IGN reports on the Golden Compass game: It was stressed how much more expansive the game will be than the movie. The Golden Compass will take place over 11 levels, and will allow players to explore many of the locations that they only manage to catch a quick glimpse of in the film. What's more, two of the levels of the title will be exclusive to the game, and will feature locations pulled directly from the His Dark Materials universe.
The three characters that players will use will have different abilities available to them as well. Lyra will have the option to use the alethiometer to solve puzzles, as well as unlock bonus content and acquire various power-ups. Players won't have to decipher the device's symbols and answer its questions to proceed through the game, but if they do, they'll receive an advantage over certain sections. Pan, on the other hand, will need to use his shape shifting abilities to maneuver around environmental challenges, while Lorek will need to use his size and clawing abilities to defeat opponents.
The Golden Compass First Look
SEGA's latest action game hones in on a popular children's franchise.
Children's books are often sources for movies and video games. The Polar Express and Meet the Robinsons were both novels that were both depicted across both mediums, and obviously Harry Potter does well in either format. The latest novel to receive a movie and game treatment is Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass, from the His Dark Materials trilogy. While New Line is preparing to release the movie this Christmas, SEGA is working hand in hand with them to develop the game. We managed to get a small glimpse of the game at a recent event and came away with new impressions.
The novel of the Golden Compass is set in an alternate universe similar to our own, and follows the adventures of a young girl named Lyra as she journeys from England to the far north to save a kidnapped friend of hers. Fortunately for her, she's not alone in her quest, as she's accompanied by her shape shifting demon Pan and an armored bear named Lorek, who'll help her search for her friend. Lyra also has a special item known as an alethiometer, which helps her find out the truth about people that she interacts with.
One thing that SEGA and Shiny Entertainment have been working with New Line on closely is transitioning the movie world over into the game world. In fact, a representative from SEGA was on the set of the film every day from the opening shot to the wrap of the project, taking footage of set pieces and items that were immediately sent to the developers to implement into the game. The result should be a title that's almost 100% accurate to the vision of the movie on the silver screen, even though the game will be out a little bit before the movie. Since it will include some footage of the film as well, fans will be able to get a sneak peek of The Golden Compass when they play the game before they see it in theaters.
However, it was stressed how much more expansive the game will be than the movie. The Golden Compass will take place over 11 levels, and will allow players to explore many of the locations that they only manage to catch a quick glimpse of in the film. What's more, two of the levels of the title will be exclusive to the game, and will feature locations pulled directly from the His Dark Materials universe. The three characters that players will use will have different abilities available to them as well. Lyra will have the option to use the alethiometer to solve puzzles, as well as unlock bonus content and acquire various power-ups. Players won't have to decipher the device's symbols and answer its questions to proceed through the game, but if they do, they'll receive an advantage over certain sections. Pan, on the other hand, will need to use his shape shifting abilities to maneuver around environmental challenges, while Lorek will need to use his size and clawing abilities to defeat opponents.
6 comments - Add yours
#1
This game just sounds fantastic and immersive; the fact that it contains solely eleven levels suggests that each of them are going to be quite expansive. I can't wait to see more from this in the coming months.
# May 11, 2007 02:41 by yokata
#2
"two of the levels of the title will be exclusive to the game, and will feature locations pulled directly from the His Dark Materials universe."
Any guesses? I'd go with the fens and possibly the Tony Makarios bit in the market. I can't really think of many grand locations we can't rule out for photos or hearing of filming there: Oxford, London, Trollesund, Bolvangar, Svalbard locations. Oh wonder! Stealing away the Costa's narrowboat down to Abingdon Lock! Over to Uppsala as Farder Coram to research the alethiometer! "pulled from the universe" doesn't have to mean directly from the story.
This could be a kick.
# May 11, 2007 13:57 by Phit
#3
But won't the game follow the plot of the story? The two locations would sort of mess that up.
But still, it sounds good
# May 11, 2007 23:13 by Drizzt
#4
It will follow the plot more strictly than the film. Hence the two additional locations. That's how I understood it.
# May 12, 2007 12:41 by horst
#5
This is what I get for not checking this site often - not knowing 'til a month later about a brilliant game.
I must agree with horst, as normal movies that are adapted from book skip parts of them, so if two extra levels have been added and that is true, then they are probably the parts they skipped filming.
# May 13, 2007 00:04 by daleluck1313
#6
I'm excited. I love adventure games. I just hope it keeps true to the book and they don't go adding random new things just to look cool.
# May 13, 2007 00:16 by vesper lynd