14 DAY TRIAL // A new third-person action game for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 has been announced by Namco Bandai. Knight's Contract will put players in the shoes of the witch Gretchen, who controls an immortal executioner called Heinrich. She was apparently slain by this scythe-wielding warrior, but she was resurrected by the powers that be to save the world from a black spell of death and an army of monsters named Harmonculous.
The title will engage players in stylized and over-the-top action, similar to what God of War or Dante's Inferno are known for. Gamers will be controlling Heinrich and will use combos that will dismember and maim their enemies, while Gretchen will be controlled by the AI and uses supporting and offensive spells.
Coordinated attacks will be possible, with some commands issued by the gamers to Gretchen, and she can also join in finishing moves. Heinrich is invincible, Gretchen is not and she must be protected or a trip to the Game Over screen is in store. Action is not the only focus of the developers, as some platforming and puzzle sections are included to ensure gameplay diversity. More information will be made available at E3 and Namco Bandai aims to release Knight's Contract sometime in 2011.
This is not the only violent action game that Namco Bandai is publishing. A remake of the classic Japanese beat-em up horror Splatterhouse is in the making. The series’ main character, Rick, returns and fights monsters with various makeshift weapons such as axes, wooden planks, broken pipes or even his own dismembered arms. The package will contain the first three games of the series as well. A launch date for this title has not been announced, but it is known that Namco Bandai is aiming for Q3 2010.