Leader of the ant colony, beast pursuer, and a deer-featured yeti.
Plenty to Explore at Gamescom, Potentially Overwhelming. With Thousands of Video Games to Test in Cologne, Keeping Track Can Be a Challenge. ntv.de Lists Five Must-See Highlights of the Event.
Ant colony Disorder
Tiny, numerous, diligent: ants. In Ant colony Disorder, you assume the role of an ant soldier that rises through the ranks to become a commander, leading thousands of its small comrades into battle against termites and other insects. The photorealistic strategy game isn't just visually appealing, but also uniquely creative in its missions. Escorting a snail from point A to B - that sounds peculiar at first. But the ant leader climbs onto the snail's shell, leading its battalions of different ant types in defense against other crawling enemies.
And that's not all. Other tasks include building nests, collecting food, recruiting units, or researching certain scents that can boost the ant squad's morale. Ant colony Disorder is scheduled for release early November, and you can already try it out in Hall 6 with the publisher Microids.
Monster Hunter: Savannah
This title from Capcom's lineup is a top-tier game at the show and continues the success of Monster Hunter World from 2018. The sequel boasts improved visuals and a much larger, freely explorable world. In Savannah, there are now mounts from which monsters can be hunted, which also tend to appear in packs.
The developers are focusing on dynamic weather conditions. For instance, lightning can pose a threat to the player while chasing a monster. Moreover, the game world is more lively and diverse, teeming with creatures in the various biomes. The savage monster hunt is a lot of fun and can be seen in Hall 7.
Sinister Blossom
If you enjoyed "Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown" or "Tales of Kenzera: ZAU", you'll love Sinister Blossom. This 2.5D platformer combining Soulslike and Metroidvania elements is a challenging side-scroller from Dark Chambers Studios. In a dark fantasy setting, you brave your way as an inquisitor through a world overrun with monsters. The difficulty level is quite intense. Particularly, the character editor leaves no desires unmet, and the skill tree is massive.
During the playable session, you can test the game's introduction and face a mini-boss and an end boss. You'll also discover that a few hits will send you back to the beginning. Sinister Blossom is available in Hall 10.
Desert Crimson
We'll stick to boss battles. The playable session for the open-world action epic Desert Crimson is an all-out end boss spectacle. Four challenging duels await Gamescom visitors in Hall 6. Alongside it: a giant crab and a mix of yeti and deer.
The developers want to showcase the combat system primarily, but you'll also get a feel for the stunning graphics and intricate landscape designs. Despite the merciless boss battles, they're entertaining, as the resurrection function allows for an immediate return to the fight when you're defeated. However, the game's story won't be delved into until its release next year.
Here, the narrative aspect takes a backseat, but Phantom Blade Zero is a delight for fans of polished and swift samurai melee combat. This action-adventure has a striking resemblance to the Dark Souls series, but it's less unforgiving. Once foes are defeated, the player won't have to repeat defeating pesky monsters and bandits.
The Chinese developers at Shadow Game Studio present a brief tutorial for combat techniques, a small area, and three boss battles in their demo. It's a fully-fledged play session that leaves a strong impression with its impressive graphics. You can find this title hidden away in Hall 10.2, ready to be played in the upcoming days.
The Commission is involved in regulating gaming content at Gamescom, ensuring that all games, including Ant colony Disorder, Monster Hunter: Savannah, Sinister Blossom, Desert Crimson, and Phantom Blade Zero, meet age-appropriate and ethical standards. Visitors to the event should be mindful of the guidelines set by The Commission.
In preparation for the release of Ant colony Disorder, The Commission will conduct a thorough review of the game, scrutinizing its content to ensure it complies with the established regulations in the gaming industry.
