• Insomniac's 'Overstrike' Becomes 'Fuze.' Same Game, Minus the Charm.
    16 replies, posted
[t]http://cdn.themis-media.com/media/global/images/library/deriv/111/111687.jpg[/t] [quote]Last year at E3, [I]Insomniac Games[/I] released a teaser trailer for [I]Overstrike[/I]. While [URL="http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/trailers/3420-Overstrike-Teaser"]the trailer[/URL] didn't show any in-game footage, a number of things could be gleaned from it: It was likely to be an action oriented shooter; there are four unique characters, each with their own combat styles; weapons and mechanics, and there would be an emphasis on cooperative gameplay with the combination of weapon effects and abilities. Until last week, however, the developers have been fairly tight lipped about the game. The reason for this is that the game has changed from the initial teaser. At a recent preview event, we got some insight into the design process and the reasons for the changes with hands on time with a demo of a level and a boss fight. [I]Overstrike[/I] is now titled [I]Fuse[/I], and I have to admit I'm a little conflicted about it. The gameplay is certainly up to [I]Insomniac[/I]'s high standard and pedigree, but some of the changes since the original teaser are disappointing. The biggest issue for me is the change in tone, setting and aesthetics; [I]Fuse[/I] seemingly strips away all the charm we saw in that original trailer. What was outlandish and light hearted has become more gritty and grounded. Perhaps it's a lesson in curbing enthusiasm, but I was genuinely excited for [I]Overstrike[/I] and it filled a current gaming void. We are certainly not wallowing neck deep in games with a stylized and campy setting that's evocative of film series like James Bond. Sure there's [I]No One Lives Forever[/I] and [I]Evil Genius[/I], but these are hardly recent. So it's a real shame that the premise has been ejected in favor of what on the surface appears to be utterly derivative of a dozen other titles. To be fair we only saw a small portion of the game and very little of the story, but the [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mDHAW-1u9k"]Modern Warfare-esque mission briefings[/URL] and new gritty visuals have changed a standout into something that could be mistaken for any number of games, like [I]Inversion[/I] or [I]Binary Domain[/I]. I mean, come on, a super-villain-led organization with colorful henchmen and, essentially, terminators is far more interesting than another paramilitary group. Many of the changes are centered on the restructuring around "fuse" as it exists in the game, which originally was going to be a magic-MacGuffin of sort but not a primary focus. In game lore, fuse is an alien substance that while extremely unstable also demonstrates some impressive properties. In order to exert some degree of control over it, scientists have been fusing (yes, we get it already) with other materials, and this forms the technological background behind the agent's fantastical arsenal. For instance, the mag shield used by Dalton is the result of combing fuse with ferrofluid, whereas the shattergun used by Isabella is fuse combined with a specific kind of crystal. The agents themselves will be familiar if you've watched the trailer, though the personalities have been dialed back. Dalton is still the mercenary tank, Naya the stealthy character, Jacob the crossbow sniper and Isabella "Izzy" is the spunky one. Overall think more elite team now and less the "crazy but gets the job done".[/quote] Full Article at [URL=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/previews/9916-Overstrike-Becomes-Fuse]The Escapist.[/url] I dunno about you folks, but I'm disappointed as hell. The game looks like a generic shooter now. I'm still willing to give it a chance because, hey, it's Insomniac, but god dammit this game didn't need to be gritty.
All any interest I had in this game just flew right out the window.
oh well back to binary domain
Gah shit.
So instead of trying to fill a space in the market, in which few games exist (light hearted coop shooters), they join the rank and file of scores of games. Smart business choice there.
[QUOTE=Ogopogo;37643046]So instead of trying to fill a space in the market, in which few games exist (light hearted coop shooters), they join the rank and file of scores of games. Smart business choice there.[/QUOTE] Because EA
Well that's a shame. The trailer was pretty damn good, and I had high hopes for the direction it was taking. We'll see how it turns out though, EA can't possibly ruin [i]everything[/i], right?
Last I recall, Insomiac was independant and was being published through the EA Partners program so they wouldn't really have that big of a say in development as if they were undernearth EA. So this means Insomiac changed it for god knows why since now it just looks extremely generic.
maybe they felt it was too much like borderlands
Ugh, sounds like they got infected with the gritty virus. Personally I woulda loved that kinda humour, even though I still ain't buying anything published by murderers.
I like how the characters and setting are references to past cyberpunk games and themes. Too bad they try to make it gritty, its supposed to be a bit like TF2
Another example of why you shouldn't work with homogenizing murderers; I fucking certainly won't let those fiends anywhere near whatever studio I set up.
Damn, this looked awesome, like the Incredibles, but with modern secret agents instead of 1970's superheroes.
Well, that's one less game in my radar then...
I remember this, that's a damn shame. Thought I'd pick it up when it came out but I definitely won't be now.
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