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LAIR: Dragons kick ass (NSF56k)

bloodyroarxxbloodyroarxx Casa GrandeRegistered User regular
edited September 2007 in Games and Technology
Coming to PS3 exclusively on August 14 in North America and October 10th in Europe

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Click the boxart to go to the official site

Behind the scenes video

Story
Lair takes place in a world that is being threatened by numerous emerging volcanoes, which are causing the whole land to be destroyed and the air to be polluted. Recently, people have divided into two kingdoms: the Mokai, whose lands are arid and depleted of resources, and the seemingly noble Asylians, who live in one of the last remaining bountiful, green areas. The two nations are naturally at odds with one another, and the recently empowered, aggressive Asylian religious leaders are already leading the country down the path of inevitable war when the Mokai accelerate the hostilities with a surprise attack.

Gameplay
The player assumes the role of a dragon-riding knight named Rohn. Rohn is given the tasks of defending a certain area, destroying certain objects, eliminating enemies or creatures, and so on. There is some debate as to whether the game is stage-based or open-world, the latter stance mostly an optimistic guess. After each stage, Factor 5 has confirmed that the player can earn either gold, silver, or bronze medals. Earning medals will help to unlock combos and behind-the-scenes videos. Most of the game's battles will be air-combat, but some may be fought on the ground. While Rohn will not be able to dismount and fight on foot, he can land and fight back on the back of his dragon. In some locations, the game will feature a morale system tied to the enemy; the lower their morale, the less they fight. The game will rely heavily on PlayStation 3's (PS3's) SIXAXIS motion controls. For example, the player will fly their dragon by tilting the controller.
Graphics
The game takes advantage of the PS3's hardware, it will be a 25 GB game. Lair supports full HD 1080p graphics, run at 30 frames per second and will support 7.1 uncompressed audio. The game will feature the following:

* Progressive Mesh - This allows an intensive amount of detail to be placed upon vast number of objects, both up-close and far away.

* High-Dynamic Range Lighting - All of the lights, shadows, reflections, and highlights in Lair are in HDR, and are rendered in real-time, thus allowing the lighting scheme to completely change.

* Real-time Dynamic Physics - This makes the game render hundreds of physics effects on everything from dragons, to the cloak of a enemy soldier. All enemies and allies have their own physics-driven animations, and have individually programmed ragdolls.

* Real-time Fluid Dynamics: All of the water effects in Lair, such as waves, are run by real-time fluid dynamics making the water look realistic. For example, if a ship gets destroyed, (depending on how) it causes other nearby ships to shake from the waves produced.

* Parallax Shaders: Parallax shaders are used on almost every object in Lair, including fire and clouds. This makes the objects have realistic shadows depending on the direction from where light is coming from.

* Real-Time Renderings/Volumetric Effects: The fire in Lair is rendered in real-time, and has its own physics. All of the clouds, smoke, and fog effects are volumetric. Lava, rain, wind, fur, and more are also rendered in real-time.

Screenshots
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Stunning 1080p images seriously Factor 5 is making the ps3 do insane things
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bloodyroarxx on
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Posts

  • SpikedFreakSpikedFreak Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    Can't wait. I don't know where I'm going to find the time to play this and Metroid next month.

    SpikedFreak on
  • YodaTunaYodaTuna Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    The gameplay looks kinda terrible. They're even tossing some kind of on the ground combat in the mix, remember when they did that in Rebel Strike. Yea. For a game about animals who breathe fire, I was underwhelmed by the in game fire.

    YodaTuna on
  • bloodyroarxxbloodyroarxx Casa GrandeRegistered User regular
    edited July 2007
    YodaTuna wrote: »
    The gameplay looks kinda terrible. They're even tossing some kind of on the ground combat in the mix, remember when they did that in Rebel Strike. Yea. For a game about animals who breathe fire, I was underwhelmed by the in game fire.

    Tossed in? From what I can gather the ground combat was always part of the design. In Rebel Strike it was just part of another dead project that seemed to be shoehorned into it.

    bloodyroarxx on
  • AbsoluteZeroAbsoluteZero The new film by Quentin Koopantino Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    Doesn't look as interesting as it used to. Not sure why... though I'm glad it doesn't appear to be so much Rogue Squadron + Dragons anymore.

    AbsoluteZero on
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  • bruinbruin Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    Every gameplay video I've seen (including recent ones) has been wholly uninteresting. I still think the final game could end up good, but I'm not excited about it or anything.

    bruin on
  • brynstarbrynstar Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    Hmm. I keep forgetting that this is coming out soon, and I even have it pre-ordered. I am much more hyped for other games right now, but this could be a real surprise! Still looking forward to it.

    brynstar on
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  • EvangirEvangir Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    The graphics have always been absolutely stunning. If I had a PS3 right now, I'd be very interested in this game just as a graphical showcase. Gameplay-wise however... never really did anything for me. The controls always looked rather awkward (especially on foot). Hopefully they'll have that ironed out for release.

