Today the independent design studio The Astronauts released a scorching new gameplay video showcasing the spellcraft of their upcoming dark fantasy shooter Witchfire. Featuring commentary from senior game designer Karol Krok, the video displays the different types of elemental magic available to witch hunters on the prowl, which will allow players to unleash an arsenal of spells, hexes, and curses upon their enemies.
Spellcraft is designated into two distinct categories: light spells and heavy spells. The former are quicker to deploy and cost less stamina to use, but don’t do as much damage as their heavier counterparts. In the gameplay video, we can see the witch hunter execute a fearsome heavy spell that summons a phantom bell capable of stunning nearby enemies when properly shot.
Krok also reveals the four core elements that comprise the majority of spells and magic within the game: water, earth, fire and air. Each has its own unique properties—setting enemies aflame increases the amount of damage they can take, for example—and utilizing different elemental spells in quick succession can achieve powerful combined effects. Ultimately, the wide variety of spellcraft available to the witch hunters is just as vital as their arsenal of guns, and both will be crucial for any soul brave enough to conquer the Land of the Witch.
From the creators of Painkiller and Bulletstorm, Witchfire is a first-person shooter set in a dark fantasy world in which a deadly war rages between powerful witches and the Church. In this alternate reality, witches are very real and very dangerous— but so is the witch hunter. Armed by Vatican sorcerers, players wield an infernal array of guns and forbidden magic as they combat dark terrors on behalf of their shadowy benefactors.
After shifting development from arena-style fighting to open-level combat, Witchfire is on track for a release to Early Access this year.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
