Below is an upcoming video game that is currently in development by the award winning independent studio, Capybara Games (Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes). It’s currently in development exclusively for the Xbox One and set to be published by Microsoft Studios. While it was first unveiled during the Microsoft portion of E3 2013, there was no date to go along with it. It’s estimated to arrive at some time in 2014, but this remains to be confirmed by developers.
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Below was in development for years, but it was first unveiled during the Microsoft conference of E3 2013. Microsoft may have gotten to announce Below for the Xbox One, but the game is only a time exclusive, so it will be coming to other platforms at a later date.
Like many current generation games that are yet to be released, the plot has been kept a well guarded secret. All we know at the minute is that the player will be taking control of a small little warrior as he explores the ever expanding depths of a far cast island, “The first goal is to explore it, but really the key part of exploration is surviving.”
Below is played from a top down perspective similar to that of many dungeon crawler games. While being careful with their phrasing, Capybara have been very particular about stressing the fact that Below is not a roguelike game, it’s in fact a “It’s a roguelike-like.” A roguelike game is generally associated with role playing games, or at least as a sub genre of them.
Most often recognisable by their retro graphical styles and tough gameplay mechanics like randomly generated levels and permanent death of characters. Capybara have taken inspiration from the roguelike genre and applied it to Below having said “You’re a tiny warrior, exploring the depths of a remote island. The first goal is to explore it, but really the key part of exploration is surviving.”
Combat is expected to be “brutal but fair” which is to be expected in any title that draws inspiration from the perma death classics of yore. The player character is tiny, this is by design to compliment the games overarching theme of scale and visual asthetic. All the above combined together leads to a solid premise, but how it all remains to be seen. To quote a spokesperson of Capybara, “PEOPLE WANT BRUTAL, HARD GAMES THAT DON’T HOLD YOUR HAND.” There is an expectation of multiplayer, but no confirmations have been made.
Note: This wiki will be updated once we have more information about the game.