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Updated Details & Screens: EA Announces New Maxis Game Darkspore
EA just announced Darkspore, a new isometric, third-person hack n' slash title called Darkspore. Created by a new Maxis team made up of developers who worked on the Mass Effect and Diablo franchises, Darkspore is based on the Spore engine. Players can battle across alien worlds solo or in four-player co-op campaign mode. The game will also include a number of competitive multiplayer modes. In Darkspore, you'll do combat with a myriad of "living weapons" that can be upgraded with collectible body parts and armor found on the battlefield. As its based on the Spore DNA, we also assume they'll be an extensive character create mode as well.
Darkspore is exclusive to PC and will launch in February of 2011.
UPDATE:
We got to see a little bit of Darkspore in action during EA's Comic Con press conference, and the game looks quite impressive. First off, EA is stressing that – although you can play the game solo – Darkspore is conceived as a multiplayer experience. It's also clear that action/RPGs like the Diablo series are where the bulk of the game's inspiration comes from. However, creative director Lucy Bradshaw did reveal that the game will make full use of the Spore character creator, an exciting prospect for those of us who like to tinker with our in-game avatars.
Each player will have access to a three hero squad, and be able to switch which character he or she is playing on the fly. The classes seem to be fairly familiar, balancing heavier, melee based tank types like the Plasma Sentinel (who has access to some great area-of-effect abliities and a meteor shower attack) with lighter characters like the Biotempest who specialized in ranged weapons and laying down "snares" for enemies to fall into. You'll have to use your abilities wisely, because the game has a AI director which will change the number and type of enemies thrown at you depending on how you are playing.
One cool feature is that every player in a co-op campaign has access to every other character's squad abilities like being able to speed up or trap NPCs.
Upgrading your character and evolving it based on the loot you collect is a major focus for Darkspore. You'll be able to do this through DNA, which serves as in-game "gold" or currency. There will also be other drops like body parts and armor, as well as catalysts, which are temporary buffs that grant you better stats for a brief window of time.
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