    Evangir on
    PSN/XBL/STEAM: Evangir - Starcraft 2: Bulwark.955 - Origin: Bulwark955 - Diablo 3: Bulwark#1478
  • DarkSymphonyDarkSymphony Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    this game looks stunningly gorgeous. I just hope the game is fun. I have it pre ordered and after I read the first few reviews (and if they are good) then I'll pick it up. I want very badly for it to be good since dragons are made of win so playing as one must be playing win. And, I hope the demo for this and Heavenly sword show up on PSN sometime in the near future. that would help alot with the decision to get it I'm sure.

    DarkSymphony on
  • BamelinBamelin Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    I've always kinda liked the "shiny graphics" feeling on the PS3. Even cross platform titles the PS3 version always looks shinyer. Always wondered why that is.

    Bamelin on
  • webguy20webguy20 I spend too much time on the Internet Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    I don't know about the graphics, maybe its just the screen shots linked. The last one in particular does not look good to me, not "next gen" anyways. Ive seen some great shots of PS3 games, but this does not look like one of them. Could be the screen shots tho.

    webguy20 on
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  • jothkijothki Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    Bamelin wrote: »
    I've always kinda liked the "shiny graphics" feeling on the PS3. Even cross platform titles the PS3 version always looks shinyer. Always wondered why that is.

    First-gen high quality graphics are always excessively shiny, I think. Give it a year or so and it will start looking more realistic.

    jothki on
  • Unco-ordinatedUnco-ordinated NZRegistered User regular
    edited July 2007
    bruin wrote: »
    Every gameplay video I've seen (including recent ones) has been wholly uninteresting. I still think the final game could end up good, but I'm not excited about it or anything.

    I'm completely unsure of the gameplay at the moment. All the gameplay videos on GameTrailers look kinda crappy but then, nearly every gameplay video GameTrailers have, look crappy. I thought Gears of War's gameplay looked like crap when watching the retards from GameTrailers running around but then I saw gameplay footage on the 1UP Show and it looked really fun.

    The graphics though, are amazing. The texturing on that first 1080p image in the OP is really stunning.

    This game has gone from a 'must buy' to a 'wait and see'. Luckily, the PAL release is two months after the US release, so I've got plenty of time to read the reviews and impressions.

    Unco-ordinated on
    Steam ID - LiquidSolid170 | PSN ID - LiquidSolid
  • StriferStrifer Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    I think it's one of those games that feels different when you watch it being played and actually play it yourself. I'm still excited about the prospect of dragon-riding-chaos and I wish I had a PS3 now.

    Strifer on
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  • DratatooDratatoo Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    jothki wrote: »
    Bamelin wrote: »
    I've always kinda liked the "shiny graphics" feeling on the PS3. Even cross platform titles the PS3 version always looks shinyer. Always wondered why that is.

    First-gen high quality graphics are always excessively shiny, I think. Give it a year or so and it will start looking more brown.

    Fixed.

    Dratatoo on
  • jothkijothki Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    Dratatoo wrote: »
    jothki wrote: »
    Bamelin wrote: »
    I've always kinda liked the "shiny graphics" feeling on the PS3. Even cross platform titles the PS3 version always looks shinyer. Always wondered why that is.

    First-gen high quality graphics are always excessively shiny, I think. Give it a year or so and it will start looking more brown.

    Fixed.

    True.

    jothki on
  • DashuiDashui Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    The videos did look pretty bad, but the E3 2007 trailer was actually pretty good. It rejuvenated my interests. Also, as far as "ground" combat goes, you don't actually get off your dragon. You can just fly down, land your dragon, and stomp on all the enemy soldiers while tossing them around with your claws, eating them, or roasting them with your flames. Eating them regains some of your health. I have it pre-ordered, too, so when I pick it up on the 15th I'll post some immediate impressions.

    Dashui on
    Xbox Live, PSN & Origin: Vacorsis 3DS: 2638-0037-166
  • KhavallKhavall British ColumbiaRegistered User regular
    edited July 2007
    Fact: Lair is awesome and lok as if real life movie.



    Really though, it does look like a good game... I just kind of can see it getting repetitious. Though if I saw gameplay from N3 I would've said the same, yet looking awesome while cutting through armies is fun for a long time in that game.

    Khavall on
  • plufimplufim Dr Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    I'm glad to see sceptics here. Factor 5 really messed up their last game, and I also don't trust them to get this one right.

    plufim on
    3DS 0302-0029-3193 NNID plufim steam plufim PSN plufim
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  • Muramasa18Muramasa18 Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    It have mountains, desserts, and cel proceling.

