Making a surprise debut earlier this week at State of Play, Tides of Annihilation stole the show for many, including myself. Seemingly coming from nowhere and from an unknown developer, Eclipse Glow Games, Tides of Annihilation is a fantasy action-adventure game inspired by Arthurian Legend. The game puts players in the shoes of Gwendolyn, voiced by the fantastic Jennifer English (Shadowheart, Baldur’s Gate 3), and showcased some rather interesting combat during the announcement trailer. Now, the team has shared an 11-minute gameplay trailer, and the game is giving off some strong Devil May Cry vibes mixed with a bit of Final Fantasy XVI’s Eikon system.
While the game’s writing and dialogue are a bit awkward, even with English’s excellent voice acting, the gameplay looks stellar overall. It’s fast-paced, and the swapping in of various Spectral Knights with different elements is quite reminiscent of Final Fantasy XVI combat. The game clearly draws inspiration from many modern AAA titles, but has a personality of its own, and visually, looks impressive. This is definitely a game to keep an eye on, although no release date has been announced. Considering the team was willing to share an 11-minute gameplay trailer, however, it suggests the game’s closer to release than we initially thought after the announcement trailer at State of Play.
Tides of Annihilation also symbolizes how quickly Chinese developers are becoming competitive in the gaming industry. Last year, Black Myth: Wukong put the country on the map, and now it’s evident that Tencent’s investments are paying off. Combined with the rise of Korea creating AAA single-player experiences like Stellar Blade, the world of gaming and its styles are expanding.
