Spawn: Gory Details, Gorier Screens

Namco is helping the anti-hero get over a string of bad games.

Namco visited the GamePro offices today and cast some light on the dark, brooding corners of their upcoming Spawn title. Spawn has come a long way in the few short months since E3.

The game?s story covers Issues 1-99 of the comic book, stopping just short of the epochal events of Issue 100. Todd McFarlane has been integral to the development process from the beginning and has contributed extensively to the narrative. The goal is to make the game accessible even to those who have not read the comic book. The opening cinematics tell of Spawn?s origin, and the notable characters from the book appear throughout the game.

In addition to his axe and chains, Spawn will wield a variety of excessively large weaponry such as dual mini-guns and a rocket launcher. The axe, ?Agony? by name, is being carried over from Soul Calibur II. Weapons can be leveled up with special ?technique points? at the end of each mission to add range and power to Spawn?s already devastating arsenal. Spawn also employs six Hell Powers that are energized with Necroplasm.

Spawn?s chains are one of the coolest aspects of the game thus far. They are used for grappling, pulse attack, or best of all, to lift an enemy up off the ground and tear him in half. During combat, they?ll take it upon themselves to grab items and power-ups for you so it?s easier to focus on the action. The fast-paced fighting system was fine-tuned by the Soul Calibur II team and combines melee attacks with ranged weapons.

But what about the freakin? cape? Because Spawn?s roiling cape is so all encompassing, it will remain tucked away most of the time to prevent it from obscuring the action. It flutters open when needed for gliding between platforms, or during special circumstances in boss battles.

Settings range from the Hell Hole in Central Park, the Angel Space Station, and to Hell itself. Though the cutscenes aren?t finished yet, we got to hear some of the impressive voice over work that was recently recorded by Spawn HBO veteran Kevin Richardson. Spawn looks and sounds like it will be a gritty, ghoulish experience that sticks to the comic?s dark tone. It ought to be a welcome change for fans who?ve been disappointed by Spawn?s PG-13 alter-ego or his previous console disasters. With an impressive array of extravagant weaponry and gore galore, expect an M rating when Spawn hits the shelves in November.

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