    Muramasa18 on
  • Unco-ordinatedUnco-ordinated NZRegistered User regular
    edited July 2007
    Dashui wrote: »
    The videos did look pretty bad, but the E3 2007 trailer was actually pretty good. It rejuvenated my interests. Also, as far as "ground" combat goes, you don't actually get off your dragon. You can just fly down, land your dragon, and stomp on all the enemy soldiers while tossing them around with your claws, eating them, or roasting them with your flames. Eating them regains some of your health. I have it pre-ordered, too, so when I pick it up on the 15th I'll post some immediate impressions.

    Actually, you can get off your dragon but it's pretty pointless. It's basically just used as a break before actually getting on your dragon, there's no combat or anything. You start the mission, walk to your dragon, jump on and fly off.

    Anyway, the thing that pisses me off about GameTrailers footage is that they're fucking idiots. They get an order to go destroy some catapults, so what do the geniuses at GT do? They go land on the ground and start killing troops. Nice move you dick, no wonder you failed the mission. I guess next you'll play Gears of War and decide not to use cover, oh wait, that's exactly what you did in the god-damn footage you took of it. Fucking retards, the whole lot of them.

    I'm hopeful that the game will shine through. IGN had an awesome preview of the latest build and it has already gotten a 9/10 score from Play (even if the magazine isn't exactly known for its good reviews).

    Unco-ordinated on
    Steam ID - LiquidSolid170 | PSN ID - LiquidSolid
  • bloodyroarxxbloodyroarxx Casa GrandeRegistered User regular
    edited July 2007
    Dashui wrote: »
    The videos did look pretty bad, but the E3 2007 trailer was actually pretty good. It rejuvenated my interests. Also, as far as "ground" combat goes, you don't actually get off your dragon. You can just fly down, land your dragon, and stomp on all the enemy soldiers while tossing them around with your claws, eating them, or roasting them with your flames. Eating them regains some of your health. I have it pre-ordered, too, so when I pick it up on the 15th I'll post some immediate impressions.

    Actually, you can get off your dragon but it's pretty pointless. It's basically just used as a break before actually getting on your dragon, there's no combat or anything. You start the mission, walk to your dragon, jump on and fly off.

    Anyway, the thing that pisses me off about GameTrailers footage is that they're fucking idiots. They get an order to go destroy some catapults, so what do the geniuses at GT do? They go land on the ground and start killing troops. Nice move you dick, no wonder you failed the mission. I guess next you'll play Gears of War and decide not to use cover, oh wait, that's exactly what you did in the god-damn footage you took of it. Fucking retards, the whole lot of them.

    I'm hopeful that the game will shine through. IGN had an awesome preview of the latest build and it has already gotten a 9/10 score from Play (even if the magazine isn't exactly known for its good reviews).

    Thats an understatement but I agree, I'm hopeful this was one they didn't over score and it deserves the 9

    bloodyroarxx on
  • BakerIsBoredBakerIsBored Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    I can't wait, think the game looks really kick ass. I do wish they aloud for more getting off the dragon and sandboxing it up... but I guess when you do own a Dragon there’s not to many reasons to get off unless you’re going inside a castle to save teh princess. :)

    BakerIsBored on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • corin7corin7 San Diego, CARegistered User regular
    edited July 2007
    Damn the box art is hot.

    corin7 on
  • shrykeshryke Member of the Beast Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    Muramasa18 wrote: »
    It have mountains, desserts, and cel proceling.

    Meh.

    shryke on
  • Atlus ParkerAtlus Parker Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    shryke wrote: »
    Muramasa18 wrote: »
    It have mountains, desserts, and cel proceling.

    Meh.

    signed

    Atlus Parker on
  • AbsoluteZeroAbsoluteZero The new film by Quentin Koopantino Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    I would be more excited about this game if it had a Unicorn.

    AbsoluteZero on
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  • ArkadyArkady Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    I'm pretty excited about this game on a conceptual level. Flying around killing shit on a dragon, using sixaxis controls, seems pretty rad. But there's no way in hell I'm dropping any cash on it til I try a demo, I've just heard too many complaints about the controls to pick it up just on faith like I probably will heavenly sword.

    Arkady on
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  • .la1n.la1n Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    I'm a little confused (nothing new) but given the announcement of a Lair demo in July as well as the impending release of the Heavenly Sword this thursday, I have to ask, does this mean we'll see both demos this thursday or that the Lair demo will be delayed since only in a crazy parallel universe would Sony allow two high profile demos on one day.

