At this week’s Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, Remedy Entertainment finally provided the first extended look at gameplay footage for the upcoming Xbox One exclusive, Quantum Break. For the past year or so, Remedy has been teasing the public with some footage, brief cinematics and snippets of gameplay. This was the first actual video of extended gameplay for Quantum break, and I am very excited with what I have seen so far.
I really enjoy games that heavily mix story and gameplay together. Quantum Break’s high-concept premise of fractured time, combined with an action-adventure element, looks to be a potent mix for a modern video gaming experience. The video has a dark, gritty feel, somewhat reminiscent of Watch Dogs. Once the time effect mechanics kick in, you can see that this is the company that developed the Max Payne series.
The video involves one of the game’s protagonists, Jack Joyce, observing a scene on a bridge that appears to be a protest about to go horribly wrong. Civilians appear to be demonstrating against the actions of a sinister corporation, Monarch. Monarch is led by the nefarious Paul Serene, the game’s antagonist. It appears that Monarch set up a checkpoint to search for something or someone of great value to Jack Joyce and his partner Beth. Joyce tries to sneak through a pier, but a ranting bystander gives away Joyce’s position to the Monarch soldiers. Then a gunfight sequence ensues, showing how Joyce can use his time-manipulating abilities to defeat his enemies. Joyce explains via radio to his partner, Beth, that they cannot rendezvous on the pier, so he will try to get across the bridge to get to Sofia. Sofia was previously seen in an earlier trailer for the game and she knows something about the time-manipulation research and experiments.
The next segment takes the fight to the bridge after all hell has broken loose. Joyce uses his time-stopping ability as he sees a large truck is crashing over the edge of the bridge. A riot is about to start between the civilians and the Monarch minions. Then, Joyce is forced to confront two heavily armored Monarch soldiers. The armor for the soldiers makes them immune to Joyce’s time manipulation abilities. Joyce is able to finish them off as the main gameplay segment ends.
This looks like it will be an engaging third-person shooter experience. Remedy is very discreet in disclosing the story, giving away only snippets. However, this chunk of gameplay definitely has me invested to see more. The visuals of the time-manipulation effects look outstanding. I am very curious to see how the game will bleed over with its integrated TV series. Sometimes titles like this need more innovative transmedia concept, and Remedy is attempting that here. Quantum Break and its supporting TV show will launch some time in 2015 for the Xbox One.
[youtube url=”http://youtu.be/nlxIj6sT4uA”]
Game looks absolutely fantastic !