MediEvil | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Other Ocean Emeryville |
Publisher(s) | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
Producer(s) | Jeff Nachbauer |
Composer(s) | Andrew Barnabas Paul Arnold |
Series | MediEvil |
Engine | Unreal Engine 4 |
Platform(s) | PlayStation 4 |
Release | October 25, 2019 |
Genre(s) | Action-adventure, hack and slash |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
MediEvil is a 2019 action-adventure game developed by Other Ocean Emeryville and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. The player controls the protagonist, Sir Daniel Fortesque, through a series of levels, using various weapons to fight enemies as well as encountering various non-playable characters. It is a remake of MediEvil , which was originally developed by British video game developer SCE Cambridge Studio and released for the PlayStation in 1998.
The MediEvil remake was first announced as a remaster of MediEvil in late 2017 and later as a remake the following year. The developers of MediEvil took advantage of the advances in technology since the original MediEvil to enhance aspects, while trying to avoid straying too far from the presentation of the original. Additional features not present in the original were included in the remake. The MediEvil remake was released on October 25, 2019. [1] [2] Various bonus content was included in special editions.
MediEvil received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its presentation, but criticized some aspects of its gameplay. The game is dedicated to Zarok's voice actor, Paul Darrow, who died on June 3, 2019.
MediEvil takes place across a series of levels selectable from a world map of Gallowmere. [3] The game's playable character, Sir Daniel Fortesque, is able to utilize a variety of weapons ranging from close range weapons such as swords and clubs to long-range weapons such as throwing daggers and bows, many of which can be charged for a more powerful attack. [4] When not possessing any weapons, Sir Daniel is able to use his arm for melee and ranged attacks. [4] Sir Dan is also able to equip a shield alongside his weapons for defense, though they can only resist a limited amount of damage and do not protect Dan from certain types of damage, such as from long falls. [5] As Sir Dan is hit by enemies, he will lose part of his health bar; If his entire health bar is depleted, the game will end. While Sir Dan does not recover health automatically between levels, he can utilize Life Bottles to automatically recover all of his health should it be completely depleted. [6]
Sir Dan is able to encounter two varieties of gargoyle heads throughout the game: green gargoyles offer Sir Dan information, while blue gargoyles offer him ammunition for his weapons in exchange for gold he finds. [7] In each level, Sir Dan is able to find a chalice of Souls, which can be collected if the player has defeated enough enemies. Dan can use the chalices to gain access to the Hall of Heroes, where he can talk to one of several non-playable characters to receive a new weapon or other item. [8] If Sir Dan collects all chalices, the game's true ending will be shown. [9]
While the game remains largely identical in content to the original MediEvil, several new features have been introduced. This includes the ability to toggle between a primary and secondary weapon, first introduced as a feature in MediEvil 2 , [10] the "Dan Cam", an optional camera viewpoint which uses an over-the-shoulder perspective, [11] and a compendium of information about the game's characters and enemies, known as the Book of Gallowmere. [7] Optional "Lost Souls" objectives have also been incorporated into the game, which require Sir Dan to complete a mission received from a ghost found in each level; [12] if all Lost Souls objectives are completed, the player unlocks the option to play the original MediEvil on the menu screen, under the name of "Old Game". [13]
According to the executive producer of the MediEvil remake, Jeff Nachbauer, Other Ocean Emeryville wished to keep most elements from the original MediEvil intact, unless they felt there was a good reason to change something; this included the retention of several glitches present in the original MediEvil, which were considered by the developers to be crucial to the feel of the game. This included a bug in the code for sword swings that made the motion irregular and unpredictable. [14] The developers researched music the original developers would have listened to at the time of the development of the original MediEvil. [15] Level geometry was extracted from the original MediEvil and imported into the remake's engine to serve as a reference for the placement of level elements. Due to the game's farther draw distance and wider aspect ratio, new background areas that didn't exist in the original MediEvil needed to be created, and additional trees and foliage were added to certain areas. [16] Enemy behaviors left in the source code of the original MediEvil, but removed from the finished game due to time constraints, were restored for the MediEvil remake. [14]
