Until You Fall

Last updated
Until You Fall
Until You Fall Cover Art.jpg
Developer(s) Schell Games
Publisher(s) Schell Games
Composer(s) Daniel Cohen
Engine Unity
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Oculus Quest
Release
  • Windows: October 27, 2020
  • PlayStation 4, Oculus Quest: October 29, 2020
Genre(s) Hack and slash, roguelike
Mode(s) Single-player

Until You Fall is a 2020 hack and slash roguelike video game developed and published by Schell Games. In it the player plays as a Rune Knight who has to fight back The Calamity. The full game released for Microsoft Windows on October 27, 2020, while ports for PlayStation 4 and Oculus Quest followed two days later.

Contents

Development

Schell Games spent time tuning each weapon in order to give them each a unique playstyle and weight. [1]

During development, the core gameplay of attacking and blocking came together quickly, but the team was unsure of the gameplay systems supporting the combat. Schell Games scrapped systems like weapon durability, being able to loot enemies, holsters, and weapon throwing; they felt the mechanics slowed down the core gameplay.

The game refocused on empowering the player, with a developer stating "Something we knew early on was that, when our combat was in full swing, the player would feel incredibly heroic. The combination of wide swings and blocking choreography encourages the player to stand (or sit) up straighter, completely losing any sense of VR-shyness we saw in some of our early playtests. So…why not lean into that feeling of power?" Schell Games redesigned the mechanics in order to support this focus around empowerment, with features that didn't support the idea being cut, and mechanics like dashing and weapon summoning becoming essential to combat. [2]

Discussing how to make the combat more bombastic, the team stated "Because wider/bigger swings deal more damage in our game, we needed to encourage players to take larger swings... To achieve this, we clearly delineated three levels of feedback – small, standard and big. These thresholds of effort ensured players would play in a way that not only encouraged them to lean into the fantasy, but it also helped prevent players from potentially injuring themselves." The sound design, graphics and haptic feedback were used in order to "reinforce the power fantasy" that Until You Fall was trying to create.

A rogue like structure was chosen because the developers felt it allowed the player to master their combat at their own speed, learning mechanics that helped them master combat through repeated playthroughs. [3]

Reception

Until You Fall received "generally favorable reviews" according to Metacritic.

UploadVR praised the weapon variety, feeling that it helped "encourage various playstyles and experimentation to get the most out of its combat". [9] Road to VR liked the game's combat and the way combat markers were used, saying that they "Not only does this approach leave room for meta-game strategy—like which weapons you use and how you use them—it also allows the game to carefully set the ‘pace’ of combat to make it both challenging and rewarding". [10] Destructoid enjoyed the freedom the Oculus Quest provided, writing "I was enthralled. Playing this on a tethered headset is fun, but the freedom of the wireless Oculus Quest is just unreal and adds so much. You can walk or look around unfettered, which is supremely useful when there’s multiple enemies at the gates of your visor". [11]

Related Research Articles

Superhot is an independent first-person shooter (FPS) video game developed and published by Superhot Team. Though the game follows traditional first-person shooter gameplay mechanics, with the player attempting to take out enemy targets using guns and other weapons, time within the game progresses at normal speed only when the player moves; this creates the opportunity for the player to assess their situation in slow motion and respond appropriately, making the gameplay similar to strategy video games. The game is presented in a minimalist art style, with enemies in red and weapons in black, in contrast to the otherwise white and grey environment.

<i>The Climb</i> (video game) 2016 video game

The Climb is a first-person virtual reality game, developed by Crytek and Oculus Studios. In it the player climbs cliffs in locations around the world. The game released for Microsoft Windows on April 28, 2016, while a Oculus Quest port was later released in 2019. A sequel, The Climb 2, was released in 2021.

<i>Robo Recall</i> 2017 video game

Robo Recall is a virtual reality first-person shooter game developed and published by Epic Games for Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest platforms. The game was released for the Oculus Rift on March 1, 2017, and an Oculus Quest version titled Robo Recall: Unplugged was released on May 21, 2019. Players that activate their Oculus Touch virtual reality controllers with its software are able to download the game for free.

<i>City of Brass</i> (video game) 2018 video game

City of Brass is a single-player first-person dungeon crawl video game, set in a procedurally generated, Arabian Nights-themed city of interconnecting corridors, courtyards and rooms. Players assume the role of a thief, fighting to reach a treasure hidden in the heart of a mythical city filled with traps and enemies. It was developed by Australian independent video game studio Uppercut Games and was announced on 6 July 2017 as being in development for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The Windows version was released on Steam via its Early Access program on 18 September 2017.

<i>I Expect You to Die</i> 2016 video game

I Expect You to Die is a virtual reality action video game developed and published by Schell Games and released in December 2016 for PlayStation 4, and April 2017 for Windows. In the game, the player assumes the role of a "james bond-esque" spy and is tasked to complete levels. The game can be played using the Oculus Rift, Oculus Rift S, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, the Oculus Quest and the Oculus Quest 2.

<i>Ghost Giant</i> 2019 puzzle video game

Ghost Giant is a virtual reality puzzle game developed and published by Zoink for the PlayStation 4 through PlayStation VR and Oculus Quest. It was released for PlayStation VR in April 2019 and Oculus Quest in February 2020.

<i>Death Horizon</i> 2017 mobile FPS VR game

Death Horizon is a mobile FPS VR game developed by British studio Dream Dev Studio VR.

