Platform: Xbox

Genre: Action

Publisher: Metro3D

Developer: Gameness Art Software

ETA: Q1 2003

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Stake

Let's get down to it with the fact sheet:

Stake is the ultimate combat event!  The wildest, most engaging, extremely dangerous competition also brings in a ton of cash every two years.  And now it’s Stake time again – and everyone can’t wait for this year’s match-up.  The Stake Champion receives riches and fame beyond belief – and commands the respect of all who dare defeat them!

Exclusive 3^rd Person 3-dimensional Combat for the Xbox video game system.

Death Match and Team Death Match.  

Play as eight characters, each with different attacks, defense, speed and special “anger” power levels.

Four-player split-screen combat.

Downloadable Content: New characters and maps.

Tons of attacks and magic powers exclusive to each character.

Attack with interactive items: Grenades, ice, gasses, hot oil, flaming statues, rocks and more.  

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Great Xbox-specific textures and effects: 4,000 polygon characters, realistic real-time lighting and shadows, very smooth camera and animation.

Go ahead, ask me what Stake is about.  No, really.  I want you to.  Okay.  I have no idea but I can take some guesses.

From the screens it almost looks like pure fighting mixed with some kind of role-playing game.  Actually the first game that springs to mind is Powerstone, with a difference: split-screen.

The split-screen multiplayer is a good solution to fighting games that pan out to keep all the players on the screen simultaneously (e.g. Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee).  However, the developers might want to think of a dynamically splitting screen (with at least the 2-player games) along the lines of Toejam & Earl III.  Split-screen does make me think of the size of the fighting arenas though -- they must be damn big.

The fight mechanics look like they'll be a mixed bag.  Not only do you have your basic attacks but you have items in the "arena" that can be used, weapons, and "anger" power levels, which are promised to be character unique.  This could mean a subtle, yet complex, fighting model or it could be a incomprehensible mess.  It's wait and see on this point.

It's good to see a point about downloadable content.  (As Xbox Live starts to really catch on this type of thing will be standard.)  However, there's no mention of online fighting.  The emphasis on split-screen looks like Live capabilities are not going to happen, which is too bad -- a real missed opportunity. (This could change, who knows.)

Look for Stake soon.

- Omni

(January 15, 2003)