Wrath: Aeon of Ruin, A Time Quake in your PC
cross-posted from: lemmy.ninja/post/26002
EDIT: A member of the community @sh.itjust.works pointed out the following accurate representation of something I forgot to mention: “this game is still in early access and it’s been in early access for three years longer than it was supposed to be. The original developers are gone and the game has been handed to a new team. Communication from that team has been poor.” I place my edits and errors up front so that you know when I make them and what they were.
Wrath: Aeon of Ruin, is a boomer shooter built on a modified version of the Quake engine, released by 3D Realms and 1C Entertainment. Developed by KillPixel Games, the game will be available on PC, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. The game embodies the DNA of revered '90s shooters, incorporating elements of classic titles such as DOOM, QUAKE, DUKE NUKEM 3D, BLOOD, UNREAL, and HEXEN. Players, playing as Outlander, are tasked to hunt down the remaining Guardians of the Old World, in a journey filled with diverse environments, engaging combat, and captivating lore.
Players traverse through 15 interconnected levels and three hubs, using an arsenal of nine deadly weapons. Along the journey, players will encounter numerous enemies, discover hidden artifacts of great power, and uncover ancient secrets. The world of WRATH is richly detailed, created by expert Quake scene necromancers, and provides an authentic, classic FPS experience capped at 666 fps. It is also designed to be easily moddable, allowing players to create their own levels, weapons, and characters.
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The game was envisioned by Jeremiah Fox, a former graphic designer turned game developer. Inspired by the original Quake, Fox quit his job, sold everything, and moved to the Florida Keys to work on his dream project. He wanted to create an FPS that encapsulates the essence of '90s shooters. He spent a significant amount of time researching the best elements from various games of that era, aiming to create an authentic and unique gaming experience.
The game’s story begins with the player adrift on an ageless sea, stranded on a dying world. The Shepherd of Wayward Souls, a figure emerging from the darkness, entrusts the player with the mission of slaying the corrupt, fallen guardians of this old world. The narrative is conveyed mostly through environmental storytelling, without overly burdening the player. The gameplay is designed to be fluid, with immense, intricately designed maps, and a refresh rate locked at a devilish 666 frames.
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3D Realms, the publisher of the game, found Fox’s work while searching for projects built on the Quake engine. Impressed by Fox’s game, they offered to support his project, build a team around him, and publish the game under the 3D Realms label. As a result, a team of modders and mappers, skilled in creating ‘Quake’ content, was assembled from across the globe to support the development of Wrath.
The gameplay of Wrath: Aeon of Ruin is engaging, with a variety of enemies to battle and weapons to wield. One notable feature is the game’s unique approach to health packs: there are none. Instead, an artifact delivers the damage dealt to an enemy back to the player as health for a limited time. Similarly, the game’s save points are unique, requiring players to locate an artifact called a Soul Tether that serves as a portable, single-use checkpoint.
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Other innovative aspects include the in-game physics and environmental interactions. For example, when players slice an enemy, the game replaces the model with a new one, running a separate animation to mimic the dismemberment. The game also houses an abundance of secrets that are visible to the player, but often present a puzzle to access. The focus of the game is to ensure every element, from enemies to weapons, enhances the core play experience.
The game’s publisher, 3D Realms, is known for its impactful history in video games and its 90s classics like Duke Nukem Forever and Duke Nukem 3D. 3D Realms discovered Fox’s work in a Quake forum and decided to support and publish his game under their label. The game delivers a complete '90s experience, from its art and animation to its gameplay mechanics, such as the unique approach to health and save points.
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