Hands On Too Human

Critically acclaimed developer Silicon Knights has brought its Xbox 360™-exclusive Too Human™ to the E3 2006 show floor in playable form, and, after playing through the demo a couple of times, it's clear that, had I not felt the threat of imminent violence from the impatient gamers surrounding me, I might still be playing.

A representative for Too Human guides an eager gamer.

Too Human puts you in the role of a cybernetic god, tasked with humanity's defense. Much has already been made of the themes and story present in Too Human (see our developer interview), but not until this year's E3 have we gone hands-on with the title.

The Too Human setup at the Microsoft® booth.

The demo focuses heavily on the smooth and intuitive combat engine, as well as its decidedly cinematic style. Here's what stood out:

• Too Human blends a mix of melee and ranged action as you slice and dice with your sword as well as shred enemies from afar with dual-wielded guns. Interestingly, the melee combat is actually performed with the right analog stick, and you use the directions to inform where and how to attack. This is especially useful when surrounded by opponents (a common plight).
• During combat, you can build up massive combos that help fill a series of power bars which can then be depleted to unleash a devastating attack. There also appears to be different levels of power attacks, so the more you power up, the bigger the gain.
• You can use the left analog stick while fighting with the right analog stick to select the next enemy to attack. For example, if you're tearing through an enemy, but see another coming from the left-hand side of the screen, you can flick the left analog stick in that direction, execute an attack, and watch Baldur streak across the screen to begin a flurry of combos.
• Too Human might be home to the most intelligent camera system in a video game yet, as it moves not only with a functional purpose, but with style as well. Even subtle alterations to the camera change the tension and drama of a fight. Dramatic camera changes take center stage outside of combat as well. For example, jumping off a balcony to a horde of enemies below, the camera shifts and the action slows, giving the thrill and appearance of an action-movie stunt.
• Though largely considered a science-fiction title, Too Human boasts visuals that mix technology with fantasy, creating a futuristic look with gothic undertones. In fact, a lush forest area was included in the demo to help demonstrate the variety of available environments.

Melee and shooter action meet and merge in a frenzied next-gen title.

The story, which is steeped in mythology, may offer the bulk of the drama in Too Human, but the combat, with its cinematic style, looks to tell a poetic tale all its own, with an arsenal of stylistic animation, slick camera work, and an intuitive control set.

Article by Ryan Treit