Home Gaming E3 2013: Blackguard is delightfully old school

E3 2013: Blackguard is delightfully old school

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Blackguards_E3_06

If you’re not a fan of the usual skiet die bliksem gameplay that has defined the industry today, then chances are that you happen to like the kind of game which explores other areas of action and genre. Daedalic Entertainment makes several of them. And their next game, Blackguard looks set to continue that adventure tradition.

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Shown at E3, Blackguard is set in a rather more adult world than what gamers might be used to. A world based on the cult hit pen and paper RPG, The Dark Eye. It certainly feels more mature, as it starts out with your lead character locked up in jail for murder. A murder that he feels he may have been rightfully convicted for, due to his mental state being questionable.

Cue one jailbreak later, a team-up with various scoundrels and the adventure begins, with the fate if Aventuria hanging in the balance “You’re actually controlling a bunch of criminals here,” PR director Claas Wolter told me. As Wolter also showed me, there would be three character classes on selection, Hunter, Mage and Warrior, but all three would have skill trees and abilities that were highly detailed in order to create unique characters.

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Dialogue also plays a big part of the game and story, and will affect the outcome of the game, I was told. “We’ve seen a couple of dialogues here, and we want to have multiple choice dialogues that are important to gathering information,” Wolter said.

On the other hand, it can also determine the relationship between each character by taking certain actions within the dialogue, that can open up a lot of sub-quests and what can happen. There are a lot of multiple endings with which you can work your way through.

So it sounds like an intriguing premise then. But what about the gameplay then? Well, Blackguard is pretty much a “turn-based strategy game”, but one that occurs on isometric fields of battle. Think Fire Emblem Awakening, Might and Magic and XCOM, and you’ve got a solid idea here as to the genre.

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The appeal however, comes in the form of these fields being interactive. Hide behind a gravestone, attack a chandelier so that it falls on enemy soldiers or find other interactive elements. What makes it that bit more special though, is that these elements are not exclusive to players, and can also be used by enemies. Heck, you can even employ some of King Arthur’s holy grail tactics, and run away from battle if it looks like you might be losing.

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The game may not be pushing the envelop when it comes to visuals, but it’s not without charm. There’s a ton of detail woven into the game, from cities to dungeons. It’s decidedly old school, but not without throwing a bunch of new ideas into the mix in order to create something new at the same time.

Last Updated: June 25, 2013

24 Comments

  1. …you had me at “turn based”

    Looks awesome!

    Reply

    • Captain Minion TallTwit

      June 25, 2013 at 14:09

      Pictures look great!

      Reply

    • HvR

      June 25, 2013 at 14:42

      I’m so happy turn based is making a come back. Just waiting for my Xcom to finish (damn you 1mpbs line) downloading to get jamming.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

        June 25, 2013 at 14:47

        PC?

        Reply

        • HvR

          June 25, 2013 at 14:50

          aaa , caught out so time to get out of the closet.

          I bought myself and the kid a PS3 over the weekend, so now I’m a bi-curious gamer.

          Reply

  2. Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

    June 25, 2013 at 14:12

    Dig it. Looks pretty rad.

    Reply

  3. OminousRain

    June 25, 2013 at 14:12

    Adventure Time!

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

      June 25, 2013 at 14:28

      …come on grab your friend…

      Reply

  4. Brady miaau

    June 25, 2013 at 14:22

    wow, that looks like a keeper

    Reply

  5. RinceTheWhiskyWithIce

    June 25, 2013 at 14:25

    Win! This I look forward to. Nice to see some nice ol Magic style fighting.

    Reply

  6. RinceTheWhiskyWithIce

    June 25, 2013 at 14:26

    Sorry, maybe I missed it, is this for the master race only?

    Reply

    • Trevor Davies

      June 25, 2013 at 14:32

      Only if it’s more complicated to play than walking & chewing gum at the same time 😛 trollol

      Reply

      • RinceTheWhiskyWithIce

        June 25, 2013 at 14:33

        Ohhh! Snap! *hides back under table with blanket

        Reply

        • Trevor Davies

          June 25, 2013 at 14:34

          …and your VITA. Never forget, never forgive. TROLL THUNDER!

          Reply

          • RinceTheWhiskyWithIce

            June 25, 2013 at 14:38

            I thought it was always regret, never surrender!

          • Trevor Davies

            June 25, 2013 at 14:42

            I’m pretty sure that only applies to bad hangovers. You may win this battle mixed alcoholic drinks, but the war is not yet over.

          • RinceTheWhiskyWithIce

            June 25, 2013 at 14:43

            0-O *covers head in blanket

    • Brady miaau

      June 25, 2013 at 14:52

      Yip, looked at company website.

      Very brief description, with a link from the English page to German page, cunningly labelled as “Official Website” in both English and German (on the German page)

      Reply

      • RinceTheWhiskyWithIce

        June 25, 2013 at 14:55

        Noooooooooooooooooooooooo! *contemplates spamming Rebecca Black in frustration and thinks better….

        Reply

        • Brady miaau

          June 25, 2013 at 15:02

          good. Please. Not again!

          🙂

          Reply

          • RinceTheWhiskyWithIce

            June 25, 2013 at 15:10

            I can’t, cus… It’s not… Friday! *Community beats Rince down with sticks and stones.

  7. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    June 25, 2013 at 14:30

    This one is going on my list.

    Reply

  8. Trevor Davies

    June 25, 2013 at 14:33

    I can spend hours on games like these. Give now!

    Reply

  9. loftie

    June 25, 2013 at 15:51

    I still play DnD Warriors of the Eternal Sun on a sega emulator and bought myself that Legend of Grimrock. Been waiting for a turn based rpg stategy for ages!!

    Reply

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