During a demonstration of the viral sensation behind closed doors SpineI became fully aware that this was something that had piqued not only my interest, but that of millions of others, when it was officially revealed all those months ago.
A viral marketing campaign has ensured that it has now gained more attention, but even at this early stage the game not only looks incredibly polished in terms of gameplay and art direction, but most importantly, it’s fun!
The spine will kick your ass
To put it bluntly: Spine is clearly a love letter to some of the best action films of the last three decades, starting with John Wick and ends with The matrix. During the demonstration, Game Director Dmitry Pimenov wanted to emphasize the fact that “Gun-Fu originated from John Woo and was then further developed in The Matrix.” You could say that Gun-Fu is the sum of the two Johns: John Woo and John Wick.”and the comment is fair, Spine in mind as enemies are swept aside with a stylistic brutality that never gets boring.
Whereas John Wick begins as a revenge story about a hitman who fights his way through enemies to avenge his fallen dog, Spine The story works similarly, the protagonist desperately searches for her brother, something that Pimenov guarantees we will see, due to the “Show, don’t tell” approach that permeates everything the game wants to achieve.
In response to the loss of her brother, unable to help him or find him as her original self, protagonist Redline installs a combat-based implant called Spine, which not only enhances her reflexes but also begins to speak to her, with his own consciousness present throughout the game. Sound familiar? It’s very similar to updatebut the developers quickly assured that this is where the similarities end.
Redline is a person in her own right with her own traits, all of which are expressed in various ways throughout the game’s story and gameplay. Most impressively, she has a background as a street artist, which she uses as a diversion and offensive weapon, covering both enemies and the environment in an all-covering red paint that allows for the best crowd control you’ve ever seen in a game!
Combat is far from the only thing there is to offer in Spine However, the game does promise numerous parkour sequences in which you pursue a fugitive criminal. In the hands-off demo, it was a mafia boss who just wouldn’t give up, even after Redline had cut a trail of destruction and bloody death through his henchmen. A short parkour sequence later, we caught up with him and the interrogation could begin.
Spine, Redline and the masses are not the only characters in the game
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the entire demonstration were the environments on display. Considering the game doesn’t have a release date yet, the environments look not only sleek and beautiful, but also mesmerizing. I wanted to grab the controller and start exploring right away, but decided against the professional faux pas.
From city rooftops to saunas to dystopian receptions, the game has held nothing back and, assuming no compromises are made between now and release, will please many fans for whom graphics are paramount.
Alex Nemov, Art Director for Spine mentioned that there are currently almost 20 levels on offer, with the developers promising that they “Treat each mission like its own short film with references and so on.”Pimenov promised the final product would not only be a third-person gun-fu spectacle, but also more, such as environmental finishers, object-based combat, and more.
Of all the inspirations and references to popular media that the demo showed, the most surprising was a clumsy nod to Old boy, the South Korean action thriller with an incredibly controversial plot.
Fortunately, there was nothing more than a camera and perspective change and a 2.5D platforming feel that briefly appeared as Redline walked down a corridor. The whole thing was very reminiscent of both Old boy and of course the equally inspired Daredevil long shots.
vocation Spine a cinematic game doesn’t quite convey enough of what the developers are aiming for, but with a suggested release window of late 2025, it’s certainly something to keep an eye on, and for those who want the ultimate John Wick Power fantasy, you’d be crazy not to give her a chance, I certainly will be.
For more previews of Gamescom 2024, see Take a look at our coverage of Dying Light: The Beast?
