Video Gaming News - March 2003
Foster City, CA (March 25, 2003) - Sony Computer Entertainment America
Inc. announced today the release of Primal.
From Sony:
Combining exploration and puzzle elements with an advanced combat system,
Primal plunges players into an intense battle between order and chaos.
Two playable characters exist within this battle that is quickly shifting in
evil's favor -- Jen Tate, a modern-day girl who is discovering her own
supernatural origin and Scree, a stone gargoyle who is Jen's powerful ally in
the immortal universe. In order to succeed in the adventure, players must
control both characters and determine in each situation whose skills to employ
-- whether it is Jen's intense combat skills that take shape in one of her four
different demon forms or Scree's power to possess statues, absorb energy,
translate demon language and climb and explore areas freely.
In Primal, gamers are immersed into a fantasy world joined inextricably with
our own. A story-driven game, Primal is presented through the experiences of Jen
and Lewis, a present-day, human couple drawn into discord by super-natural
forces. While gameplay revolves around the momentous events within the four
vast, distinctive realms of Primal's alternate universe, there are many personal
revelations and surprises for the characters along the way.
"Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's Cambridge Studio's first PlayStation 2
title has successfully combined a truly compelling storyline with the right
amount of exciting combat, puzzle solving and exploration to raise the bar for
the action-adventure genre," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony
Computer Entertainment America. "Offering incredible graphical detail in a dark
world that feels familiar and closely linked to our own, Primal is deep enough
to satisfy both the hardcore and the casual gamer."
Complementing the combat scenes are the sounds of 16 Volt, a Los Angeles
based alternative rock band that supplied nine tracks, including three songs
specifically written for Primal from the album "SuperCoolNothing V2.0" released
by Dark City Music. Formed in 1988, the band has toured with acts such as Korn
and recently finished a national tour as the openers for KMFDM's North American
"Sturm and Drang" tour. The compelling music of 16 Volt will also been present
in upcoming episodes of "Road Rules" on MTV and on the WB's "Angel," but
inclusion of their music in games is new and exciting territory for the band.
"As gamers ourselves, we were excited to have our music featured in Primal,"
said Eric Powell, lead vocalist and founder of 16 Volt. "With such intense
combat sequences, we wanted to create specific songs for Primal that would keep
the gamers engaged and on the edge of their seats."
Primal is set within a huge environment featuring four expansive realms
surrounding a central hub. The realms are equally divided between two separate
rulers of chaos and order, each populated by a unique demon race living in a
habitat that enhances its demon abilities. After Jen acquires the demon form
specific to each realm, Ferai, Undine, Wraith, and Djinn varieties, she is able
to transform at any time into that demon in future quests. A dynamic loading
system allows for uninterrupted gameplay between levels, and magical portals act
as links and "windows" into other worlds. Additional technological achievements
include seamless character morphing between Jen's human and demon forms,
extravagant particle effects and environmental effects such as fog and mist,
securing Primal's position as one of the most innovative and visually stunning
titles for PlayStation 2 released this year.
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