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- Mar 30, 2019
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Hey everyone,
We heard from Denis before about the Ghoul: "You are what you eat." We can't know what that will imply in gameplay terms, but it suggests that you'll be able to absorb your enemies' powers, attributes or capabilities in general.
I'd like to contribute by citing some games that have that characteristic of absorbing powers from your enemies. Not all will be great examples, but they may serve to sparkle some great ideas in the future.
1- Prototype 1 & 2
In Protype, you play as a man that can absorb organic matter onto his body. He develops various powers as he gains more and more matter, sometimes acquiring specific skills based on what he absorbed. He can shapeshifts his body, transforming it into various types of weapons in the process. Seems like a very fitting reference for the Ghoul's powers.
2- Crysis 2 & 3
In Crysis 2 and onwards, but particularly 3, the Nanosuit begins to develop itself and gain sentience when getting in contact with alien DNA--something that it was based of off in the first place. As it continues to absorb alien matter throughout its journey, it starts to develop new functions, eventually leading to shapeshifting. While the powers themselves are not as strongly inspired by the characters absorbed, the powers are somewhat inspired on the aliens, and so are some of the concepts in the game.
3- Kirby
It might look like a joke, but it isn't. Kirby is an excellent example of a character in a series of games that gets to swallow and absorb other character's powers. And although the absorption changes a little bit every iteration, they are sometimes creative when it comes to the powers gained. It is definitely a potential source for inspiration. Just not on the looks.
I particularly recommend checking out Kirby's Dream Course.
4 - Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Vampires gain powers by drinking blood. Ghouls eat flesh to gain powers. Wraiths reave souls to gain powers. There is definitely an association to be made here. Raziel gains new powers every time he defeats and absorbs the soul of one of the bosses--elder vampires, his former brothers. The powers absorbed are not always quite directly the powers the (un)living vampires had, but a distinct version of them. It is a good source for references.
5 - Alien vs. Predator
While not particularly power absorption, the Aliens, the Xenomorphs, get to develop differently depending on the host they grew up inside. Xenomorphs born out of quadrupedal animals are often called "Runners", a variant that always crawls instead of walking and standing. When born out of humans, they result in their regular Drone form that we commonly see. If a Facehugger implants an embryo in a Preadtor, it results in a Predalien. There are other variants depicted in various stories, including mixtures of Xenomorps between themselves. The transformations can be a source of inspiration.
6- E.V.O.: Search for Eden
I don't expect many people to know this old side-scroller. This game is ALL about getting food, in the form of other creatures. You play as an entity created by Gaia to live, eat, evolve and participate in a long journey of 5 billion years throughout various ages. While you don't get specific powers from eating creatures, you can develop individual body parts and gain new functions with the matter that you absorb. And there are crystals that you find that change your entire form temporarily into a specific creature that cannot be recreated. There is an interesting story behind it, and a few easter eggs, multiple ways of going through the game, and the experience in the end will depend on how you develop your creature.
7 - NetStorm: Islands At War
In this strategy game, you play as high priests that belong to one of four elements, elements governed by gods called Furies. Every mission's objective is to capture the enemy high priest and sacrifice it. When you do that, you absorb one of their powers, typically a kind of unit or structure that their faction has, allowing you to have access to that same ability. I don't know if this is one of the greatest influences out there, but it is definitely unique and it may give some new ideas.
8- God of War and other similar progressive adventures
In the God of War series, as you finish off a special being, be that a god, a dangerous creature or the like, you usually take one of their iconic features for yourself. Sometimes it's an item, sometimes it's a part of their bodies, sometimes it's directly their power. As you do that, you gain new skills to aid you in your adventure, such as weapons with new capabilities and combos, or movement-enhancing items, or really just powers. They are often slightly different version of the ones you witnessed the enemies using, but they are your iteration of them, which is very fitting for the Ghoul. I can't think of other games like this right now, but there are others for sure.
9- Mega Man
In the Mega Man series in general, you always acquire a new power when you defeat a level boss. They sometimes give you a new weapon, that has its own individual "energy" bar, sometimes they give you new capabilities, sometimes new suits. Though the theme is completely different from Deadhaus, I think there might be a lesson or two to be learned from this series.
10- Little Nemo: The Dream Master
In this peculiar breed of game, you play as Nemo and you can acquire the power of other creatures by feeding them, and then "mixing" with them. On some creatures, you mount them. On others, you end up inside them, wearing them as clothes. You gain their health, their powers and their typical movement capabilities, while still being able to use some of your own tricks. I figured "wearing" the creatures' bodies was something considerably akin to a Ghoul's lore.
If you happen to have other good examples that I missed where characters can absorb other individual's powers in interesting ways, let us know. Even something small can serve as inspiration for something amazing.
