Blood Message Hands-On Preview – Combat Shines In This Familiar Song And Dance

Platform: PC Publisher: NetEase Games Developer: 24 Entertainment Blood Message is developer 24 Entertainment’s first AAA single-player title, and in several ways feels like the team looked to the best playbook for making such a thing: first-party PlayStation. The game boasts incredible production values and cinematography, centers on a father/son relationship, has scripted high-octane linear chase sequences, and feels as much like watching a prestige historical TV drama as a game. I’m not saying that with any shade; I’ll always enjoy that popcorn blockbuster flavor of interactive experiences. But more than anything else, Blood Message wowed me with its cinematic and realistic combat. Blood Message is set in 848 AD during China’s late Tang Dynasty. The nameless protagonist is no great significant figure, but rather a rank-and-file soldier and messenger. Caught in a massive conflict, the messenger must embark on a brutal 1,000-mile journey to Chang'an alongside his young son. In addition to surviving skirmishes with enemy forces, they’ll have to contend with the unforgiving terrain and the elements themselves. My demo opens early, with the messenger and his brother, racing to return to the former’s home as their city falls under attack. To the protagonist, nothing matters more than getting home to protect his son. I don’t get much in the way of plot details beyond this, but the presentation makes up for it. Blood Message is a beautiful game, and while I can’t 100% confirm it, it appears to feature a single-shot camera. I can’t recall seeing any camera cuts during my time playing, and the cinematography reminded me heavily of the modern God of War games. I moved through the linear street alleys, semi-abandoned homes, and rooftops, mashing button prompts to push an obstruction out of the way (like a fallen shelf) and squeezing through narrow entryways....