At Gamescom, I dove headfirst into Tides of Annihilation, a game that boldly blends mythology, action tropes, and a healthy dose of “Simon Says” combat. While the sheer audacity of its design might seem overwhelming at first glance, the experience proved to be surprisingly thrilling.
A Kaleidoscope of Aesthetics
Tides of Annihilation is a visual feast, an eclectic mix of aesthetics that somehow manages to work. Imagine Homer Simpson’s makeup exploding onto a canvas already splattered with ancient ruins, giant knights, and Egyptian beasts. My mentor was a stoic Chinese martial arts master, while my protagonist, Gwendolyn, is a British lady accompanied by a gaggle of Arthurian knights ready to lend their swords. This bold approach to worldbuilding creates visually stunning clashes that set the game apart.
Combat: A Symphony of Steel and Summons
The demo I played was structured around four key elements: a basic tutorial, an early-game level segment, a boss fight, and a challenging bonus boss encounter. While I was gently nudged towards the “story” difficulty (which might have masked some of the game’s true challenge), the core combat system shone through.
The heart of Tides of Annihilation lies in its fast-paced, combo-heavy combat. It’s a rich blend of attack strings that flow seamlessly into one another. The unique twist is the ability to summon knights, each with their own distinct attacks that can be combined for truly spectacular results. I found myself constantly surprised by how easily I could chain together different abilities, creating a toybox of possibilities.
One knight I particularly enjoyed was Geraint, an avian-inspired warrior whose gimmick revolves around building up a resource through successful combos. Once enough is accumulated, this resource can be unleashed for an explosive aerial attack. While not quite as iconic as Dante’s Stinger from the Devil May Cry series, it offered a similar sense of melee wizardry. And, in a nerdy aside, these knights felt like Stands from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, rushing in from behind to deliver their attacks.
The “Simon Says” Element: A Double-Edged Sword
However, there’s a catch. Like Stellar Blade, Tides of Annihilation incorporates an element where enemies (usually bosses) telegraph their attacks with specific colors, heavily encouraging reactive responses. This is the “Simon Says” aspect – you might be executing a flashy combo when suddenly a big red light flashes on your opponent’s hammer, prompting you to stop and counter. Alternatively, a yellow flash signals a jump. While this mechanic adds another layer to combat, it’s also something I find myself tiring of in action games.
Characters: A Mixed Bag
The characters themselves are a mixed bag. Gwendolyn is witty and occasionally quirky, while Ninine, your Atreus-like companion who can transform into a bird, provides vocal handholding that felt a bit too heavy-handed at times. The game also features visual cues to guide you along, highlighting the direction you need to take or objects you can climb. This level of hand-holding feels unnecessary, especially given the game’s potential for exploration.
Boss Battles: A Showcase of Spectacle
As my demo time drew to a close, I tackled two boss battles. The first was against Mordred, a white-haired warrior who clearly took inspiration from Gwendolyn’s style. She not only wielded a fancy sword but could also summon her own knights, resulting in an explosive battle where you had to dodge spectral goons while targeting the main boss. The arena warped with each phase, and the attacks grew increasingly absurd, creating a truly organic and undeniably cool climax.
The optional final boss, Geraint, was a demonic-looking samurai with a massive electric katana. He hits hard and fast, but by paying attention to those telltale yellow and red flashes, he’s surprisingly manageable. In his next phase, he sheds his clothes and transforms into a dragon, and the difficulty and spectacle continue to ramp up.
Final Thoughts: A Promising Blend
Overall, I left Tides of Annihilation feeling surprised and intrigued. There’s something special here, a unique blend of styles and mechanics that deserves further exploration. I want to delve deeper into the combat system, specifically how different knights can be combined to create truly wacky and exhilarating combo chains. In the hands of an action game fan, I believe Tides of Annihilation’s merits will quickly become apparent, hand-holding aside. Fingers crossed that the game’s mishmashy nature proves to be a boon rather than a bane.
Source: Eurogamer
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