Combat Core Game Sample - PC
46Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
Gameplay starts at 4:45
"Combat Core" is an ambitious indie arena fighter with some interesting origins, and one that I've followed for many years. It originally started out as a rough draft that was almost exclusively inspired by Capcom's "Power Stone" series, spending several years in development before it actually appeared on Kickstarter to get additional funding. While it barely made its very modest goal of $30,000, the game has met many delays and is still in a "mostly finished" state, though this is not a criticism; the extra time afforded the small team to go beyond their initial goals by adding three additional characters (two guests, Kizuna and Zetto, from the popular web series by Chris Niosi, "TOME" / "Terrain of Magical Expertise", and ARES from the hit game, "A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX"), polish the interface (still minor bugs like not being able to scroll down through characters in Arcade mode, only up, etc.), add an extra stage, Christmas remixes of the soundtrack, extra attacks, and a few other quality of life changes.
It not only has Power Stone as its base, but it draws inspiration from other popular fighters like "Dead or Alive" and "Soul Calibur" (blocking, parrying, etc.), as well as "Custom Robo", "No Mercy" and "Dragon Ball Z" (character creation, stat modification, etc.). Many of the illustrations were also provided by the talented Robert “Robaato” Porter, an accomplished artist and programmer currently working for UDON Entertainment Corporation and collaborating with Atlus USA (via his own team working on their own ambitious game, "Cryamore"). Needless to say, there isn't exactly a shortage of talent here, and the game is in the process of being ported to the Nintendo Switch.
With that in mind, while the game isn't as refined as the titles it draws inspiration from (play control / stun / parameters could be tighter, arenas could've been much more interesting, balance could be better, minor typos in tutorials, etc.) and could've benefited from a bigger budget and an actual story of sorts, the reality is that MABManZ's "Combat Core" has accomplished more than it initially set out to do, so him and his team have my respect. It's always interesting to witness the trials and tribulations of small teams and creative works don't always get the respect they deserve. Would I have liked a full-scale spiritual successor to Power Stone? Of course (since Capcom doesn't really want to revisit it), but this is, so far, the closest thing we've got, aesthetically speaking, and calling it "Power Stone Lite in Space" isn't much of a stretch. The graphics are decent for what it's worth, the soundtrack has some cool beats with dubstep and assorted arrangements, the gameplay is functional if a little chaotic, and while $16 might seem a bit high initially, the game is usually on sale and can be nabbed for ten bucks or so, which is fair. I know I posted it on my community tab, but you guys know there's still a few days left in Steam's Winter Sale, right?
Anyway, a bit about the game's mechanics: players choose from preset fighters (or a custom character with a mash-up of any of the fighter's existing movesets) and then select a "core", which enhances a few parameters and comes with a powerful energy move which is the equivalent of a super move. Characters fill the typical roles of balanced, fast/weak, slow/powerful, long/medium/short range, etc., and mixing up cores or even customizing your own is key to getting the most out of Combat Core's meta-game, as you can even turn a slow character into a moderately fast character to connect moves that wouldn't connect otherwise at the expense of other stats. Customization is very limited, but did you really expect deep customization or unlockables for a $10-$15 indie brawler? They exist, but they're not common (looking at you, "Fight'N Rage" at 50% off).
Character's specials consume different amounts of energy and there are a few weapons you can pick up too which have various functions and can be incorporated into combos or used for zoning. The game has basic Versus Modes, Leaderboards, and an Arcade Mode, but also a how-to-play tutorial and practice mode, which is appreciated. The A.I. is competitive, but not exactly the brightest (even on the highest difficulty, they will move into stage hazards if they're present instead of avoiding them). Overall, the game is quick fun and worth a buy on sale. This is a general video of the game in action, showing the tutorials, Arcade, 4-player battle, character creation, etc. Enjoy. You can get the game at:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/405670/Combat_Core/
- ADDITION -
Like Us On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegamingsanctuary
Follow Us On Twitter: https://twitter.com/GS_Vyse_and_Bel
Visit Us At: http://www.gamingsanctuary.com