Art director Nick Bruty felt that it was crucial to keep the feel of the original MediEvil in Sir Daniel Fortesque's design, while still adding additional detail and shape to the originally low-resolution 3D model from the original game. Sir Dan's arms were made longer, as they were considered to look strange in the higher resolution of the MediEvil remake. Sir Dan's armor was redesigned to be more grounded in design while still accommodating for Sir Dan's animations. Initially, they had given Dan's armor a cleaner design, but made his armor more tattered later in development. The design of Sir Dan's skull went through several iterations, with the finalized design intending to strike a balance between the more gritty design of the original MediEvil and the more humorous design of MediEvil: Resurrection . Due to advances in technology since the development of the original MediEvil, Other Ocean was able to create a wider range of expressions for Sir Dan compared to the original game. [17]
Most in-game dialogue was recycled from the original MediEvil (the only exception to this is Zarok's command of "Fire!" in the cinematic showing what had really happened to Dan). Jason Wilson, the voice actor of Sir Dan in MediEvil and MediEvil: Resurrection, reprised his role; unlike the original MediEvil, where Sir Dan's muffled voice effect was created by recording his lines while wearing a bucket, the effect was instead post-processed for the MediEvil remake. [14] Tom Baker was replaced as the voice of the narrator by Lani Minella. [18]
Andrew Barnabas and Paul Arnold, who had previously composed the soundtrack for the previous three games in the series, returned to compose for the MediEvil remake. The music of the MediEvil remake was orchestrated by Prague Symphony Orchestra. [18] The game's soundtrack consists of remastered versions of music that appeared in MediEvil: Resurrection, orchestral arrangements of tracks from the original MediEvil, and new tracks composed exclusively for the MediEvil remake. [19]
A software PlayStation emulator was developed so that the original game could be unlocked and played on the PlayStation 4, which at the time lacked any backwards compatibility with original PlayStation games. [20] The inclusion of the software led to attention from the modding community after launch, and led to attempts to run other games through MediEvil's PlayStation emulator. [21] Formal support for emulating other original PlayStation games on PS4 did not emerge until the 2022 revamp of PlayStation Plus. [22]
The MediEvil remake was first announced as a remaster of MediEvil at the 2017 PlayStation Experience. [23] MediEvil was fully revealed on October 31, 2018, [24] and was confirmed to be a full remake, rather than a remaster as was previously announced. In May 9, 2019, PlayStation State of Play, the digital only "Digital Deluxe Edition" version was revealed, which includes the Super Armor from MediEvil 2 (which now increases the gold that Sir Dan earns), a theme based on the game for the PlayStation 4 user interface, a digital art book, a digital graphic novel prequel known as MediEvil: Fate's Arrow, [25] and a digital music player featuring the game's soundtrack, the latter receiving a later update allowing the user to download the game's music. [26] In the September 24, 2019, PlayStation State of Play, a demo of MediEvil, known as MediEvil: Short-Lived Demo, was announced to be available from the end of the presentation until October 6, 2019. The demo features an unlockable helmet item that can carry over to the full game. The helmet is based on the Japanese version of the original MediEvil, which has Sir Dan wear a helmet by default, and also increases the game's difficulty level. [27] A version of the Short-Lived Demo with additional levels was released on December 20, 2019. [17]
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Metacritic | 67/100 [28] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
Destructoid | 7.5/10 [29] |
Game Informer | 6.5/10 [30] |
GameSpot | 5/10 [31] |
GamesRadar+ | [32] |
IGN | 6.5/10 [33] |
VideoGamer.com | 7/10 [34] |
MediEvil received mixed reviews from critics. It received an aggregate score of 67/100 from review aggregator Metacritic based on 72 critics, indicating mixed or average reviews. [28]
Praise was directed at the game's visual design, which was considered to be faithful to the original MediEvil, [30] [32] and the character, setting, and story of the game. [30] [31] [32] [33] Aspects of MediEvil's gameplay design were often considered by critics to feel outdated, in particular the game's lack of a checkpoint mechanic. [33] [30] [31] Some game mechanics such as the instant death upon falling into water were also subject to criticism, [3] [30] and were considered to be aggravated by the unreliable controls and cameras. [29] [31] Combat was also criticized as being frustrating and imprecise. [33] [32]
