Illuminated
A truly open world Assassins Creed
Tone: Cunning
Illuminated is a fully sandbox stealth RPG set in a dark era where the player must create peace using murder and deception. The player is equipped with items as well as abilities that manipulate light to achieve these dirty deeds. A unique sense of freedom is achieved through an open ended world in which the players actions directly impact the direction of prosperity throughout the world. This game uses a third person camera view with quickly paced counter based combat system. The immersion created through smooth controls, realistic situations, and a world that reacts to the player will have players begging for more and more.
Setting/Story
The game takes place in the nation of Imperiox, a nation whose power is wavering between the government and a rebellious clan called the Reavers. Imperiox is a nation set in a place very much like traditional epic fantasy stories. Magic exists in multiple forms and steel dominates the battlefield.
The player begins as a child with no aspirations of greatness until his life is ripped apart. The players parents are murdered and they are left alone with only thoughts of revenge. Living as a street urchin you become scouted by the Reavers and trained as an assassin of darkness. You learn to manipulate shadows with powerful magic and also, to kill. The game begins with an assassination that leads to information suggesting the murder of your parents was a Reaver hit. This anger leads to the emergence of unique powers that enhance light instead of negate it, you must decide how to proceed.
Overview
The player assumes the role of an assassin that goes by the name of the players choosing. You have been trained to kill but must further expand your arsenal of deadly tools. These tools include weaponry, a sly tongue, manipulative actions, and subtle magical abilities. As the player progresses through the game they will have the option to achieve goals through various methods using tools outlined above.
The ultimate goal of the game is of the players choosing, will you decipher your parents murder and seek revenge? Remove the Reaver influence from the nation to leave control for the government? Or simply become the most revered Assassin in all of Imperiox? These questions will drive the player throughout the open world of Imperiox. The player will never however be forced to do any one thing and the entire world will dynamically adjust to the progression of storylines.
Open world
The player is given endless options on how they would like to play the game. There will be a large supply of dynamic events throughout towns and cities of Imperiox that will evolve the Nations perception of the player. These events will oftentimes evolve the state of these cities and nations by removing Reaver control, government control, giving control to a faction, or giving control to the people. This will be achieved through many quests and events to chain events into a manner that progressively changes the state of these locations. The players main storyline is to find out the truth behind his past and the Reavers but it is for them to decide who controls Imperiox.
Quests will involve multiple solutions and change the outcome depending on choices in most cases. The choice to spare or slay will be a common choice to make. Regardless of this choice you will have to connive with others and deceive to obtain information needed to progress quests. Rewards will come in the form of experience, money, and items to be used to progress your character.
Areas explored will have unique lore involved with it. Lore will be explained through mostly voice acting of random NPCs conversations and events that happen as the player moves around an area. This will also be supplemented by key items throughout the environment such as books, letters, and personal belongings telling important NPCs stories. This will be the main form of lore throughout the game.
Game Mechanics
Primary Combat
The players primary tool for combat is a weapon of their choosing. Weapons will be attainable throughout the game and each will have a unique feel. Combat will be counter based allowing the player to make quick work of all opponents using attacks they are familiar with. Normal attack combinations will also be available to keep combat quick and precise. The camera will be from a locked third person perspective and the player must control the direction they face.
Counters will be activated through a reactive button press and will inflict fatal or no damage depending on opponents. Attacks from behind will be indicated through a warning sign and crafty counters can be employed. Various dodges will also be available in combat to avoid damage. The direction of dodges will have different animations and lead into sharply pronounced attacks.
Light/Darknessmanipuation
Residents of Imperiox have the unique ability to manipulate light by siphoning it for power. You however are the only one you know of that is able to project that power outward in palpable light forms. This ability allows for unique uses of light and darkness to solve tricky tasks. This power is limited by the amount of light your body may hold, the current lighting of an area, and the strength of abilities being used. Overtime skill with such talents will improve creating stronger combinations and effects.
Light abilities will have two main purposes, cautious negotiation and projecting objects from your body. The warmth and mood light creates can cause some targets to become at ease when they are around you. You can also use this to deceive targets eyes into believing you are someone else. A canny reply to a drunkard around his "best friend" can lead to very useful information. On the other side of extremes, a spike materializing into a pressed position against a two-faced actor's through does the same.
Manipulating the darkness can create very similar results through very different methods. Removing all forms of light from around you and channeling power into your feet for silence can create paths under the nose of talented guardsmen. Enveloping others in this darkness can also create a hard to resist invitation for treachery. The darkness primarily effects enemies eyes and ears but can also be used to strengthen attacks.
Light/Darkness Combat
Improvised projections of weapons using the light can be incredibly deadly when fighting tough opponents. Not only will these weapons daze opponents from the sheer magnificence of a weapon materializing from pure light, but it will melt flesh and steel if strong enough. Weapons made of light are taxing on the players source of power so must be used sparingly. Simpler forms of light such as projectiles and shields are much easier to maintain over long periods.
Darkness is almost always used to enhance your strength inwardly. Channeling power to enhance your damage or speed can be taxing but deceptively effective. The speed attainable is difficult to perceive and oftentimes causes reality to slow down. Enemies cannot read attacks of players adept with Darkness abilities.Dexterity and precision are the focal points of manipulating Darkness.
Enemies
All enemies can be allies if you recruit them to be so. Most however will need to be removed or manipulated to achieve your goals.
The reavers will generally have skill with darkness and be respectable combatants having similar skills to you. You will rarely fight large numbers of Reavers as they are similarly adept with the art of assassination and work alone or in small groups. The government is similarly skilled in combat but have no power with darkness or light. They will be in large numbers and take some time to dispatch. Other enemies will populate the land but they will be unique to the area you find them in.