A few new screenshots for Vampyr have been released and with those come a few updates on how combat in Vampyr will actually work
We’ve seen the combat in Vampyr a bit in motion already but there wasn’t any real explanation on how it all plays or why we need to do anything other than the amazing supernatural attacks that we’ve seen Jonathan do. I think this is part and partial to Dontnod not really showing much of the game since it was officially announced but also, as I am sure, Focus Home Interactive wanted them to hold off so they could hype the game a bit more. Thankfully that hype is on us right now as we have a better explanation on just how Vampyr‘s combat system is going to work and mix into the core game in general.
Of course in Vampyr we are going to be getting all of the same motions that we can assume a human can do. Punch, kick, wield a melee weapon, and shoot a gun. The basics of combat given the era the game is set in. These will all be used to keep Jonathan alive and kicking as he builds up his “Blood Gauge.” Once that is filled up he will be able to unleash all of those cool vampire powers and spells that we’ve seen him do in the last gameplay footage. SO more or less, each of the basic moves done build up his meter and then the “big guns” come out and death and destruction get to rain down. Simple bit of gameplay I guess.
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- Vampyr — Combat
Vampyr — Combat
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- Vampyr — Combat
Vampyr — Combat
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- Vampyr — Combat
Vampyr — Combat
In addition to having some rather cool attacks and abilities, Jonathan will be able to advance all of them in many different ways in Vampyr. Dontnod is using a nonlinear progression tree to do all of this and it looks like we gain XP by feeding on those characters that we deem need to die. Of course given all of the consequences that are built into this feeding system we won’t be able to become living gods right out of the gate but it looks like killing the innocent will be the best way to do this. Then once we have the XP we can get the abilities and then power those up in one of two different ways.
I’m not sure if that means that we can only power up our abilities in one way and then are locked out for the rest of our Vampyr experience or if there are just two options and we can get them both if we are willing to kill a lot of innocent people in the game’s world. Although I’m still not completely sure why they have to be innocent to give us the XP boost when blood is blood really. Unless it is only the innocent that are unaffected by the Spanish Flu and that is the reason why. Although I think it would be too much of a stretch to dictate that the innocent are always spared of the horrors in a game world that is all about that.
Armed with an array of conventional melee and ranged weaponry, attack and dodge enemies to fill up Jonathan’s Blood Gauge, required to unleash powerful vampire attacks. From impaling enemies on a spike to draining them of blood at a distance, as Jonathan’s Blood Gauge fills during a combat situation, his Vampire affliction will start to overtake his more human side, unleashing destructive spells and abilities against those who try to stop him.
A nonlinear skill tree will unlock through experience gained and will open up more powerful attacks and abilities. Jonathan is able to equip these abilities in any order, effectively allowing you to create your own archetypes to match your play style. Play aggressively and deal greater damage, or more securely, focusing on crowd-control and keeping enemies at bay.
Skills can be evolved two different ways. For example, Spring, a skill that allows you to rush instantly to a distant enemy, can be developed to either deal area-of-effect damage or grant temporary invincibility. The choice is yours!
Combat difficulty can be affected by player actions out of combat. Feeding on civilians provides a huge XP boost, which will make combat situations easier — but that comes with caveats; an increased danger on the streets, and narrative consequences for the world’s citizens, to name a few. Full brawls are not the only options open to Doctor Reid — he can also stalk his prey, or even utilize his vampire speed and agility to avoid combat entirely.
What is your take on the combat system here for Vampyr as it stands? Does it make sense that we would have to build up a blood gauge with normal attacks as a vampire or is this just an odd way to implement control over the mechanics? How hard do you think the game would become if we went on an innocence murder spree right from the start of the game? Let us know what you are thinking and discuss in the comments below. For more on Vampyr as we get it you’ll want to be right here. So do yourself a favor and stay right here and keep checking in.