Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr Previews
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Neocore Games was showcasing a pre-alpha build of Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr at this year's E3, and that has prompted the availability of a few new previews for the tactical action RPG.
PlayStation LifeStyle:
While the skill trees and sandbox nature of Martyr give players options for how to fight bosses and approach enemies, you will still have be as tactical as an Inquisitor as you plan your attack. Every ability has a cool-down meter, including healing potions, which will force players to plan nearly every move they make.
Martyr will also have an extensive crafting system, although the developer wouldn’t go into detail at this time as to what this will entail. When one hears “extensive crafting” with an RPG, action-based or not, one assumes this includes creating and upgrading weapons, armor, accessories, and potions at the very least.
Described as an "open-world sandbox action RPG," Inquisitor - Martyr is the first game of its kind in the Warhammer universe. In truth, it looks more like a "lootfest" RPG in the vein of Torchlight and its brethren. The player controls one of several Warhammer archetypes, including a new dual-wielding female assassin, raising hell down isometric corridor after corridor. The game is bizarro-world Diablo right down to its interface, red health globe and all, though the art design is decidedly more grotesque. Mutants, corrupted soldiers, and vile hybrid creatures roam the halls of Inquisitor - Martyr's randomly-generated dungeons, swarming the player in droves.
One unique element for a game in this genre is the existence of a cover system. Both the player and enemies can utilize cover to minimize the damage they take from attacks. Cover is fully destructible, so the player cannot stick to one spot and expect to emerge victorious. From what I saw, enemy AI is currently not at a level where it utilizes cover efficiently, but that could change as development progresses. In fact, the game appeared rough around in the edges in most ways during my demo; animations were on the stiff and glitchy side, and the framerate was anything but consistent. Of course, what I saw was a pre-Alpha build, so I expect the developers will continue working to address these issues.
And HardcoreGamer:
The massacre proceeded at a good clip. Using skill shots to sever limbs, plunking mutants from afar, and then switching to twin blades when getting swarmed was a simple to control affair that still afforded many tactical options. The health regeneration system was pretty handy, too. When left alone, the meter will auto regenerate. There is also an instant refill option. Set on a timer, the player can hit ‘Q’ to inject themselves with much needed health, when things are getting really hairy. (For the record, it was explained that this was the solution for having the genre staple included without having a futuristic warrior quaffing potions.)
The game itself is pretty ambitious. The world that players will be exploring with one of multiple classes will feature a randomly generated universe, built from premade parts. In the universe, players will explore planets, moons, and starships infested with all sorts of nastiness waiting to chew up the inquisitor. Even with all of the skills at their disposal, it’s easy for the inquisitors to get overwhelmed on their quest to purge the unclean. Making use of the destructible environments to remove enemy cover, tossing grenades, or closing in for devastating finishers will all be required to wipe the scourge from the universe.
