Mirage: Arcane Warfare looks to be the next step for skill based multiplayer combat established in Chivalry: Medieval Warfare.
Our time with the hands-off demo was brief but there was a lot to take in and discuss. Torn Banner Studios took a lot of community feedback and incorporated the latest magic infused game. It brings along the humor from the Chivalry series with an emphasis on the gory spectacle achieved from the constantly shifting balance of power during battle. The premise is two-fold, Arcane Warfare concentrates on a balanced mix of offense and defense keeping the players on its toes and adjusting to the situation at hand.
Built ground up on the Unreal Engine 4, we were guided through the in-engine replay feature and from first glance, the setting and environments are gorgeous. The Arabian Nights inspired environments lend a clean colored palette and high contrast look that also brings out the minutiae level of detail to its characters as well. A picture paints a thousand words and the environments and characters themselves tell a story about an apocalyptic event that has divided the world. There is a schism among magic, one believe it’s the means to an end and the other recognizes it as a blessing from another realm, rendered in the form of scars and tattoos on a character’s appearance, all of which is entirely customizable.
On its combat, the sword fighting is married with magic elements to create a strategic layer for close quarters and ranged scenarios. Knowing how to play each class is key to survival. For example, the Vigilist class interrupts ranged projectiles with a bubble shield and the Tinkerer provides support by laying down magical mines. Each unique class work together to accomplish a goal, which can involve escorting a mine from one end of the map to another.
Controlling a player focuses on nuanced control mechanics that emphasize skill and timing. Heavy attacks require a wind up period that leaves the door open for a counter attack. This also plays out with magic as a defensive tool, using spells or certain weapons such as the mace to block incoming projectiles. There’s no mana or resource management here so the emphasis relies solely on the skill and timing of attacks and blocks.
The battles play out in a 6 v 6 fashion and Torn Banner Studios decided to cap the player limit at 12 to prevent skirmishes from feeling unbalanced or too busy. Objective-based multiplayer divides up the traversal of a map in phases. By capturing nodes of an opposing side, areas previously inaccessible unlock and the strategy changes along with it. The maps also leverage its verticality as a tactic and with a teleport ability, one can quickly move up a story when pinned down.
This was just the first look at Mirage: Arcane Warfare and those attending PAX East will have first hands-on time with the game. A beta is expected soon in the summer with an expected release on PC before the end of 2016. Fans of Chivalry Medieval Warfare and skill based multiplayer can look forward to the magical combat ahead.
