In the fifth gameplay video shown today, we take another look at the dynamism and flow of Styx’s treacherous ascent, having discovered clones, tactics, skills, and styles. Using all of these to his advantage, Styx manages to poison guards, blind them with his clone, climb vast heights, and reach his objective unseen – the way a goblin should!
As discussed in the gameplay making of video, being a 200 year old goblin, Styx is unique in that his nimble frame and athleticism lets him dance around his environment, relatively quietly with deadly speed and agility. However, while he is fast, agile, and cunning, he is also small, weak, and at constant risk of being surrounded should he knock over a vase, or land noisily, attracting the attention of the guards.
With release rapidly approaching, in what style will you infiltrate The Tower of Akenash?
Commented by Julien Desourteaux (Game Director & Level Designer), Guillaume Blanchard (Project Manager) et Mathias Chataignier (Game Designer), this 5 minutes video lets us learn more about the game, its mechanics, its level design, as well as the intentions of the developers when they designed its infiltration gameplay.
We learn how they created the mechanics to make of Styx: Master of Shadows a challenging game, back to the source of infiltration games. The playable character – a fragile but resourceful goblin – played a huge role in this task, as much as the level design, which is both open and highlights the vertical perspective, and prompts players to experiment to reach their objectives in very different ways.
This is only one video among a series of 4. The 3 other videos, that you can watch on the links below, are focusing on the sound design, the music designed by Game Audio Factory, and on the team. They will let you know even more about the game, waiting for its release on October 7!
Making-of : The Sound Design:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsjy_…
Making-of : The Music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBPGs…
Making-of : The Team:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxr6q…
Akenash dwellers #4 - Elves
Now let’s talk a bit about one of the other humanoid species that lives in the Tower of Akenash: the elves.
Living as close as possible to the Tree, the elves are allowed in the Tower thanks to a treaty made between their ambassador and the Akenash governor. But only because they are uniquely able to collect the amber as the sap of the Tree can push to insanity any human who touches it in its purest form.
Even if most elves will chase you on sight, their ambassador is more likely to hear you out.
But, a life spent close to the amber leaves traces… They can feel the amber near them and communicate with every amber creature. What a pity that our character is the addict type. You would definitetly not want to be detected by one of those. They may be thin but they are good hunters.
The player will need to adapt his playing style if he wants to get past them.
The elves appearance was controversial and we needed a lot of different concept before choosing one.
Dev team just wanna have fun !
Final version of the elves
–
Eléonore
Associate Producer
STYX: MASTER OF SHADOWS - ATTACK OF THE CLONE
Styx’ clone is one of the four Amber-fuelled powers that serve as Styx’ base skills (along with 7 skill trees). Creating a clone opens new potential strategic and tactical opportunities, such as distraction, the ability to blind multiple targets, and lure them to a desired location before tumbling objects onto them. As with all of Styx’ amber-fuelled skills, this uses the rare amber… and you will need to act swiftly, as clones aren’t exactly “stable” and will deteriorate quickly before imploding!
Having unlocked all of the skills from the 7 available skill trees in Styx: Master of Shadows, we’ve previously seen the nimble Styx overcome some of the weaker enemies in the game susceptible to his stealth abilities and dagger… but skills come at a cost, and the Amber to use them is scarce throughout the Tower of Akenash. For example, Styx’ Invisibility skill drains quickly, and uses half your maximum reserve of Amber: you’ll be required to rely primarily on your ability to sneak, plan and time your approach.
Carefully scour the area from above, or watch from the shadows for the perfect moment to deploy your clone – a controllable hunk of flesh able to distract and blind the enemy, hiding in crates to pull them to living deathtraps, or access areas closed to Styx and open new pathways. Styx’ clone is the ultimate ephemeral companion, and the right mix of distraction and skill will open hundreds of opportunities to exploit games in the guards’ patrols. Styx can always rely on his clone – but unable to defend itself, get caught in the light, and the entire Tower will descend upon him.
Join us next week when we introduce another exciting element of Styx: Master of Shadows with a new gameplay video!
Building the Game #1 - Handling NPC
« Look, if you make this guard run toward here, we can push him down this cliff. And when he’ll splatter the lower floor, and the other npc runs toward his body, THEN you can unsrew this crane’s load and kill every single one of them ! »
The level designers sure are a weird bunch. They quite enjoy giving new, exotic ways for a player to kill people. Or be killed, it mostly depends on their mood.
Kismet, the script system in the Unreal Engine, is pretty powerful.
