Video Gaming News - February 2004
Foster City, CA (February 17, 2004) - Sony Computer Entertainment
America Inc. announced today the release of Rise to Honor.
From Sony:
One of the first PlayStation 2 games created and developed by Sony Computer
Entertainment America's Foster City, Calif. Studios, Rise To Honor features the
martial arts style and voice talent of the world-renown film star and legendary
martial artist, Jet Li. Cory Yuen, the highly acclaimed action director who has
collaborated with Li on numerous films, assisted with the development and
creative processes of the game, helping to make Rise To Honor the most
cinematic, authentic martial arts action game available on the market.
"I love the stories that motion pictures tell, but video games are able to take
that story a step further by allowing players to experience the action
first-hand, playing as me instead of just observing the action," Jet Li said. "I
enjoyed the opportunity to help bring Rise To Honor to life, a process that
allowed me to develop a newfound appreciation for the hard work that goes into
the development of a videogame."
By utilizing motion capture technology to incorporate Jet Li's signature moves
and the action of up to six additional martial arts professionals on the set at
one time, Rise To Honor brings a higher level of realism and authenticity to the
action genre. Staying true to Li's unmatched fighting style, Rise To Honor
introduces a unique 360-degree fight system -- a style inherent to the Hong Kong
action film genre.
This system inserts players at the core of fight sequences with the ability to
take on multiple enemies in any direction without reorienting the player. The
innovative fighting structure uses a dual-analog control scheme. The left stick
is used to move the player in the environment while the attacks are executed
through strategically tapping the right analog stick in the direction of the
enemies. Forgoing a dedicated punch or kick button implemented in traditional
fighting games, Rise to Honor uses this method to retain the look of Jet Li's
fighting style while leaving it up to the player to decide how best to approach
the fighting scenarios.
Directed in association with Cory Yuen, these sequences include combos, counter
moves and adrenaline-enhanced super strikes that were achieved working with
wires and an expert stunt team. The majority of the gameplay in Rise to Honor is
hand-to-hand fighting with the ability to creatively interact with environments,
using contextual actions such as "wall run" near a wall or "pick up" chairs and
wield stick weapons to fend off and attack enemies. Intense gunplay, single and
double-stick weapon attacks, as well as single-player collaborative fighting
with the female character, Michelle, adds variety to the fast-paced gameplay.
"When we teamed up with Jet Li and Cory Yuen, it was important to the Foster
City Studios to create a game that lived up to their reputation and standards,
as well as our own. With Rise To Honor, we've done just that, and are very proud
that it represents our first internally developed release for PlayStation 2,"
said Jim Wallace, associate director of product development, Sony Computer
Entertainment America and Rise to Honor producer. "For the first time, you don't
need a black belt or a Hollywood agent to be an
on-screen martial arts star -- you just need a PlayStation 2."
The origins of Rise To Honor began three years ago when Wallace and his
international production team at Foster City Studios began working on a martial
arts game that drew inspiration from Hong Kong action films, many of which were
Jet Li's. In a twist of irony, Li was looking to get involved with a videogame
at the same time.
Li's first platform of choice was PlayStation 2, and when his manager called
Sony Computer Entertainment America to inquire about the possibility of
presenting a game idea, they learned about Rise to Honor, which was already in
development, and agreed it was the perfect fit. He met with the team, eagerly
signed on to the project and called his good friend, Yuen, in hopes of extending
the partnership. Foster City Studios, Li and Yuen immediately began
collaborating and from there, the game's plotline began to take shape.
Rise To Honor follows the story of Kit Yun (Jet Li), the trusted bodyguard of
Boss Chiang, the leader of one of Hong Kong's crime gangs. As Chiang is
assassinated, he whispers his dying wish to Kit -- to deliver an important
message to Chiang's estranged daughter, Michelle, in San Francisco. By
fulfilling this wish, Kit embarks on a quest, which takes him through 11
action-packed worlds set in thriving metropolises where dramatic camera angles
and cinematic animations enhance the world of martial arts. In a story where
danger lurks around every turn, Kit Yun's greatest struggle will be between his
conflicting sense of duty and honor.
"We were thrilled when we learned that Jet wanted to collaborate on this
project; his creative input on Rise To Honor helped us achieve our vision of
merging the worlds of motion picture and videogames," said Ami Blaire, director
of product marketing for Sony Computer Entertainment America. "This is an
excellent game that will give fans of the Hong Kong genre a new opportunity to
live and play as a martial arts action hero."
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