I had the opportunity to sit down withSpine’s developers at this year’s Gamescom, witnessing around 30 minutes of gameplay, and the project was pitched to me as this, ‘What if John Wick was a game?’ It’s a winning formula that I can’t believe the gaming industry hasn’t already pounced upon, but that will only work in Nekki’s favour asSpineoffers something that’s unique, fluid, and incredibly satisfying.
Advert
Advert
Take a look atSpinein action below.
InSpine, you’ll assume the role of Redline, a rebellious street artist fitted with a sentient combat implant known as Spine. There are no prizes for guessing where it’s situated on her body. Redline has decided to rise up and fight against her city’s autocratic AI regime, all whilst searching for her captured brother - so there’s a timely message in here, given the fears of AI within the industry. Throughout her journey, Redline will have to face off against street thugs, mafia bosses, and trained assassins.
Anyone who’s sampled John Wick or other Gun Fu media will know how satisfying it is as a combat style to watch. There’s a fluidity and preciseness to it - almost playing out like a dance. That’s been beautifully captured inSpine’s combat system which, I have to say, was a real treat to witness. Redline’s technologically-enhanced spine allows her to flip about with little issue. The way in which she springs around her enemies, taking them down with an array of kicks and punches is incredibly gratifying.
Advert
Advert
And that fluidity travels through into her finishers. There’s no awkward pauses whilst you press a certain command. Yes, you do have to trigger those finishers but those transitions are seamless. In one particular finisher, I witnessed Redline steal her opponent’s shotgun before instantly finishing them in a rather gruesome blow. Never have I ever wanted to let out a Keanu Reeves-esque ‘Yeah’ more so than in that moment.
Credit / Nekki
You may think that guns, kicks, and punches are all of the tricks in Redline’s arsenal given the genre of Gun Fu, but that’s not the case. I mentioned that Redline was a street artist. Well, that comes into play in the combat as Redline can spray paint at any moment somewhat blinding her enemies, buying you more time. As a nice little touch, the paint colour is randomised, making for a vivid ever-changing experience.
This is a linear game, so Redline will essentially work her way through neighbourhoods of enemies which gradually increase in difficulty. I was given a glimpse at one of the late stage bosses who looked formidable but developers assured me thatSpineis equipped with various difficulty settings to cater to all preferences.
Advert
Advert
As for the aesthetic of those neighbourhoods,Spinehas a neon futuristic setting that I senseCyberpunk 2077fans will find themselves feeling right at home in. Given that the game has been created inUnreal Engine5, it won’t come as a surprise when I say that it looks incredible. The cityscapes that developers have created will not leave you disappointed.
What perhaps most dazzled me aboutSpinethough, and I didn’t think the fluidity of the combat could be topped, is the camera work. For the most part, I don’t think many of us tend to think about the camera work in games. We’re so used to playing either via first or third person points of view that we largely control ourselves.Spinehas opted for something far more cinematic, although it is still third person. Developers sat down to watch some of the greatest Gun Fu and Kung Fu action movies out there, incorporating the camera methods they saw used into the game from great sweeping motions to top down and side-on angles. When you’re fighting as Redline, the camera moves around you in a number of different ways creating something that wouldn’t look out of place on the silver screen. It’s incredibly impressive to watch.
Spineis unlike anything else I’ve ever played. With its cinematic approach to combat and its translation of the Gun Fu genre to the gaming sphere, I think the developers at Nekki have got something very special on their hands. This is a title worth keeping an eye on.
Spine remains without a release date but will launch on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
Topics:PlayStation,Xbox,PC,Preview
