Ken Levine’s upcoming game, Judas, is ditching the traditional villain trope. Instead, players will forge relationships with three key characters aboard the spaceship Mayflower, and their in-game actions will determine which of these allies eventually turns into the game’s primary antagonist.
- Judas features a unique “villainy system” where player choices dictate the game’s antagonist.
- Players start with three allies, whose relationships can sour based on gameplay decisions.
- the game draws inspiration from the nemesis system seen in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.
- Character reactions will encompass combat, hacking, and crafting choices.
- A release date for Judas has not yet been announced.
this innovative approach was detailed in the first Judas dev log, released by Ghost Story Games. For years, glimpses of the game, often described as a BioShock-like with elements like “evil dentist chairs,” have surfaced sporadically since it’s 2022 announcement. This dev log suggests a more regular cadence of updates is forthcoming.
How do player choices determine the villain in Judas?
Unlike games with pre-resolute antagonists, Judas allows players to develop relationships with a central trio of characters. These characters will vie for the player’s attention, offering support, sharing secrets, and even bad-mouthing each other. Ultimately, the player’s trust and actions will lead one of them to betray the others and become the game’s main adversary.
Levine explained the intent behind this system: “In Judas, you’re going to get to know these characters intimately. We want losing one of them to feel like losing a friend. We want to play with that dynamic,and we want that choice to be super hard. The Big 3 are all going to be competing for yoru favor and attention. Thay can bribe you, save you in battle, talk shit about the other characters, and share with you their darkest secrets. but eventually, you’ve got to decide who you trust and who you don’t.”
The game’s inhabitants will also critically evaluate the player’s performance, including “how you approach combat, hacking, and crafting.” Should a character turn villainous, they will gain new abilities designed to thwart the player. For instance, a character named Tom could turn previously helpful sheriff bots against the player.
Did you know?–Judas‘s developers are aware players might try to please all characters,possibly leading to a forced villain. They are working to balance interactivity with a compelling narrative.
Despite these considerations,there’s palpable anticipation for how judas will navigate these narrative complexities. The game currently lacks a release date, as Levine and his team prefer not to set a date they might have to revise. In the meantime,fans can admire the key art created by renowned american movie poster artist Drew Struzan.
