Singularity

We already knew about Singularity’s Time Manipulation Device, which allows players to move objects along their own personal timeline, and the modern sci-fi thriller plotline, which has an amoral Russian millionaire trying to revive disastrous experiments from Stalin’s time. It’s the new combat details that have us interested now.

Two newly revealed elements promise to give players more interesting choices in battle. By manipulating the environment or enemies using the TMD, players can set up conflicts and take advantage of the chaos. The time-phased creatures that inhabit Singularity’s island locale and the Russian Spetsnaz antagonists are as hostile to each other as they are to the player. Letting them thin each other out can be a very powerful tactic.

Soul Leeches are an enemy we haven’t seen before. These nasty little airborne creatures attack in swarms, attempting to latch onto a human and take over his body. Should they be successful, the victim becomes a Zek – a phasing monstrosity that attacks the Soul Leeches’ enemies. The trick is to disturb dormant Leeches while Spetsnaz are nearby, creating a situation much easier to deal with than taking on either the creatures or the Russians individually.

Zeks are humanoid beasts that possess a primitive, feral intelligence and prefer to attack in packs. Some fling everything from barrels to pipes or wrenches at their foes at range, while others charge into melee to tear enemies to bits with powerful strikes. Unfortunately for their human prey, they can temporarily phase out of time, becoming immune to normal attacks. One can surmise that special weapons like the E99 pistol – a powerful gun that fires an explosive slug that can be guided from a third-person camera – might get around this restriction, however.

It’s good to see some more information that separates Singularity from the sci-fi action-thriller pack. We’re looking forward to seeing what other tricks Raven has up its collective sleeve in the months leading up to the game’s launch.