Binary Domain Preview

Squad-based games have been around for a while, but none brought the genre to prominence like Brothers In Arms did. Players enjoy the thought of issuing orders to AI members of the squad, which brought with it the ability to control their movements and direct fire. Brothers In Arms almost revolutionised a genre, and Sega’s Binary Domain is hoping that it will do the same a bit later this year. But the squad-based third person shooter might have some scepticism to fight off, in the sense that it’s being developed by a newly-formed studio.

The game is also being developed by Toshihiro Nagoshi, who created the Yakuza video game series - which could either be a good thing or a very bad move. The title plays off in Tokyo in 2080, in the middle of a huge robot invasion. Just like a typical anime story, the entire city has been overrun by machines and it’s up to the humans to fight for their city and ultimately their lives.

The player will be in charge of an international squad of peacekeepers who have been tasked with eradicating the robots from the streets. But naturally thing don’t go according to plan and the group starts to question their leader and humanity’s resilience against the mechanical influence. A major draw card for Binary Domain is the new Consequence System that has been built into the title. With the new system, the AI will judge the players, and each action will have consequences (naturally). If the player performs badly, the squad will start to doubt the player’s ability to lead, while good actions will earn their trust. The outcomes of the Consequence System will affect both the storyline and the gameplay.

For issuing commands to the AI characters, players will be able to make use of the on-screen menu or by simple saying the command through a headset. The title has been tweaked with international players in mind, and will be able to recognise up to six languages.

The title should be fun for squad-based fans, but it could also turn out to be an incredibly Japanese-influenced title, which not everybody loves. While the Yakuza games are good in their own right, they’re not for everyone - and the same might be said for Binary Domain. Although, judging from the trailer that has been released, it will be an intense title with lots of drama and careful planning. It could be incredibly fun and though-provoking to see a modern squad-based title from and set in Japan, so we are keeping our eyes peeled for the release.

Verdict:

Set in Japan in 2080, the title should provide a lot of action and drama.

Developer: Yakuza Studio

Publisher: Sega

Distributor: Ster Kinekor

Release Date:

Feb 2012

Platform:

Xbox 360

PS3