<i>Iron Man VR</i> 2020 shooter video game developed by Camouflaj

Marvel's Iron Man VR is a virtual reality shooter video game developed by Camouflaj and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It is based on the Marvel Comics superhero Iron Man and inspired by the long-running comic book mythology and adaptations in other media. The game's story revolves around Iron Man's conflict with a mysterious computer hacker and terrorist known only as Ghost, who targets Tony Stark and his company while seeking revenge for the deaths caused by the weapons the company manufactured prior to Stark becoming Iron Man.

<i>Stormland</i> (video game) 2019 video game

Stormland is a 2019 action-adventure game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Oculus Studios for the Oculus Rift virtual reality (VR) headset. The game put emphasis on both exploration and combat as the player character, an android gardener named Vesper, traverses an alien planet from a first-person perspective. The game received generally positive reviews from critics upon release.

<i>Rad</i> (video game) 2019 video game

Rad is a roguelike action game developed by Double Fine and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It was released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in August 2019 and for Amazon Luna in May 2021.

<i>Battlezone</i> (2016 video game) 2016 video game

Battlezone is an arcade game released by Rebellion in 2016. It is an update of the original 1980 arcade game. The game was one of the launch titles for PlayStation VR in October 2016.

<i>Godfall</i> 2020 action role-playing video game

Godfall is an action role-playing game developed by Counterplay Games and published by Gearbox Publishing. The game was released for PlayStation 5 and Windows on November 12, 2020. It was also released for the PlayStation 4 on August 10, 2021. An enhanced version of the game containing all downloadable content up to that point, titled Godfall: Ultimate Edition, was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on April 7, 2022. It received mixed reviews from critics.

<i>Asgards Wrath</i> 2019 video game

Asgard's Wrath is a 2019 action role-playing game developed by Sanzaru Games and published by Oculus Studios for the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. In the game, the player assumes control of a Norse god who must guide several mortal heroes to fulfill their destinies. The game received generally positive reviews. Asgard's Wrath 2 was released on the Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest 3 in 2023.

<i>Chronos</i> (2016 video game) 2016 video game

Chronos is a 2016 action role-playing game developed and published by Gunfire Games for the Oculus Rift virtual reality (VR) headset. The game received generally positive reviews upon release. An overhauled version of the game, titled Chronos: Before the Ashes was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Stadia on December 1, 2020.

<i>Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife</i> 2021 video game

Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife is a virtual reality survival horror video game developed and published by Swedish studio Fast Travel Games, released in 2021. It is based on White Wolf Publishing's 1994 tabletop role-playing game Wraith: The Oblivion, and is part of the larger World of Darkness series. The game was released for Oculus Quest & Rift, Steam VR, PICO 4 and PlayStation VR, with support for the VR headsets HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, PlayStation VR, and Valve Index.

<i>Gorn</i> (video game) 2019 video game

Gorn is a 2019 virtual reality game developed by Free Lives and published by Devolver Digital. The player is a gladiator who fights opponents to death in arena using weapons at their disposal. The game was launched in early access in 2016, and had a full release on July 18, 2019 for Microsoft Windows. A PlayStation VR version released in 2020 and an Oculus Quest port followed in 2021. An updated version for the PlayStation VR2 was released March 16, 2023.

<i>Sniper Elite VR</i> 2021 video game

Sniper Elite VR is a 2021 virtual reality video game developed by Just Add Water and published by Rebellion Developments. The player plays as an elite sniper in the Italian resistance. The game was released for Oculus Quest, Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4. The game is part of the Sniper Elite series.

<i>Getsu Fūma Den: Undying Moon</i> 2022 video game

Getsu Fūma Den: Undying Moon is a hack-and-slash roguevania platformer video game co-developed by Konami and GuruGuru and published by Konami. The game was released in 2022 for Nintendo Switch on 9 February, and for Windows on 17 February. It is the sequel to the 1987 game Getsu Fūma Den, which was originally developed and published by Konami for the Famicom exclusively in Japan.

<i>The Climb 2</i> 2021 video game

The Climb 2 is a virtual reality platform game developed and published by Crytek. As the sequel to The Climb (2016), the game was released for Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2 on March 4, 2021. In the game, the player needs to climb different cliffs and skyscrapers. The game received generally positive reviews upon launch.

References

  1. ↑ "Jesse Schell on making Until You Fall's weapons feel tangible". Shacknews. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  2. ↑ "The Pillars of Rokar: Finding the Core Identity of Until You Fall". VRFocus. Archived from the original on 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  3. ↑ "Rise of the Neon Hellscape: Establishing the Atmosphere of Until You Fall". VRFocus. Archived from the original on 2021-09-24. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  4. ↑ "Until You Fall for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  5. ↑ "Until You Fall for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  6. ↑ Carter, Chris (15 November 2020). "Review: Until You Fall". Destructoid . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  7. ↑ Feltham, Jamie (2 October 2020). "Until You Fall Review: An Effortlessly Cool Roguelike". UploadVR . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  8. ↑ Lang, Ben (29 September 2020). "'Until You Fall' Quest Review – Hack & Slash Satisfaction with Strategic Choices". Road to VR . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  9. ↑ "Until You Fall Review: An Effortlessly Cool Rogelike". 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-11-15. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
  10. ↑ Lang, Ben (2020-09-29). "'Until You Fall' Quest Review – Hack & Slash Satisfaction with Strategic Choices". Road to VR. Archived from the original on 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  11. ↑ "Review: Until You Fall". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 2021-11-15. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.