Back in June, the developers from Envoidant Studios presented a gameplay prototype of Vigilance 2099, and it already looked really cool!
I have a very ambivalent relationship with the first-person perspective of Cyberpunk 2077. Basically, I actually like third-person views better. I like building characters and want to get to see them more often. I also enjoy the much better overview and like to watch my character move through the world. So if I have a choice, I would always prefer a shoulder view.
But I think Cyberpunk 2077 did a good job with the first-person view anyway. Especially the grandiose dialogues benefit immensely from this perspective, in my opinion. That’s why I would never claim that Cyberpunk 2077 needed a different perspective.
So I was all the more pleased when the gameplay video for Vigilance 2099 popped up in the editorial office some time ago and promised me a little alternative. Never heard of it? No wonder, the game flies pretty much under the radar and is also still far from being really finished. But what I’ve seen of it so far makes me really want to see more. Take a look for yourself first:
What will Vigilance 2099 be about?
Clearly, this gameplay is not clips from the finished product. This is just a first prototype. But ultimately, this prototype is supposed to show a vision of the developers. And I like it very much. But not only because the gameplay features third-person action in a rainy cyberpunk city, while the soundtrack alone exudes massive Blade Runner vibes. In this case, I don’t care that this setting can be seen quite often. The fascination is still too great for that.
I also like what the developers have announced about their project in writing so far. It sounds very much like the bounty hunter fantasy with which the tragically canceled Prey 2 was able to bait very skilfully.
In Vigilance 2099 you embody a former FBI agent who has had a hard time with life. Now he scours the lowest areas of a crime-infested metropolis for serious criminals on whom a hefty bounty has been placed. Along the way, you rise in the underworld yourself and make deals with the Mega Corporations ubiquitous in the cyberpunk genre.
Vigilance 2099 is supposed to offer an open game world, which is divided into three areas. The three districts lie on top of each other. As usual, the rich and powerful bask in the sun on chrome sun chairs in the uppermost district, while at the bottom criminals, beggars and otherwise down-and-outs beat their brains out for a few crumbs of rusty prostheses.
Policeman
Policewoman
Scavanger in battle
Normal Scavanger
Upper class
What features are planned?
The team does not want to make too many promises yet. The child is still on too shaky a footing for that. Nevertheless, they have already compiled a whole list of possible features. A few of them can already be seen in the prototype and scenes from the game are being shared on Twitter again and again.
– Vehicles:
As can be seen in the gameplay, you will be able to drive around with vehicles. The hero should not only be dependent on ground-based carts, but also be able to steer flying models.
– Parkour:
You can already see some beginnings here too. The bounty hunter can move gracefully through the city. In the prototype, this is merely a stylish dive over waist-high cover. But there are also videos in which he hangs on edges and climbs along them.
– Shootouts:
Of course there is shooting. You can see that in the gameplay as well. A cover system does not seem to be built in yet. However, the bounty hunter can perform combat rolls and crouch. It is also possible to switch from third to first person. In a video, the character can use a passer-by as a human shield.
– Close combat:
.
Fists are also used, including takedowns and counters. There are quite a few videos on Twitter. However, the fights still really lack impact and hit feedback. But as I said – this is a prototype.
WIP – Hand to Hand combat and Parkour Test#cyberpunk #gamedev #IndieGameDev #UE4 #indiegame pic.twitter.com/5EX0yq9wqH
— Vigilance 2099 (@NasNakarus) September 12, 2020
– Interrogations:
In order to find his targets, the bounty hunter can interrogate NPCs. Exactly what this may look like is still unclear.
– Hacking:
What would a cyberpunk world be without hacks? In Vigilance 2099, too, electrical devices and robots can be misused. This seems to work in a similar way to Watch Dogs. So far there have been scenes where cameras are taken over and robots are controlled remotely.
– Negotiations:
First and foremost, the bounty hunter is interested in money. Therefore, he can also negotiate prices of targets. He can also bargain with the target and let him go for a better offer.
– The Outlaw System:
A slightly more ambitious feature is said to be the Outlaw system. This was inspired by the Nemesis mechanic from Mordor’s Shadow. Escaped targets are supposed to remember the hunter this way and will be better equipped next time. Incidentally, this is where it could become a problem that WB Games had the Nemesis system patented.
What to expect from Vigilance 2099
If all of this works out, then Vigilance 2099 could make a little of what Prey 2 once promised come true. In combination with the cyberpunk setting, I even hope for a kind of blade runner action game. That is what I am waiting for to this day. But you also have to say very clearly: Even with all the gameplay scenes, this is all still a distant dream for the time being.
Vigilance 2099 is built by only three developers. On Twitter, the lead developer has been publishing regular new videos since 2017 and vigilance 2099 is still little more than a prototype. So far, the team has not been able to generate much attention.
There is a risk that the house of cards will collapse before release. And even after that, no one should expect an extensive open-world adventure with an incredibly lively megacity to traverse. That will be hard to manage.
At least the team is working on new financing options. Conversations with publishers are held and Kickstarter is also flirted with. Perhaps both could help to turn the promising prototype into a still promising game. I would definitely be in favour of it!
