Blood Bowl First Look

French development studio Cyanide has eagerly been sending over media and info on their upcoming, Blood Bowl, coming to PC, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and PSP platforms. As you may have guesses already, this one was inspired by Games Workshop's popular board game, which puts players into a fantasy football setting, where two opposing teams clash against each other in deadly matches, cladding themselves in various types of armor. The game hurls you into a parallel fantasy world, based on the Warhammer universe, with a dash of classic American football thrown into the mix. To put it another way, you select teams from different races, including Dwarves, Orcs, Humans, Wood Elves and so on.

Somebody take a picture already.

Puny dwarf bastard!

There are rules, of course, like in an ordinary football game. The trick is the teams in Blood Bowl seldom abide by these rules, so there's a strong chance you'll see players neglecting things like clean sport and fair-play. Regardless, some traditional elements of the game are preserved, so you'll be able to plan out each match carefully and coach your team by applying different tactics before and during matches. However, brutality is still the heart of the game, so don't be surprised if you see a range of gory moves. Anything can happen. If someone pisses you off on the field, wait for an opportune moment, preferably when the referee's not looking, and rip out your opponent's arm or trample him while he's down. Don't forget that the use of magic, weapons and plenty of alternative methods of playing football, are also possible.

There are two game modes to try out. One of these modes involves matches in full real-time, with intense battle situations. That's right, it's going to be like a real battlefield out there at times, as blocking linemen face opposing players, who are trying to duck and dodge their way through tackle zones and past the defense. In this type of mode, the developers are hoping to deliver dynamic and adrenaline-pumping matches, to keep players occupied. During matches, there's a selection of unique moves and special trick plays to pull off. As far as we understand it, you can even use powerful spells throughout the match to help you get the better of your opponent. With all the carnage going on, it may sometimes prove difficult to control each player, which is where the AI steps in and will manage each player on the field according to your opponent's tactics.

Balancing the skills and capabilities of each race is something the developers are keeping in mind as well. When you have Orc vs. Human matches, it's only logical to regard the Orcs as stronger, robust and, altogether, more powerful players. However, the Humans have a huge choice of cool tricks up their sleeves and are quite capable of fighting back. Running and passing the ball across the pitch, are the main advantages of Human teams. What's more, bulky Ogres may also join Human ranks, to help tackle tough opponents such as the bad-ass Black Orcs.

Well, that's one way to play the game. For those who prefer a more tactical approach to the sport (so much irony in this - Ed), Cyanide prepared a turn-based game mode, creating a replica of the tabletop game. It puts forth the same rules and allows gamers to use the same devices and strategies to achieve victory. Early versions of the game have also shown a variety of unforeseen events that could hinder the match. For example, the main screen display the player's dice rolls, after which you might see reports of unexpected occurrences such as pitch invasions, bribed refs, etc.

Apart from these activities, players must also carefully manage the team's finances. Winnings gained through victories will earn you more equipment like armor and such. Not to mention, you'll be able to hire Cheerleaders and Apothecaries (hm, Dwarvish cheerleaders?).