Friday, November 5, 2010

Is Atlus' The Cursed Crusade Next Year's Demon's Souls?



I'm a tad late to the party on this, but that's thanks to my inbox eating a chunk of mail and me just getting around to retrieving it. By the way, the answer is no, but response to the recent announcement (and stunning gameplay trailer) by some of the usual message board denizens would lead one to think so. On the other hand, given that games where you actually play as a Templar Knight have been relatively scarce, developer Kylotonn could be sort of a pioneer if the game is better than the handful of other Templar games previously released.



Of course, I can count the number of people I actually know who've played the two Knights of the Temple games (developed by Starbreeze Studios and Cauldron respectively) on one hand, as I'm the one who lent them both games. Yes, I'm not including the stellar PC adventure game Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars, Gabriel Knight III, the Assassin's Creed games or other titles that use the Templar name, cross or other imagery as part of their stories, so sue me later. Granted, both KOTT games were far from game of the year material, but they definitely had a unique sense of style and some unusual settings that made them worth tracking down (crazy game historian that I am). Anyway, the press release for Atlus' surefire hit is below. I'll run a gallery and cover art shortly...


THE OLD WORLD WILL BURN: ATLUS UNVEILS THE CURSED CRUSADE, AN ACTION-ADVENTURE QUEST FOR ABSOLUTION, RELEASING SUMMER 2011 FOR PLAYSTATION 3 COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM, XBOX 360 VIDEO GAME AND ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM FROM MICROSOFT, AND PC

Lift the curse lest your soul be consumed.



IRVINE, CALIFORNIA -- NOVEMBER 04, 2010 -- Atlus, in partnership with developer Kylotonn Entertainment, today revealed The Cursed Crusade, a new action-adventure game featuring two player co-op (online and local split-screen) for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PC. Set at the end of the 12th century and centered around a pair of cursed warriors fighting to save their souls, The Cursed Crusade marries the beauty and wonder of medieval Europe with thrilling adventure and dark fantasy.

"A story of salvation and survival, The Cursed Crusade brings to life the mystery and allure of the Middle Ages," said Aram Jabbari, Manager of PR and Sales. "The game's main characters are not heroes; they're just men, susceptible to temptation, easily made to feel doubt and despair. The raw, gritty accuracy of many of the game's historical locations is sharply contrasted by Denz and Esteban's supernatural struggle to save their souls. Their affliction, the Templar's Curse, threatens to accelerate their descent into hell, burning their humanity away as it engulfs the space around them in demonic flame."

Set against the backdrop of the majestic Old World, The Cursed Crusade's cooperative third-person action-adventure tale of damnation and deliverance will consume you.

About The Cursed Crusade

Set against the backdrop of the Old World, two adventurers--both seasoned warriors--will quest across a Western Europe ablaze with the turmoil of a newly begun Fourth Crusade. Denz, a holy Templar, and Esteban, a roguish mercenary, may have different origins, but their motivations are the same: amidst the danger and despair of a new Crusade, to find the means to deliver themselves from a terrible curse that threatens to consume their immortal souls.

Key Features

* The Old World Burns--Embark on a contentious quest for retribution spanning five chapters and 40 missions that promises to bring fire, death, and destruction to the great cities of medieval Europe.
* A Templar Cursed--Transform the world around you into a flaming red vision of Hell, increasing your strength and your ability to perceive hidden things, all at the expense of your humanity.
* Brotherhood of Steel--Split-screen or online, recruit a friend to assume control of the thief, Esteban, to join in the excitement of shared adventure.
* Intense, visceral 3rd-person action--Easy to grasp yet deep in its execution, a weapon-based combat engine features over 90 combos, 130+ weapons, and a timing-based counter system.

The Cursed Crusade is currently scheduled to release in Summer 2011 for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PC. For more information, visit the official website.

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