Two of most anticipated titles of the year are coming from Bethesda Softworks: RAGE and the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The company’s appearance at E3 showcased the titles for fans who are looking forward to both of these games.
RAGE is a first-person shooter that would be getting hype on its pedigree alone (it’s being done by id Software, makers of Doom and Quake). At E3 a long playable demo was available with six missions, and RAGE looks to be about as exciting as expected. There will be a focus on quests, lots of cool weapons (like the boomerang-like wingsticks) and vehicles, which participate in races. The game is said to feature an engineering element that allows players to cobble tools together from scrap parts. The setting is Earth in the year 2037; following a meteor strike, players realize they now must survive in a world of mutants and an oppressive ruling body called “The Authority.”
The E3 demo is getting rave reviews, and it’s clear that if the storyline works and the id Tech 5 engine is as awesome as id’s previous attempts at engine-building, this could be an FPS to watch. The game is scheduled for release on October 4 in the U.S., October 7 in Europe.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has long been considered one of the games everyone wants to see, and at E3 we found out why. The demo showed off the game’s new interface, improved inventory system and sharper third-person animations, along with general graphical improvement that’s the direct result of a powerful new engine (and if it’s truly an improvement on Oblivion, it ought to be amazing!).
Combat has improved, and you can now wield weapons or spells in both hands. Spells include Firebreath and Clairvoyance. You’ll use a bow and arrow, combination attacks and Shouts – these are made up of three words that can unleash the power of rain, thunder and lightning when learned.
Skyrim is set 200 years after the events in the previous game, Oblivion. The world is under threat again; civil war is tearing the nation apart as the Empire crumbles and an ancient force of destruction awaits.
The demo at E3 showed how everything in the game is playable; there are no simple backdrops. Skyrim has a dynamic weather system, too. You’ll make money, give people jobs to affect the local economy and explore over 150 handcrafted dungeons. You can play in the third person or first person, as a male or female in one of 10 character classes.
Skyrim will be available on Xbox 360, PS 3 and PC. It’s expected on consoles on November 11, 2011.
For more information on Bethesda Softworks and its E3 appearance, visit www.bethsoft.com.