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Preview:
Hannibal: The Game
Due November 2003 for
PC.
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Most
of us are only familiar with the film version of Hannibal. Try asking
people if theyve ever read the text version of the Thomas Harris novel,
and youll witness what its like for grown-ups to relive high school,
ad-libbing a book report based on their last movie rental. "Sure," they
stumble, looking forlorn. "The sequel to Silence of the Lambs. He cuts
off his own hand at the end, right?" Buzzzzzzzz. Incorrect.
The movie and the book agree on a common ending about as
well as Stephen Limbaugh Sr. and I agree in our opinions of "Resident of
Evil Creek".
In a word or two: lots and lots of difference.
Yet
if youre like me, inclined to be outside this summer adding color to my
fantastically pale skin, you need not fear. Those of us who arent
planning on reading while its sunny out (such short, sweet hours), be
it because we are illiterate or simply realize that true happiness can
be found in the depths of our superficial exterior image (I find that
sunbathing with a book on hand often lends an appearance of
intellectualism to my bountiful muscles and chiseled features), neednt
worry about not knowing the actual ending of Hannibal. Coming this
November, when chill and overcast drive all but the most dedicated
amongst us indoors, Arxel Tribe intends to come to our rescue, scaring
the bejeebus out of us with the release of Hannibal: The Game.
Drawing
inspiration from a variety of sources, Hannibal is a first person
shooter with what promises to be an incredible mix of story, action, and
creep factor. Containing scenes and extrapolations from the movie, the
book, and the other titles in the series, Hannibal allows the player to
experience the life of Clarice
Starling first hand.
" If
you read the book," says Elise Gomez of Arxel Tribe, directing me to a
screen showing a rather unpleasant dream sequence depicting slaughtered
lambs hanging from meat hooks, "its pretty evident that it ends
differently than the movie." How differently? Lets just say that those
who are only familiar with Agent Starling from the movie might be
surprised to discover how bad she can be. Not suggesting that those of
us versed in the literature have no surprises to look forward to;
Hannibal has four distinctly different endings, depending on the actions
of the player as they make their way through the game.
" As
an FBI agent, you can show them your badge and arrest them," says the
fellow kind enough to show me an alpha of the game. "Or you can ignore
the FBI rules, and just shoot them. Doing that will increase your
stress." As your stress levels increase, odd effects begin to happen,
including shaking hands, and hallucinations similar to the GameCubes
Eternal Darkness.
As
important as the interesting story of the book, the disturbing visual
styles of the movie that make an appearance in the game add to the
deep-seated sense of unease one gets watching the gameplay. Based on the
No One Lives Forever 2 engine, Hannibal allows the game designers a wide
range of freedom to create levels and imagery that fits well with the
visual images made popular in the movie, and the story elements
presented by the book. From the initial cut scenes and demonstrated
gameplay, Hannibal appears to be well on its way to matching the
suspenseful style of the movies. In many ways, the game looks to be as
skillfully directed as the film version. That will make Hannibal a game
that one either should (or should not) play alone, at night, with your
back to the open window.
While
I was able to see only the action-oriented elements of the game,
including the raid of the drug lab that opens the movie, the development
team promises to inject a heavy dose of adventure elements into the
gameplay. If they manage to pull it off, its very possible that the
final product may make as engaging a story as its source, allowing us
fans to re-experience familiar images, and experience for the first
times extrapolations that were never fully explained in either the movie
or the book (what ever did happen to Dr. Chilton, for example? I
mean, really?).
In
choosing to develop Hannibal as First Person Shooter, it may seem that
Arxel Tribe has decided to orient the game towards a more heavily action
driven storyline. While this may be true, anyone who has ever played
Alien Doom can tell you that FPS can be one of the most engaging and
immersive styles there is. Theres nothing like a surround sound system
as youre stocked, staring through the eyes of the victim, or breathing
through the nose of the hunter. As one of the most intimidating and
complex of all villains, Hannibal deserves a chance to disembowel the
average person, and Hannibal: The Game looks to offer just that chance.
So while we sunbath this summer, and I show off my impressive
physical features, dont grow too comfortable. Soon the cold will come,
the days will grow short and numbered, and one of the most deadly minded
players in the business will be watching you, waiting for you, and in
the end, he may eat you.
P.S. For a more accurate description of this writers actual body
type, not to mention personality traits, you can read the
Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel
preview.
Aaron Stanton (06/05/2003) |
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