Our team played Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem. Here’s why they think you should too.

The CRYENGINE Team is humbled to be able to work with so many talented studios and indie devs. Most of us have a long history in the gaming industry, coming from all kinds of different fields, and creating a platform, and delivering a service that helps developers achieve their vision is a privilege that we’re really proud of. We work to support a range of games, from Crytek’s own to others developed by teams around the world, and we’re as proud of your achievements as we are of our own.

Of course, we’re also gamers. And we don’t just support the games being developed with CRYENGINE, but we also play them as well. Today, we’re launching a new feature where we add a personal commentary from members of our CRYENGINE team about the games that our community creates. We’ll be featuring the full spectrum of games, including titles from large and established teams to hobbyist titles and everything in between. Without further ado, here’s our first staff pick, achieved with CRYENGINE: Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem.

Commentary: Umut – Technical Writer for CRYENGINE

“I’ve never been a massive fan of ARPGs in general. But In 2017, when I had the chance to play Wolcen for the first time, and when it was not even close to being finished at all, it caught my attention despite my skepticism for the genre.

“The visuals, the sound effects, and the engaging gameplay mechanics were already on point. It had big potential. There were problems and missing features here and there, of course, but I couldn’t stop playing the game nonetheless. I hoped the developers would fix these issues so that it could be one of the games that I can recommend without hesitation… And now, almost three years later, I can easily say that the developers have surpassed all my expectations.

“I’m glad I was not wrong about this game three years ago. I highly recommend it, even if you’re not a fan of the genre, you should absolutely give it a try.”

Commentary: Yakir – CRYENGINE Brand Manager

“I first picked up Wolcen in 2016. When I started working with CRYENGINE, I got an insight into the development of the game through my work as a community manager for the engine. I was immediately in love with the rich, very colorful, and entrancing art style, which reminded me of French comics. I love the dessinées – so I bought the game immediately when it was still in alpha.

“The story was different back then, but I could see clearly that the game was coming together at its core. The balancing and learning curve was great. And they still are great! How the game teaches you to approach new enemies with curious caution, introduces new patterns and mechanics, all while telling a story of epic proportions fascinates me. There are Interesting features right left and center, like co-op dungeons, housing, incredibly elaborate character progression, and my favorite: The Apocalyptic Form.

“While the game has changed a lot since back then, and not all of my favorite memories can be relived, I got more than I could have imagined out of it. It’s one of the best-looking CRYENGINE games out there, expertly using our particle and lighting effects to create a genuinely unique top-down experience. And as an ARPG, it just rocks as a gem of the genre.

“The game got mixed reviews on Steam, probably because Wolcen Studio had trouble supporting their Cloud Gaming Network during launch. The game got so much attention that it was an overwhelming surprise for the studio, I reckon, so they simply had not accounted for the necessary bandwidth. Personally, I had no significant, bothering issues, just some rubber banding and lag, here and there. A friend of mine couldn’t zone a couple of times, but playing in a group, they could just port to our position to work around that bug.

“Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem is a gem that was developed by a small European indie team, competing with a huge AAA title in the same genre with ease. And it will only get better over time. It’s impressive on so many levels.”

Elmer –Technical Writer for CRYENGINE

“I played the beta for two weeks before Wolcen’s release, and then I started playing a few days after its release, and I’ve been having an absolute blast. And I think I’m in love with Gunslinger’s Brand! I think the atmosphere is excellent and the graphics are amazing. The first time I saw the palace and the levels with the spinning floors, I just had to stop and admire them for a little while. The skills look better and are more customizable than some other famous games in the genre. And whoever did the armor and weapon design deserves a raise!

“The story is good, and the second half of the second chapter is just... wow. You just don’t see that coming! The boss fights are great, and you really get the feeling they’re boss fights. They’re supposed to be hard, and they are.

“Maybe playing with others online is not perfect at the moment because of the server problems, but things like that are just a matter of time before they’re fixed. The game has only been out for nearly two months, and I realize the team is small, so they have to prioritize. Even huge companies can’t fix everything at the same time. Right now, I’m focusing on enjoying the endgame (I’m level 68 at the moment), and all I want to say to the devs is: don’t get discouraged by all the people complaining about every tiny thing. The current game is keeping me hooked already, and there are two more chapters to be added and leagues to start too. I can’t wait to see what’s next!”

Have you been playing Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem? Let us know your thoughts on the forum, or via Facebook and Twitter. And if you’re working on your masterpiece, don’t forget to join our community and the CRYENGINE development team over on our official CRYENGINE Discord channel. If you find a bug in the engine, please report it directly on GitHub, which helps us to process the issue quickly and efficiently.

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