Tides of Annihilation Preview – A Queen’s Gambit
If you’re a fan of Final Fantasy XIII, Devil May Cry 5, Stellar Blade, or any major action JRPG, then we have a game for you. Developed by Eclipse Glow Games, Tides of Annihilation draws heavy inspiration from the aforementioned games to deliver perhaps one of the most epic fantasy games you’ll ever play.
We should know that we had the opportunity to try the game at this year’s Gamescom, delving into nearly 45 minutes of gameplay and content.
In terms of combat and gameplay, it is one of the most epic fantasy games many are excited to play, myself included. So if you’re excited or curious, let’s take a closer look at what the game offers. Fair warning, there may be spoilers ahead.
The Round Table
This world, inspired by Arthurian legend, puts you in the shoes of Gwendolyn, the only human survivor of the Otherworld invasion, as she embarks on a journey to save her lost sister and fight the demigods of Otherworld (a plot that may feel familiar to those who played Final Fantasy XIII). Gwendolyn will acquire the powers and command the Knights of the Round Table to help her along her journey. As the player, you’ll explore the iconic British landmark of modern-yet-broken London, altered by the Otherworld invasion.
Combined with rich storytelling, it features a unique combat system where you’ll wield up to two knights in-game to fight against many foes, and there are over a dozen different spectral knights to choose from.
You’ll be able to explore and uncover different knights, each wielding distinct combat roles and abilities for you to utilize in your quest. Craft them to match your combat style, adding tactical depth and making combat exciting and ever-changing.
Fight against unique and incredible bosses, roam and explore the lore, and discover secrets along the way. The world is open but linear, so take your time to take in the scenery, which is quite beautiful. With great voice acting and music, it is definitely one of the games that I will be playing when it releases.
Fight Against the Tide
As mentioned above, the demo was 45 minutes and took place a bit further into the game. Players can explore a bit of the chapter; however, there were also other bosses the players can take on as well. In terms of combat, it is a fast-paced action game where dodging and blocking take time to get used to. If you have played Stellar Blade, you will be most familiar, as this game will have red or yellow highlights when enemies do specific attacks that you can counter or dodge.
Fighting styles are common across most games, including basic attacks, lock-on targets, and dodging. Your bread and butter will be utilizing the knights to enhance your strikes and skills in combat. In the demo, the knights will disappear after executing certain skills or combat effects, so know that it is not like a summoned ally, though this may not be the case as more knights get unlocked in the full version.
There seems to be almost no delay when using the knights; the learning curve can be picked up quite easily, though it is advised to read your knights’ abilities and how to effectively use them to maximize their potential in combat.
As combat is very straightforward, you will learn to know when to switch knights for different purposes and attack skills. Staggering enemies will help you the most, as you can trigger a skill called FogClaw Finisher, which will gain some Fog energy and drop recovery items. This is especially useful in tough boss battles. There are a few more things worth explaining, but I don’t want to ruin the surprise for those itching to play it.
The controls and input are pretty fluid; there are certain timings to get used to, but it is not hard to quickly get in the zone once you get the hang of it. One issue for me during the demo was healing myself: I had to press the heal button a couple of times to trigger it, but I’m not sure if it’s the controller or something else.
The enemies’ timing is something that you will easily notice and anticipate; there are, however, some bosses that have tricky chain combos or, rather, a long, extensive attack animation that can throw you off.
This is not a Souls game, so it is okay to take your time and learn enemies’ attack patterns without fearing consequences.
Legend of Gwendolyn
The Gwendolyn model looks incredible, and players have noticed changes from the first trailer to the current one. The developers noted improvements to skin rendering and clothing materials, along with some lighting adjustments. They are still exploring and incorporating new facial techniques that can change different aspects of the face; they will continue to refine and polish. Gwen’s character model has remained the same.
For those who are already aware, there were some changes regarding the game, as Jennifer English (voiced Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3 and Maelle in Expedition 33), who was supposed to be cast in the protagonist role of Gwendolyn, had to step down; however, her replacement, Angela Sant’Albano (voiced Grace Ashcroft in Resident Evil Requiem), officially stepped in as Gwendolyn, and the transition seems to be pretty smooth, thanks to Jennifer’s support. She has done a fantastic job, as we saw in the demo, and you can feel the passion and emotion in her voice.
For the character herself, you can change her outfit to suit how you want Gwen to look, which does not affect any stats or abilities, as it is purely cosmetic. You can equip a weapon of choice, a skill of choice, four badges, and three pieces of armor: gloves, breastplate, and boots.
Wearing some sets will have specific stats and effects that can help you in different situations, so do pay attention when you are prepping to fight certain bosses.
Beyond that, it is as straightforward as any action RPG can be.
Things to Expect
At the moment, there is no target release date for Tides of Annihilation, as the game is still in active development. However, based on our time with the demo, it does seem to be shaping up very well. Of course, it’s a vertical slice intended to show off some of the studio’s progress, but if the demo is any indicator of what the final product may end up like, I think it’s safe to say that Eclipse Glow Games have quite the hit on their hands. Let’s hopeso, and hope even more that we hear more about a release date soon. Fingers crossed at either Tokyo Game Show or The Game Awards.
It’s currently set to launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store).
Stay connected to MP1st and the latest news by following us on Bluesky, X, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Google News.