We heard from Denis before about the Ghoul: "You are what you eat." We can't know what that will imply in gameplay terms, but it suggests that you'll be able to absorb your enemies' powers, attributes or capabilities in general.
I'd like to contribute by citing some games that have that characteristic of absorbing powers from your enemies. Not all will be great examples, but they may serve to sparkle some great ideas in the future.
1- Prototype 1 & 2
In Protype, you play as a man that can absorb organic matter onto his body. He develops various powers as he gains more and more matter, sometimes acquiring specific skills based on what he absorbed. He can shapeshifts his body, transforming it into various types of weapons in the process. Seems like a very fitting reference for the Ghoul's powers.
2- Crysis 2 & 3
In Crysis 2 and onwards, but particularly 3, the Nanosuit begins to develop itself and gain sentience when getting in contact with alien DNA--something that it was based of off in the first place. As it continues to absorb alien matter throughout its journey, it starts to develop new functions, eventually leading to shapeshifting. While the powers themselves are not as strongly inspired by the characters absorbed, the powers are somewhat inspired on the aliens, and so are some of the concepts in the game.
3- Kirby
It might look like a joke, but it isn't. Kirby is an excellent example of a character in a series of games that gets to swallow and absorb other character's powers. And although the absorption changes a little bit every iteration, they are sometimes creative when it comes to the powers gained. It is definitely a potential source for inspiration. Just not on the looks.
I particularly recommend checking out Kirby's Dream Course.
4 - Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Vampires gain powers by drinking blood. Ghouls eat flesh to gain powers. Wraiths reave souls to gain powers. There is definitely an association to be made here. Raziel gains new powers every time he defeats and absorbs the soul of one of the bosses--elder vampires, his former brothers. The powers absorbed are not always quite directly the powers the (un)living vampires had, but a distinct version of them. It is a good source for references.
5 - Alien vs. Predator
While not particularly power absorption, the Aliens, the Xenomorphs, get to develop differently depending on the host they grew up inside. Xenomorphs born out of quadrupedal animals are often called "Runners", a variant that always crawls instead of walking and standing. When born out of humans, they result in their regular Drone form that we commonly see. If a Facehugger implants an embryo in a Preadtor, it results in a Predalien. There are other variants depicted in various stories, including mixtures of Xenomorps between themselves. The transformations can be a source of inspiration.
6- E.V.O.: Search for Eden
I don't expect many people to know this old side-scroller. This game is ALL about getting food, in the form of other creatures. You play as an entity created by Gaia to live, eat, evolve and participate in a long journey of 5 billion years throughout various ages. While you don't get specific powers from eating creatures, you can develop individual body parts and gain new functions with the matter that you absorb. And there are crystals that you find that change your entire form temporarily into a specific creature that cannot be recreated. There is an interesting story behind it, and a few easter eggs, multiple ways of going through the game, and the experience in the end will depend on how you develop your creature.
7 - NetStorm: Islands At War
In this strategy game, you play as high priests that belong to one of four elements, elements governed by gods called Furies. Every mission's objective is to capture the enemy high priest and sacrifice it. When you do that, you absorb one of their powers, typically a kind of unit or structure that their faction has, allowing you to have access to that same ability. I don't know if this is one of the greatest influences out there, but it is definitely unique and it may give some new ideas.
8- God of War and other similar progressive adventures
In the God of War series, as you finish off a special being, be that a god, a dangerous creature or the like, you usually take one of their iconic features for yourself. Sometimes it's an item, sometimes it's a part of their bodies, sometimes it's directly their power. As you do that, you gain new skills to aid you in your adventure, such as weapons with new capabilities and combos, or movement-enhancing items, or really just powers. They are often slightly different version of the ones you witnessed the enemies using, but they are your iteration of them, which is very fitting for the Ghoul. I can't think of other games like this right now, but there are others for sure.
9- Mega Man
In the Mega Man series in general, you always acquire a new power when you defeat a level boss. They sometimes give you a new weapon, that has its own individual "energy" bar, sometimes they give you new capabilities, sometimes new suits. Though the theme is completely different from Deadhaus, I think there might be a lesson or two to be learned from this series.
10- Little Nemo: The Dream Master
In this peculiar breed of game, you play as Nemo and you can acquire the power of other creatures by feeding them, and then "mixing" with them. On some creatures, you mount them. On others, you end up inside them, wearing them as clothes. You gain their health, their powers and their typical movement capabilities, while still being able to use some of your own tricks. I figured "wearing" the creatures' bodies was something considerably akin to a Ghoul's lore.
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If you happen to have other good examples that I missed where characters can absorb other individual's powers in interesting ways, let us know. Even something small can serve as inspiration for something amazing.
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