Cahal, an exiled werewolf who has returned for help his endangered tribe. .
If you’re unfamiliar with the universe of Werewolf: The Apocalypse, let me walk you through a few important plot points. The werewolves in our game are not the typical monsters you would expect from books or movies. In the world of darkness, werewolves are warriors, defenders of nature against the corrupting influence of the Wyrm, a spirit of destruction and chaos.
Werewolves are almost an antithesis of the Wyrm, with their own culture, beliefs, and social hierarchy. Cahal is an Ahroun, a warrior from the Fianna tribe; he is a fierce fighter and he is fiercely protective of his family. There are many different tribes that you will come across throughout the game, each with their own unique take on the world.
Unlike an ’80s horror movie, being a werewolf isn’t a curse. It offers great power, allowing you to metamorphose into 3 different shapes.
The human form or “homide”
This is the primary form you will use for anything related to social interactions, computer hacking, and stealth attacks. You can quietly jump on enemies, perform silent kills, or take out an enemy from afar with your crossbow. With some practical improvements, you can also use the crossbow to deactivate electrical systems.
The wolf or form of “lupus”
As a human there are sometimes places that you simply cannot enter. It is at these times that you will be grateful for the speed and agility of the wolf. The Wolf shape will help you navigate through vents and move quickly between covers to avoid being detected by guards. Speed and agility are the name of the game, and that’s just as valuable when trying to take a stealthy approach.
The werewolf or “Crinos” form
This is the form everyone immediately thinks of when you hear the word “werewolf”. These towering beasts are powerful creatures, capable of devastating acts of carnage. A Crinos is the ultimate fighting machine, and if the infiltration fails, it’s time to go big or come home.
Brutal and fast combat
Werewolves aren’t known for their patience, and your inner rage will increase as you silently take down your enemies. Sooner or later you will have to fight your way.
For our first foray into the action genre, we really wanted to design hard-hitting and brutal combat systems. Something that would bring these mighty creatures to life. We’ve been through many iterations, balancing different moves and enemies, with an emphasis on strength, potency, and aggression. Every movement, every animation needed that “snap” and “tightening” to make each hit feel heavy and satisfying.
Rage is at the heart of combat – it builds up as you damage enemies and allows you to perform a range of special moves, unleashing a large area-of-effect attack while racing towards an enemy. .
Crinos also have two different fighting stances, each suited to different situations.
- In Agile Stance, you can perform quick attacks and move quickly between enemies. This is especially handy when you need to get close to enemies from a distance or when you are cornered.
- Heavy Stance sacrifices agility for better strength and toughness, but this is a chance to quickly get rid of basic enemies and break down the guard of tougher enemies.
As the fight continues, your Frenzy Meter will also fill up, and once it overflows, Cahal will be able to unleash his fury. Frenzy is a double-edged sword: when active, it increases the speed and power of your attacks and allows you to unleash spectacular dedicated combat moves. But in return, you can’t block, heal, or use any other special moves until Fury’s gauge runs out.
We have only a few weeks left before you unleash your fury, so we hope you enjoyed the video and this article! If you would like to learn more about the game, follow our social media by searching for “WerewolfVGame”.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood releases February 4 for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, with pre-orders available starting today!
Table of Contents
