Pariah Preview

The multiplayer portion of the game brings some familiar environments from the single-player, as well as some standard multiplayer modes like Deathmatch, CTF, Team Deathmatch and others. The Siege and Front Line Assault modes will also be present. The game supports up to 16 players in an online multiplayer mode, 13 different maps and promises an even more exciting gaming experience. Apart from online multiplayer, it will be possible to play this game offline with AI bots instead of live players. It should also be mentioned that although you will not be able to carry more than two weapons you would be allowed to pick up ammo from the bodies of your fallen enemies.

I just love pixel shader effects. I love 'em!

This guy looks like he means business.

Pariah runs on a heavily modified version of the Unreal engine, which promises highly detailed textures and some very realistic settings. The characters as well as weapon and vehicle models are being rendered with great detail and authenticity, while a number of advanced visual effects have been put to good use. Explosions will be particularly impressive because of the intense use of particle effects. In all probability, Pariah will be something we could call a visually stunning experience. In addition, the game will use the Havok physics engine and an advanced enemy AI, which is actually a modified version of the Unreal AI. The Emergent Tactical AI will feature some impressive behavior patterns and make your enemies a very tough nut to crack. Your enemies will be intelligent enough to search their dead comrades' bodies and use cover effectively, and that's just a part of their impressive selection of AI routines.

I also must mention an easy-to-use Unreal Engine-based editor with advanced editing options; such as an intelligent system that'll let you know when you've cluttered the map with so many objects that the game will run as a slide show. What's also interesting is that this editor won't be available to PC gamers alone, as the Xbox version will also included the map editor. The players will have a lot of freedom in creating their own maps - there are six different map themes available and a set of terrain-editing tools, as well as an included option for modifying the weather. The manipulation of environment with this map editor is done in a very user-friendly fashion. It is also possible to instantly load your map and see the fruits of your labor in real-time.

But what is really the main quality of Pariah, and its most defining characteristic? While the game features a nice weapons upgrade system in combination with some fast-paced action and gorgeous graphics, it seems as if it brings nothing new or revolutionary to the table. What may be new about it is its authors' intent to create a complex game where near-to-perfection game elements try to make for an immersive gaming experience. Digital Extremes intend to combine the weapon control and upgrade system with furious action and solid character and story development. Indeed, the team is very proud of the story, proclaiming that the development of the story as well as of its main protagonist makes for a vital part of the gaming experience. James Schmalz, the founder of Digital Entertainment, claims that his team's ambitions are to evolve the FPS genre by creating an immersive and well-presented story. Their philosophy is simple: "In any good story the protagonist changes and grows in some crucial way. I don't think any FPS has done that before - really have that critical element where the lead character goes through some emotional change through the telling of the story in some really obvious way." In answer to the question at the beginning of this paragraph, this may well be the crucial point that helps Pariah distinguish itself from the rest of the shooter crop.