SPINE’s developer and publisher Nekki, shares a glimpse of the single-player action game, which was initially conceptualized as team-based in 2021. The hyper-cinematic gameplay trailer shows what players can expect in this chaotic Suicide Squad-like cyberpunk title.
SPINE Features “Gun-Fu” Gameplay In Exciting New Trailer
SPINE takes place in a cyberpunk world where the top corporation called Tensor AI is being heralded as a savior for having to “literally build heaven on Earth”. But not everything is as it seems. An unnamed rebellious group joins a growing list of factions causing turmoil not only in the streets but also on a global scale. Can they topple the behemoth that is Tensor AI? Will they be able to create a working and effective system to wipe the slate clean?
This is where the player comes in as they start getting involved in these grisly fights. You play as Redline, a street artist with a streak of rebellion in her blood. And you have this AI companion named Spine to help in your crusade and topple the oppressive corporation. In doing so, you will be interacting with the environment a lot as you engage in exhilarating and cinematic combat.
Full-Blown Atmospheric Experience
SPINE’s gameplay trailer showcases a few of the locations that you will come across as you eliminate one antagonist over another. You initially go against the armed forces in a corporate building, which presumably belongs to Tensor AI. And then you make your way to a dilapidated area that has been vandalized with graffiti as well as the rooftop of a building where you encounter street thugs.
But the locations do not stop there because encounters also take place on moving trains, similar to how explosive and extremely cinematic Marvel movies are shot. One catastrophe leads to another in an attempt to survive combat and come at the top to defeat your tyrannical foes. What’s more, is that SPINE is being developed using Unreal Engine 5, which helps accentuate and support its over-the-top action style with stunning visuals.
Gun Fu Fighting
SPINE prides itself on ultra-action sequences where the goal is to create one heart-pumping immersive experience after the next. It is evident that right from the start every move Redline makes is as cinematic and action-packed as expected. Each encounter is composed of choreographed sets that highlight the rawness of the interactions between the player and their enemies.
Gun Fu is the correct term as you combine the snappy movements of Kung Fu with the power of close-range guns, just like in the John Wick movies. There is even an instance in the trailer where Redline performs a mini cartwheel to evade the shooting as the camera moves along with her. SPINE is attempting to capture what other action games are struggling with and it involves consistently creating a “movie-like experience”. According to the title’s description, action movie experts have played a huge part in the camera work and choreography, resulting in impactful and unforgettable encounters filled with tension.
Move Like a Butterfly
So despite how quickly everything moves, certain cinematography shots are slowed down to highlight that specific action piece. One good example is when Redline is pushed from the corporate building’s window by a heavily armed guard only to possibly be ‘caught’ by a high-speed train. It is then supplemented by what seems to be Spine’s voice asking, “No elevator this time?” while she is descending and her life is in peril. This is just a glimpse of how quirky their interaction is, making the game feel funny and light at dangerous moments.
Additionally, players will be able to wield a regular pistol or go ham with a dual pistol setup, a powerful shotgun, a head smasher in the form of a bottle, and an assault rifle. You will not be limited to these items because you may use the environment to your advantage. For instance, you can throw a target off the railing, stun an enemy by kicking them toward a wall, and use the wall to propel yourself forward to knock them down. The possibilities are endless so we cannot wait to see more of what SPINE has to offer in the coming months.
A SPINE for Everyone
Based on what we have seen so far though, Nekki looks to be on the right track to delivering a top-notch product. Hopefully, they are not in a rush to deliver the game and still make due on their promise to maintain this level of polish until the end of SPINE.
No launch date has been announced but it is expected to be released on the PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
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