IGN's Travis Northup considered MediEvil's "relentlessly charming story" as its greatest strength, and praised the added details and personality to the game's visuals and audio, but described the game's combat as "sloppy and disorienting". [33] GameSpot's James Swinbanks, while also praising characters and visual style, shared similar concerns about the combat as well as other basic tasks which are made difficult by the sloppy controls and camera movements. [31] Destructoid's Chris Carter felt that people who did not like the original MediEvil would not like the remake either, and thought the game's combat mechanics "might be a little too retro for modern audiences", comparing them to older hack-and-slash games such as Golden Axe . [3] Game Informer's Andrew Reiner thought that MediEvil's combat system felt imprecise, and compared the game unfavorably to other remakes such as Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Spyro Reignited Trilogy . [30] In line with the other reviews, GamesRadar+ and VideoGamer.com praised the visuals, but criticized the outdated game design. [32] [34]
In the United Kingdom, MediEvil was the fifth-best-selling game in its week of release. [35] On November 5, 2019, MediEvil was listed as the third-best-selling game of the week in a chart in the combined download and retail encompassing 43 countries. [36]
A video game remake is a video game closely adapted from an earlier title, usually for the purpose of modernizing a game with updated graphics for newer hardware and gameplay for contemporary audiences. Typically, a remake of such game software shares essentially the same title, fundamental gameplay concepts, and core story elements of the original game, although some aspects of the original game may have been changed for the remake.
MediEvil is an action-adventure hack and slash series of games developed by SCE Studio Cambridge and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The series revolves around an undead charlatan knight, Sir Daniel Fortesque, as he attempts to restore peace to the fictional Kingdom of Gallowmere whilst simultaneously redeeming himself. The first entry in the series, MediEvil, was released for the PlayStation in 1998 and was re-released on the PlayStation Network in 2007. Its direct sequel, MediEvil 2, was released for the PlayStation in 2000. The first game received two remakes, MediEvil: Resurrection for the PlayStation Portable in 2005 and MediEvil for the PlayStation 4 in 2019.
Resident Evil 3 is a 2020 survival horror game developed and published by Capcom. It is a remake of the 1999 game Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. Players control former elite agent Jill Valentine and mercenary Carlos Oliveira as they attempt to find a vaccine and escape from a city during a zombie outbreak. The game is played from a third-person perspective and requires the player to solve puzzles and defeat monsters while being pursued by a creature called Nemesis. It was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in April 2020 and for Amazon Luna, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S in June 2022, with a Nintendo Switch cloud version released in November 2022.
Hogs of War is a 2000 turn-based tactics video game developed by Infogrames Sheffield House and published by Infogrames for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. The game is set in the First World War-era where anthropomorphic pigs engage in combat. Hogs of War features 3D graphics and both a single-player career mode and offline multiplayer, with voice artistry by British comedic actors Rik Mayall and Marc Silk.
MediEvil: Resurrection is a 2005 gothic action-adventure game developed by SCE Studio Cambridge and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable. It is a re-imagining of the first installment in the series, MediEvil. It was first released as a launch title in September 2005 in North America and Europe. The game is set in the medieval Kingdom of Gallowmere and centres around the charlatan protagonist, Sir Daniel Fortesque, as he makes an attempt to stop antagonist Zarok's invasion of the kingdom whilst simultaneously redeeming himself. The game also features a variety of voice talents, including Tom Baker as the narrator and the Grim Reaper.
MediEvil 2 is a 2000 action-adventure game developed by SCE Cambridge Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is the second instalment of the MediEvil series and a sequel to MediEvil. Taking place 500 years after the events of the first game, it follows series' protagonist Sir Daniel Fortesque's revival in Victorian-era London as he attempts to stop sorcerer Lord Palethorn and Jack the Ripper's plans to terrorise the city by raising the dead.
Bluepoint Games Inc. is an American video game developer based in Austin, Texas. Founded in 2006 by Andy O'Neil and Marco Thrush, the studio is known for video game remasters and remakes, such as Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection (2015), Shadow of the Colossus (2018), and Demon's Souls (2020). Sony Interactive Entertainment acquired the company in September 2021, making them a first-party developer for PlayStation Studios.
