Platform: Playstation 2

Genre: Action

Publisher: Sega

Developer: Sega WOW

ETA: Fall 2004

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Altered Beast

The original Altered Beast was the reason I spent $200 on a Sega Genesis so you can imagine I raised an eyebrow when rumblings of a new Altered Beast game emerged at E3 2003.  This year’s E3 had much more to show in terms of both gameplay and presentation but before I get to my comments here is the official line from Sega:

As a special military operative, you are sent to investigate a deadly genetic outbreak in a small West Coast town.  Operating along and with minimal information, you quickly realize that your mission will ultimately become a battle for survival.  Hunted by unspeakable horrors and haunted by your past, you soon discover that in order to overcome evil, you must become more than evil.

The only thing that can save you is your darkest power, the ability to transform into a variety 

of powerful beasts.  As you defeat wave after wave of failed genetic experiments, the line between human restraint and primal instinct will blur, until nothing is left but the savage desire to uncover the true nature of the beast.

Explore your inner demons.  Unleash your fury.  Alter your reality.

Features:

Morph into more than eight creatures, such as a Werewolf, Dragon, Minotaur, and more – each with their own combat techniques and skills.

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Manipulate your Genetic DNA system to assign powerful and strategic attributes to each beast.

Graphic CG sequences display the horrific transformations from man to beast.

Huge 3D areas to explore, each with their own mind-blowing boss to defeat.

Uncover clues, interact with NPCs, and follow a twisted tale of genetic experimentation to discover your true origin.

So, besides transforming into a beast, there’s not much in common with the side-scrolling original, which had your character rising from the grave to fight a horde of bad guys in Ancient Greece.  (At least, I always assumed it was Ancient Greece.)

From the demo at E3, the concentration is really placed on the action – smooth and explosive – but what may add a strategic element is the Genetic DNA system, which wasn’t displayed at E3.  How the system of assigning “powerful and strategic attributes to each beast” needs to be explained a little more.  Will the player be able to assign powers from one beast and apply them to another creating a powerful mix?  Hopefully more details will come to light on this.

There is also some indication that there will be more story than a straight-up action game, with the mention of NPCs. Now, NPCs could just be included in cutscenes but it’s really anyone’s guess at this point because the demo concentrated on showing off Altered Beast’s visual flair.

Altered Beast is still a long way from shipping, so in the interim, hopefully we’ll have more to add.

- Omni

(June 23, 2004)