For Honor
| For Honor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Ubisoft Montreal |
| Publisher(s) | Ubisoft |
| Director(s) | Jason VandenBerghe |
| Producer(s) | Stephane Cardin |
| Engine | AnvilNext |
| Platform(s) |
Microsoft Windows PlayStation 4 Xbox One |
| Release date(s) |
|
| Genre(s) | Action, hack and slash |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
For Honor is an upcoming action hack and slash video game in development by Ubisoft Montreal and set to be published by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It was announced at the 2015 Electronic Entertainment Expo. The game features a hand-to-hand combat system described as "The Art of Battle" by the developers and allows players to play the roles of historical soldiers such as medieval knights, samurai, and vikings within a Medieval fantasy setting.
Gameplay
For Honor is an action hack and slash video game set during a medieval period inspired fantasy setting.[1] Players can play as a character from three different factions, namely The Legion, The Chosen, and The Warborn. The three factions represent knight, samurai, and Vikings, respectively.[2] Each faction has four classes. The Vanguard class are described as "well-balanced" and has excellent offense and defense. The Assassins class are fast, are very efficient in dueling enemies, but they deal much less damage to enemies. The Heavies are more resistant to damages and suitable for holding capture points, though their attacks are slow. The last class, known as "Hybrids", are said to be a combination of the three types, and is capable of using uncommon skills. All heroes are unique, and have their own weapons, skills, and fighting styles.[3] While Ubisoft plans on adding more classes before the release date, the classes as of now are the Orochi, Kensei, Berserker, Raider, Warden, and Conquerer. The Kensei and Orochi classes belong to the samurai. Raiders and Berserkers are vikings. Both the Warden and the Conquerer classes are knights.
Players fight against their opponents with class-specific melee-weapons such as axes, swords, and katana, When players perform certain actions, such as killing multiple enemies consecutively, they gain Feats, which are additional perks. These perks allow players to gain additional points and strengths, call in a barrage of arrows or a catapult attack, or heal themselves.[4] In most missions, players will be accompanied by numerous AI minions. They are significantly weaker than the player character, and do not pose much threat.
A tactical combat system, known as "Art of Battle", is initiated when the player encounters stronger enemies, who have more health. Players enter a dueling mode with them wherein players aim at their opponent with their weapon.[5] Players then can choose how to place and position their weapons from three directions (from above, the right, and the left) when they are attacking their enemies. By observing on-screen hints and the movements of their opponents, which reflect their respective attack position, players can notice the weakest part of their enemies and attacks these parts. Choosing the correct position can block the other players' attack. Players also have other special abilities, such as barging into enemies with their own shoulders and performing back-stepping swipes.[6] The strength of each attack can also be decided by players.[7] The system aims at allowing players to "feel the weight of the weapon in [their] hand"[8][9]
Multiplayer
Similar to the single-player campaign, the multiplayer modes feature perks, AI minions, and the Art of Battle system. As the competitive multiplayer modes feature a structure similar to that of shooters, the creative director of the game called For Honor a "shooter with swords".[5] Friendly fire is also featured in the game. Players can cause damage to their own teammates if they accidentally or intentionally hit them with their blades.[10] The multiplayer aspect also allows players to customize their characters. For instance, the gender of the characters, and the armor they wear, can be changed and modified.[11] There are five modes:[3]
- Dominion: Dominion is a four-versus-four multiplayer mode in which players must capture and hold multiple zones in a battlefield. Points are earned through occupying combat zones.[8] When one team earns enough points, they must eliminate the players from the other team and win the match.[8]
- Brawl: In this two-versus-two multiplayer mode, a team must eliminate the entire opponent team completely in order to win.
- Duel: Duel is a one-versus-one multiplayer mode in which a player must successfully kill its opponent in order to win.
- Skirmish: Skirmish is a four-versus-four multiplayer mode in which players gain points while killing enemies. The team that scores the most within the time limit will win the match.
- Elimination: A team of players must eliminate the entire team of opponent players in this four-versus-four multiplayer mode. The team that still has remaining warriors will automatically win the match.
Development
For Honor is being developed by Ubisoft Montreal. Ubisoft Blue Byte developed the game's PC version.[12] It was announced during Ubisoft's E3 2015 press conference.[13] A CGI trailer and a gameplay demo were shown during the conference.[14] For Honor is a new intellectual property for Ubisoft, and will be the company's first attempt at developing a hack and slash video game.[15] The structure of the game is inspired by shooter games.[5] The game is set to be released worldwide for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on February 14, 2017.[10]
References
- ↑ Crossley, Rob (June 15, 2015). "'For Honor' Captures The Dazzling Drama of Movie Battle Scenes, Ubisoft's new multiplatform hack-and-slash showing promise". GameSpot. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
- ↑ Purchese, Robert (June 15, 2015). "Ubisoft announces 4v4 melee game For Honor". Eurogamer. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
- 1 2 Crecente, Brian (August 17, 2016). "For Honor news: alpha date, PC version, collector's edition, modes". Polygon. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
- ↑ Vore, Bryan (June 17, 2015). "We Played Ubisoft's New IP, For Honor". Game Informer. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
- 1 2 3 Lewis, Anne (June 15, 2015). "What is For Honor?". UbiBlog. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
- ↑ Hurley, Leon (August 17, 2016). "For Honor is the Game of Thrones fighting sim you've been waiting for". GamesRadar. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
- ↑ Serrano, Zulai (June 16, 2015). "For Honor Hands-On Review: Ubisoft's New Co-Op Game Is A Wildcard". iDigitalTimes. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
- 1 2 3 Fenlon, Wes (June 16, 2015). "For Honor: light strategy and heavy swords in a medieval dueler". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
- ↑ Dyer, Mitch (June 16, 2015). "E3 2015: For Honor's Combat Is Brutal And Unforgiving". IGN. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
- 1 2 "E3 2015: Hand-On Impression Of Ubisoft's For Honor". IGN. June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ↑ "For Honor Is a Combat Title Featuring Knights, Samurai and Vikings". Softpedia. June 16, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
- ↑ Ross-Edwards, Nicholas (August 15, 2016). "Honoring A PC Legacy". UbiBlog. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
- ↑ Reeves, Ben (June 17, 2015). "Ubisoft Announces New Viking/Samurai Game Called For Honor". Game Informer. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ↑ Hiller, Brenna (June 4, 2015). "For Honor announced at Ubisoft E3 2015 – trailer, gameplay". VG247. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ↑ Peeples, Jeremy (June 15, 2015). "E3 2015: Ubisoft Announces New IP 'For Honor'". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved June 18, 2015.