    .la1n on
  • WitchsightWitchsight Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    I like dragons, i like any fantasy setting as a rule, i like fighting hordes of dudes.... And yet im undecided. The videos look so uninspired that the only reason im on the fence is the fact that i SHOULD like it.

    Witchsight on
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  • ZombiemamboZombiemambo Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    This makes me want a new Panzer Dragoon.

    Zombiemambo on
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  • Atlus ParkerAtlus Parker Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    .la1n wrote: »
    I'm a little confused (nothing new) but given the announcement of a Lair demo in July as well as the impending release of the Heavenly Sword this thursday, I have to ask, does this mean we'll see both demos this thursday or that the Lair demo will be delayed since only in a crazy parallel universe would Sony allow two high profile demos on one day.

    However will gamers decide on which one to buy?

    Atlus Parker on
  • .la1n.la1n Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    .la1n wrote: »
    I'm a little confused (nothing new) but given the announcement of a Lair demo in July as well as the impending release of the Heavenly Sword this thursday, I have to ask, does this mean we'll see both demos this thursday or that the Lair demo will be delayed since only in a crazy parallel universe would Sony allow two high profile demos on one day.

    However will gamers decide on which one to buy?

    thats crazy talk man

    .la1n on
  • jothkijothki Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    .la1n wrote: »
    I'm a little confused (nothing new) but given the announcement of a Lair demo in July as well as the impending release of the Heavenly Sword this thursday, I have to ask, does this mean we'll see both demos this thursday or that the Lair demo will be delayed since only in a crazy parallel universe would Sony allow two high profile demos on one day.

    However will gamers decide on which one to buy?

    Whichever one gets a 360 port first, obviously. :P

    jothki on
  • cloudeaglecloudeagle Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    It's odd, but it seems two of Sony's major "tentpole" releases this Christmas (namely, Lair and Heavenly Sword) are teetering between "could be awesome" and "could be meh." We'll just have to see which way it goes...

    cloudeagle on
    Switch: 3947-4890-9293
  • Unco-ordinatedUnco-ordinated NZRegistered User regular
    edited July 2007
    .la1n wrote: »
    I'm a little confused (nothing new) but given the announcement of a Lair demo in July as well as the impending release of the Heavenly Sword this thursday, I have to ask, does this mean we'll see both demos this thursday or that the Lair demo will be delayed since only in a crazy parallel universe would Sony allow two high profile demos on one day.

    Uh, they haven't said the Lair demo is being released in July. They've said that the Lair demo might not be released until after the game has already come out.

    cloudeagle: Warhawk, Uncharted and R&C still look freaking awesome though (and to be perfectly honest, I'd probably rate those three above Lair in terms of being a 'tentpole').

    Unco-ordinated on
    Steam ID - LiquidSolid170 | PSN ID - LiquidSolid
  • SpoitSpoit *twitch twitch* Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    Dratatoo wrote: »
    jothki wrote: »
    Bamelin wrote: »
    I've always kinda liked the "shiny graphics" feeling on the PS3. Even cross platform titles the PS3 version always looks shinyer. Always wondered why that is.

    First-gen high quality graphics are always excessively shiny, I think. Give it a year or so and it will add more bloom.

    Fixed.

    Spoit on
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  • Bouncing_SoulBouncing_Soul Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    That first 1080p shot was the only thing that really impressed me. I guess it's all that shit going on and being rendered at once. The graphics are good, but I guess it's the art style or something that doesn't really grab my attention. I can't describe it but dammit something is off.

    I hope the game does turn out to be good, it's like a super updated Dragonstrike. I don't have a PS3 or plan on getting one any time soon, but this game had the potential to make me almost consider it.

    Bouncing_Soul on
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  • Dublo7Dublo7 Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    Damn, those 1080p shots look mighty purdy.

    Dublo7 on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • Vicious_GSRVicious_GSR Dude Principality of ZeonRegistered User regular
    edited July 2007
    oh yeah, this game just got pre-ordered

    Vicious_GSR on
  • DarkSymphonyDarkSymphony Registered User regular
    edited July 2007
    I saw some more videos and honestly it looks great. looks fun, but ya gotta consider that most of the time when they have a preview video it's of a boring ass part of the game or it's "level 1" and nothing exciting is happening. Like, I remember seeing a TON of DMC3 videos before it came out (god was I excited for that game...still am even after beating it a jillion times) and they were boooooooring. One video I remember seeing was of Dante just trying to figure out one of the "puzzles" in one area and it took the guy playing more than 2 minutes to do it.

    so, I am willing to bet any money that it will be a good game it just might not be the "OMGZ WIN!" I'm sure it'll be an average of 8/10 from most review sites though. The visuals are outstanding though.

    DarkSymphony on
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