Sony has released a number of previously released PlayStation video games, remastered in high-definition (HD) for their newer consoles, a form of porting. A number of related programs exist, the most prominent two being "Classics HD" and "PSP Remasters". The former consists of multiple PlayStation 2 games compiled on one Blu-ray Disc. The latter are individual PlayStation Portable games republished on Blu-ray. These games are not direct ports, but remastered versions in high-definition, to take advantage of the newer consoles' capabilities. The remastering of the games include updated graphics, new textures, and Trophy support, and some of the remastered games released on PlayStation 3 have included 3D and PlayStation Move support. Some HD remasters have also been released individually or in bundles as downloads on the PlayStation Store; others are released exclusively as downloads.
Resident Evil is a 2002 survival horror game developed and published by Capcom for the GameCube. It is a remake of the 1996 PlayStation game Resident Evil, the first installment in the Resident Evil video game series. The story takes place in 1998 near the fictional Midwestern town of Raccoon City where a series of bizarre murders have taken place. The player takes on the role of either Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine, S.T.A.R.S. officers sent in by the city and the R.P.D. to investigate the murders.
MediEvil is an action-adventure hack and slash video game developed by SCE Studio Cambridge and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. The game is set in the medieval Kingdom of Gallowmere and centres around the charlatan protagonist, Sir Daniel Fortesque, as he makes an attempt to stop antagonist Zarok's invasion of the kingdom whilst simultaneously redeeming himself.
Ratchet & Clank is a 2016 third-person shooter platform video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. It is a tie-in to the 2016 film of the same name, as well as a remake of the first game in the series. The game was originally planned to be released in 2015, but was delayed, along with the film, to April 2016 in order to give the film a better marketing campaign and the game additional polish time.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered is a 2016 first-person shooter game developed by Raven Software and published by Activision. It is a remastered version of the 2007 game Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and was initially released as part of the special edition bundles of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare in November 2016 for the PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. A standalone version was released for these platforms in mid-2017. The game's story follows the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the Special Air Service (SAS), who take on missions to fight against a separatist group in the Middle East and an ultranationalist group in Russia.
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a 2017 platform game compilation developed by Vicarious Visions and published by Activision. It includes remasters of the first three games in the Crash Bandicoot series: Crash Bandicoot (1996), Cortex Strikes Back (1997), and Warped (1998); which were originally developed by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation. Initially released for the PlayStation 4, it was later ported to Nintendo Switch, Windows, and Xbox One in 2018.
Shadow of the Colossus is a 2018 action-adventure game developed by Bluepoint Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. It is a remake of the original game developed by Team Ico and released in 2005 for the PlayStation 2, using ultra-high definition art assets. The remake's development was led by Bluepoint, who developed the earlier PlayStation 3 remaster, with assistance from Japan Studio. The developers remade the assets from the ground up, but Shadow of the Colossus retains the same gameplay from the original title aside from the introduction of a new control scheme. The game received critical acclaim.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a 2018 platform game compilation developed by Toys for Bob and published by Activision. It includes remakes of the first three games in the Spyro series: Spyro the Dragon (1998), Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! (1999), and Spyro: Year of the Dragon (2000). Reignited was released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in November 2018, while Nintendo Switch and Windows versions were released in September 2019. The collection received positive reviews from critics and has sold over 10 million units as of September 2023.
Resident Evil 2 is a 2019 survival horror game developed and published by Capcom. A remake of the 1998 game Resident Evil 2, it was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in January 2019 and for Amazon Luna, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch in 2022. Versions for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS are scheduled to be released in December 2024. Players control the rookie police officer Leon S. Kennedy and the college student Claire Redfield as they attempt to escape Raccoon City during a zombie outbreak.
Destroy All Humans! is an open world action-adventure video game developed by Black Forest Games and published by THQ Nordic. The game is a remake of the 2005 original game and the fifth installment in the Destroy All Humans! franchise. This remake is the first entry in the franchise since Path of the Furon (2008).
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a 2020 skateboarding video game developed by Vicarious Visions and published by Activision. It was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on September 4, 2020, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on March 26, 2021, and Nintendo Switch on June 25 of the same year. It is a remake of the first two games in the Tony Hawk's series: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (1999) and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (2000), which were originally developed by Neversoft. It is the first major console game in the series since Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 (2015) and is Vicarious Visions' final work as a subsidiary of Activision before it was merged into Blizzard Entertainment on January 22, 2021.