The mythic age of the Romans and the Greeks has
been fertile ground for creating compelling stories for millennia. It was a time
of myths and legends, and the developers at Perpetual Entertainment are working
to build on that rich history. Their upcoming MMO release, Gods and Heroes, is
going to shake the MMO world.
Combat in Gods and Heroes is expansive. Players
have options for outfitting their characters with a variety of weapons, from
swords and shields to massive axes to paired daggers to the hurled javelin.
Combined with the individual character classes there are a lot of possibilities
for the players to explore. Currently there is only one race, the Romans, but
the development team is already working on plans to introduce a second race. And
perhaps more. As new races, complete with cultures, deities, and flavor are
added to the game it will introduce a kingdom vs. kingdom aspect to the game.
As if this wasn’t enough, Gods and Heroes is
incorporating one of the leading features of the recent crop of
first-person-shooters: squad-based combat. Players can build up a personal camp,
attract followers, and even coerce mythical beasts, such as the minotaur, to
serve in their army. Players can assign followers from their squad. The squad
follows the orders of the player, complete with the ability to design new unit
formations on the fly. Followers are equipped individually, allowing the player
to create specialized warriors. Healers, archers, or heavily armored warriors to
stand toe to toe with the enemy are all possible.
The economic and social dynamics of the followers
are also included. Warriors must be paid or their morale will dwindle. Players
can raise the morale of their followers by providing them with funds, better
camp amenities, and time off. Your followers can spend time in the public baths
or the local bar and gain morale. The wise player will also minimize the risks
to their followers. Lost followers must be replaced, and the new recruits must
be trained and equipped.
Another form of character advancement available
is the “divine favor” route. All players are half-blooded children of the gods.
Heroes in the tradition of Hercules and Achilles, bound to their divine parents.
By accepting their place in the cosmic order, seeking to please their parents,
and offering sacrifices players can gain access to “god powers,” divine spells.
These powers can be unleashed, spending your divine favor to rain down powerful
effects upon your enemies.
The graphics are visually stunning, both in their
complexity and the ease in which they appear. Players can enjoy a breathtaking
world rich in detail. During the preview I was given, the developers ran an
avatar through a small fountain. The water rippled around their legs and formed
waves as the avatar splashed his way to the edge of the fountain. The water’s
surface rippled in reflected light, a truly marvelous sight. In the wilderness
areas the tall grass sways gently in the breeze, adding more detail to an
already impressive game.
The outside world is very large. The test zone we
were shown was two square kilometers. Given that the game is based off of the
historical city of Rome and its surroundings there is plenty of room for
expansion in the world. As it stands players can explore forests, the sandy
hills of the Mediterranean, and more. Simply standing on the hills overlooking
the sea and watching the waves roll in is worth the trip to the beaches. The
waves flow realistically, surging up the beach and forming whitecaps where they
pound into the rocks.
The multiplayer options in Gods and Heroes are
open to a great deal of fun. Individual players can group together. They can
even coordinate their squads into a larger army. Player vs. player combat will
be enabled in the forms of duels when the game is launched. Players will be able
to fight one another individually or with their followers at their backs. The
developers were positively enthusiastic about the possibilities for players to
work and fight with one another. In a player group individuals are able to
organize their followers into specialized roles. One player could be responsible
for the front line while another is responsible for the archers, for example.
We also got a brief look at the quest system. The
developers said that they were designing the game so that some areas will have
multiple level ranges available, so that as your character advances you will
find reasons to return to places where you adventured before to finish a quest
series. It will give high and low level players an excuse to run into one
another and interact. The quests available will include traditional “hunt and
destroy” missions, recovering lost treasures, and fighting to push back the
barbarian invaders who threaten the safety of Rome itself.
The MMO role playing genre is going to be blessed
with several new games being released in the next few years. Gods and Heroes has
every sign of being an exceptional member of a very competitive category of
games. Impressive graphics, innovative single and mass- combat, and creative
design will definitely make Gods and Heroes a game to watch.
