Bound by Flame is set to get an “extensive combat trailer” later this week, but last week, we were given a full PS4 gameplay video for the title, which releases for the PS3 and PS4 on Friday, May 9th in North America and Europe.
Following the trailer being revealed, Spiders Studio Project Manager Walid Miled answered some questions over on the US and EU PS Blogs, where he confirmed that the PS4 version will have a “higher resolution (1080p) and higher visual quality with high resolution textures and post processes” over the PS3 version. He then explained what the DualShock 4 will be used for:
The DualShock 4 allows you to use the touch pad to cast spells and use consumables. You can also use L2 + Cross, Square, Triangle or Circle if you are not comfortable with the swipe gesture. The DualShock 4 light bar also gives regular feedback on the character’s condition.
Miled also talked about some other aspects of Bound by Flame:
- It is possible to lock-on any target at anytime; allowing you to focus a specific enemy, crowd control your targets or just use your ranged weapons.
- The slowdown effect happens when you manage a timed counter-attack or dodge. It also happens with critical hits.
- [When it comes to slow motion,] you can’t turn it down. That a visual effect that occurs when you do critical attacks, or when you counter/dodge your ennemy attack with a perfect timing.
- When starting a new game, you can choose your character to be a man or a woman. You can also customize facial aspects.
- Each equipment in the game can be upgraded through crafting, these upgrades heavily affect your character’s looks.
- Your character will handle crossbow only. But you’ll have a companion master of bow.
- A digital version of Bound by Flame will be available on the PlayStation Store for both PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.
- There is no new game “+” option… But with different endings, different fighting styles and branching story, you can really get a renewed experience from a new game.
- The enemies do not level up according to the player’s level; they get harder and stronger with his progression. We also worked very hard on having a very diverse range of enemies for a renewed experience.
- The game features a night/day cycle with an impact on enemies’ presence and quests.
- It’s around 30 hours of gameplay to complete the game once – and of course there’ll be multiple side quests. But depending on your choices, you can unlock different endings, and live a different story. You indeed have a flame demon living inside you, that will always push you to make evil decisions. This will have an impact on the story, on the relationship with your companions… and also on your combat style – the demon will lend you its powerful pyromancer skills.
- Each level up means experience points to spend in 3 skill trees. You can unlock/improve skills to specialize into Warrior Stance (tank, break, stun moves) or Rogue Stance (DPS, dodge) and Pyromancer (fire balls, area spells, fire your weapon, invoke fire spirits).
- Around 15 skills per tree that you can upgrade thrice each. Aside, you have Traits Points to spend to improve your Crafting skills, Combat skills, and Demon Traits! If you do mean choices and chose the “dark” side along your journey, your inner flame demon will progressively take the control of your soul and you will unlock specific traits. You’ll get more powerful in fire spells/mana regen, but there will also be side effects I won’t develop today.
- The equipment you loot/purchase, and more important the crafting system, will also be key elements in your progression.
- During a fight you have chances of breaking an enemy’s attack or having your attacks being broken. The opposite is also true; an enemy can be resistant to breaking and you can improve your character’s resistance. Being resistant means taking damage but not playing hurt animations and not being stopped, thus, sometimes, giving the impression that the enemy did not “feel” the blow. You can improve your “breaking” ability as well as your resistance through your skill tree and choices of equipment.
- It is possible to lock-on any target at anytime; allowing you to focus a specific enemy, crowd control your targets or just use your ranged weapons.
Are you thinking of picking up Bound by Flame next month, especially since it’s going to be $39.99 on PS3 and $49.99 on PS4? Let us know in the comments below.
