Leader of the ant colony, beast-slayer, and deer-featured yeti.
Gamescom has Lots to Offer, Potentially Overwhelmingly So. With Thousands of Video Games to Check Out in Cologne, It's Simple to Get Lost. ntv.de Shares Five Must-See Attractions at the Event.
Empire of the Ants
Little, numerous, diligent: ants. In Empire of the Ants, the player assumes the position of a worker ant that ascends to the rank of general, leading thousands of its tiny minions in combat against termites and other insects. The photorealistic strategy game not only looks impressive but is surprisingly imaginative when it comes to missions. Escorting a snail from one point to another might seem peculiar at first. However, the ant commander climbs onto the snail's shell and defends the slippery vehicle with its battalions of various ant types against other crawling adversaries.
Yet, this is just one mission. Other tasks include constructing nests, gathering food, recruiting units, or researching certain pheromones that can increase the ants' performance. Empire of the Ants is scheduled for release in early November, and you can already experience it in Hall 6 with publisher Microids.
Monster Hunter: Wilds
The game from Capcom's stable is already considered one of the triple-A games at the show and serves as a sequel to Monster Hunter World from 2018. The sequel boasts sharper edges and a much larger, freely explorable world. In Wilds, mounts are now available from which monsters can be hunted, which also appear in groups.
The developers are focusing on weather conditions. For instance, lightning can pose a threat for the player while pursuing a monster. The game world is also more lively and dynamic, with more creatures crawling and flying in the various biomes. The wild creature hunt is definitely enjoyable and can be witnessed in Hall 7.
Mandragora
If you enjoyed "Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown" or "Tales of Kenzera: ZAU", you'll adore Mandragora. The 2.5D platformer with Soulslike and Metroidvania elements is a challenging side-scroller from Primal Game Studios. In a dark fantasy setting, you battle as an Inquisitor through a world overrun with monsters. The game's difficulty level can be described as challenging. Particularly the character editor leaves nothing to be desired and the skill tree is enormous.
During the playable session, you can test the game's beginning and experience a mini and an end boss. You'll also learn that a few hits are enough before you have to start over from the beginning. Mandragora can be played in Hall 10.
Crimson Desert
Sticking with boss battles. The playable session for the open-world action epic Crimson Desert is a pure end boss fireworks display. Up to four challenging duels await Gamescom visitors in Hall 6, including a giant crab and a mix of yeti and deer.
The developers want to exhibits the combat system, but you'll also get a taste of the game's stunning graphics and beautifully designed landscapes. Despite the intensity of the boss battles, they offer plenty of entertainment, as the game, which is set to release next year, has a resurrection feature that lets you rejoin the fight immediately. You'll learn little about the game's story, but developer Pearl Abyss promises to reveal more in the coming months.
Once again, the narrative aspect takes a back seat, but Phantom Blade Zero is a treat for fans of refined and rapid-fire samurai combat. This action-adventure strongly evokes the Dark Souls series, but is not as merciless. Once enemies are defeated and the player falls to a boss, there's no need to battle the pesky monsters and bandits again.
The Chinese developers at S-Game present a brief tutorial for combat techniques, a small area, and three boss battles in their demo. It's a complete play session that leaves a strong impression thanks to its appealing graphics. You can find this game in Hall 10.2, ready to be played in the coming days.
At Gamescom, you can explore the photorealistic strategy game, Empire of the Ants, scheduled for release in early November, located in Hall 6 with publisher Microids. Additionally, if you're a fan of Monster Hunter, you won't want to miss Monster Hunter: Wilds, a sequel to the popular game from Capcom, showcased in Hall 7.
