Fresh gameplay for Tides of Annihilation was shown at tonight’s Xbox Partner Preview, showcasing its Dual Frontline Battle System in a dazzling boss fight.
To recap, Tides of Annihilation was first announced back in February at the PlayStation State of Play. From Chinese studio Eclipse Glow Games, it fuses modern day London with Arthurian Legend with big, splashy Bayonetta-esque combat. Players take on the role of Gwendolyn in search of the Holy Grail, able to command spectral forms of the Knights of the Round Table.
It’s these knights that form the Dual Frontline Battle System. As explained by lead game producer Kun Fu for Xbox Wire, this system is “one of the key unique features where players will utilise different attacks of each knight in combat, as well as customise their configuration and abilities.”
Further, the knights aren’t just a tool for combat but more like sidekicks to assist in Gwendolyn’s quest. As the producer explained: “We first showed off this system in our announcement trailer that enabled players to set up two sets of spectral knight summons (four knights total at a time). Different knights can be summoned to enhance Gwendolyn’s abilities and will be especially useful in executing combination chain attacks. Players can freely swap knights in the midst of battle – even mid-combo – to extend chains or adjust your tactics (e.g., time-stop, defensive shield, etc.).
“In this new trailer, the knight Sir Lamorak lends his power to Gwendolyn enabling the player to control both Gwendolyn and Lamorak simultaneously to fight inside and outside the mirror Folded Realm. The ability to summon, command and control spectral knights with the Dual Frontline Battle system is all about giving players the freedom to shape their own combat style.”
This was all shown off in a new boss fight against Tyronoe, who transforms into a bird beast and creates a mirrored alternate dimension. Sir Lamorak assists from this other dimension and eventually is absorbed by Gwendolyn, ready to be summoned in battle. It’s very, very extra.
The visual spectacle is particularly impressive, with Kun Fu stating the team has been inspired by iconic action scenes from films like Inception, The Matrix, and Dr. Strange. “Like those memorable movie scenes leading to a big confrontation, we wanted players to feel that same euphoria – a combination of excitement and dread – in the boss fights of Tides of Annihilation,” the producer said.
There’s no release date yet, but Tides of Annihilation is set for release on Xbox Series X/S, PC (Xbox, Epic, Steam), and PlayStation 5.
It’s one of many action games coming from China, following in the footsteps of Black Myth: Wukong.