It allows you to create complex patrols.
Your basic guard will just stand there, sleeping…
… but by adding another pathnode, and telling him not to sleep, you could make him go look left and right…
… add yet another pathnode, throw in an animation, and he can go drink some (poisonable!) water…
… and you could add a bit of script so whenever his friend in the background leaves his spot, your first guard will notice and go investigate…
Oops. Oh well.
—
Jonathan
Level Designer
Specialize your Amber powers, with the skill-trees!
Today we’re going to discover more in details the powers that Styx can acquire from the magical Amber substance.
During a mission you will gain XP that can be used to unlock numerous skills. These skills are arranged into 6 skill-trees: Stealth, Agility, Clone, Amber vision, Equipment and Assassination.
With this skill-tree, it is all about being discreet! Styx can develop his capabilities to get heart palpitation when an enemy gets close, and avoid any surprises. He can also improve his invisibility skill and make it more efficient.
Moving with agility is very important when you don’t want to be detected. In this skill-tree, Styx can choose to fall without any sound or to be able to throw his projectiles twice the distance.
Styx’s best friend also has a skill-tree dedicated to him! You can give him some diversion skills or even offensive abilities.
Amber is the source of Styx’s magical powers. He manipulates its magical properties and improves the way he uses it. For example, the amber vision, which gives Styx a special perception of the environment, can last twice longer.
Apart from his powers, Styx also has some tools at his disposal, as his knives for example. You will be able to enlarge your capacity of carry theses weapons or amber phials using this skill-tree.
This skill-tree will help you to improve your assassination techniques to be more efficient. So you’ll be able to kill someone while hanging from an edge or even assassinate an enemy even when you are under cover.
…That’s not all! There’s a seventh mysterious skill-tree that you’ll be able to unlock only under certain conditions… But we will let you discover it while playing the game!
Use your skills wisely and at the right time, and they will be your best weapons towards victory in Styx: Master of Shadows!
–
Camille ‘Jolly Roger’
Communication & Community Manager
This Summer Trailer invites us to follow Styx, the two-century old Goblin whose main occupation is thievery and assassination, as he begins infiltrating the huge Tower of Akenash. It is in this immense tower that is jealously kept hidden by elves, humans and other fantasy creature, the World-Tree and its Heart, source of the precious Amber. This is the final objective of Styx, who today demonstrates a few of his skills and special powers, that will be of great help to make a silent way to his goal.
Akenash dwellers #2 – Fighters
To continue with our Akenash dwellers,
Let’s go to the Fighters!
The spectrum of fighters go from basic workers, fighting with primitive tools, to the elite guards with their deadly weapons. As well as dockers, vile experimenters and sly smugglers, to mention some more.
Be wary of fighters. You stand a small chance against one and even less against more.
Try it and you’ll see…
Stay tuned for more info on Akenash dwellers!
—
Guillaume
Project Manager
Styx: Master of Shadows was revealed in great detail at E3 in Los Angeles.
But for those who were unable to see us in Los Angeles, here’s the gameplay trailer for Styx: Master of Shadows that shows a continuous 15-minute game sequence, unedited, and with commentary by the developers.
This is an exciting opportunity to discover the gameplay options available in Styx: Master of Shadows. Infiltration, the special talents and skills of the goblin character you play and all the game mechanics will allow you to scale the dizzying heights of the vast Tower of Akenash that contains your ultimate objective: the heart of the World Tree, the source of the amber, immense power and fabulous riches; because let’s not forget that Styx is essentially a master thief!
The goblin scales the heights in screenshots!
We’re happy to unveil a series of exclusive images in the run-up to E3 in Los Angeles, where Styx: Master of Shadows will be presented at Focus Home Interactive’s booth (West Hall Booth 5512)!
Styx, the goblin assassin, is climbing his way up the Tower of Akenash.
From the murky, oppressive depths of the tower to the opulent and magnificent summits where the elite guards and the citizens of the tower reside, Styx will have to work hard to reach his objective: The Tree, the source of the Amber, the promise of infinite riches he would like to possess. Master assassin and part-time thief, Styx will be able to remove any objects hampering his progress: but don’t leave any clues behind that could betray your presence to the guards… like a lifeless body in a walkway!
But not only humans and elves inhabit the Tower of Akenash; other fantastic creatures also roam the gloomy halls and passages of this immense tower, and it’s generally wise to avoid them. if you don’t want to end up as dinner for a hungry Orc!
Stay tuned on the devblog, more details about the game are coming!
