Tides of Annihilation, an upcoming action game from Eclipse Glow Games, is drawing significant attention and comparisons to some of the year's biggest hits, including Phantom Blade Zero and the God of War series. While Obsidian's Wuxia-inspired Phantom Blade Zero has achieved massive success, Tides of Annihilation appears to be carving its own niche, blending character action and Soulslike elements with a distinct reverence for Santa Monica Studio's acclaimed God of War titles.
Set in a modern-day London ravaged by a mysterious entity known as the Fog, Tides of Annihilation features Gwendolyn as its protagonist. Gwendolyn is seemingly the only survivor capable of resisting the Fog's encroaching destruction. The game's aesthetic is a blend of Gothic fantasy and Arthurian legend, with a narrative focus on Gwendolyn's quest to undo the damage. The discussion around the game has also touched upon its character design, particularly Gwendolyn's appearance, which has sparked debate within the community.
Gameplay in Tides of Annihilation features fast-paced combat, with light and heavy attacks, combos, dodging, and parrying. Enemies have stagger mechanics, and finishing moves are described as stylish. A key feature is the addition of equippable knights, inspired by the Knights of the Round Table, who accompany Gwendolyn. These knights can alter her moveset, offering more defensive options, improved staggering, or unique abilities like time manipulation. Players can unlock up to ten knights in the full game.
The knights also play a crucial role in navigating the game's 3D Metroidvania elements. For instance, one knight, Bors, can create ziplines across chasms, while another, Palamedes, can smash through walls and reposition objects to create pathways. This environmental puzzle-solving is reminiscent of the traversal mechanics seen in God of War, where Kratos and Atreus utilize various abilities to progress. Another direct parallel to God of War Ragnarök is the use of explosive red spheres to destroy crystal blockades, a mechanic that closely mirrors the Shatter Crystals found in Ragnarök.
Tides of Annihilation is positioned within a growing subgenre of popular action games emerging from China, alongside titles like Black Myth: Wukong and Blood Message. These games are often characterized as "outsider AAA" titles – polished and ambitious games from well-funded studios that operate outside the traditional Western AAA development sphere. While Tides of Annihilation does not yet have a release date, it is slated for release on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.