During a behind-closed-doors demonstration of the viral sensation Spine, it became abundantly clear to me that this was rightly something that not only piqued my interest but millions of others when it was officially revealed all those months ago.
A viral marketing campaign has ensured more eyes have seen it at this point, but even at this early stage, the game is looking not only incredibly polished both in gameplay and artistic direction, but most importantly fun!
Spine is Going to Kick Your A*s
To get it out the way, Spine is clearly a love letter to some of the best action films of the last three decades, starting with John Wick and ending with The Matrix. During the demonstration, Game Director Dmitry Pimenov wanted to emphasize the fact that “Gun-fu originated from John Woo and then continued to develop in The Matrix. You could say that Gun-fu is a sum of the two Johns. John Woo and John Wick”, and the comment is a fair one with Spine in mind, as enemies are swept aside in a stylistic brutality that never got boring to watch.
Whereas John Wick starts as a revenge story about a hitman killing his way through enemies to avenge his fallen dog, Spine’s story works as something similar, with the protagonist desperately searching for her brother, something Pimenov ensures we’ll see play out, due to the studio’s “show, don’t tell approach” that permeates everything the game is looking to accomplish.
In response to losing her brother, unable to help or find him as her basic self, the protagonist Redline installs a combat-based implant called Spine, which not only boosts her reflexes but also begins to talk to her, with its own consciousness present throughout the game. Sound familiar? It’s very similar to Upgrade, but the developers were quick to assure that’s where the similarities end.
Redline is her own person, with her own traits, all of which are showcased in various ways during the game’s story and gameplay, most impressively her street artist background, is used as a distraction and offensive weapon, covering both the enemies and environment in an all-covering red paint that is as good a crowd control as you’ll see in a game!
The combat is far from the only thing on offer in Spine though, with numerous parkour sequences promised that’ll have you chasing a fleeing culprit. In the hands-off demo, it was a Mafiaso that just wasn’t ready to give up yet, even after Redline had cut a swath of destruction and bloody death through his minions. A short parkour sequence later, we’d caught up with him and the interrogation could commence.
Spine, Redline, and the Masses Aren’t the Only Characters in the Game
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the entire demonstration was the environments shown. Considering the game hasn’t got a release date as of yet, not only do the environments look polished and beautiful, but they look intriguing. I wanted to grab the controller and explore then and there but decided against the professional faux pas.
From city rooftops to saunas and dystopian receptions, the game didn’t hold anything back, and assuming nothing is downgraded between now and release, will please a lot of fans who put graphics above all.
Alex Nemov, art director for Spine mentioned that there are currently nearly 20 levels on offer, with the devs promising they “treat every mission as a short movie on its own, having references and stuff”. As well as being a third-person Gun Fu extravaganza, Pimenov promised more from the final product, from environmental finishers, object-based combat, and more as well.
Of all the inspirations and nods to popular media the demo showcased, the most surprising was a heavy-handed tip of the hat to Oldboy, the South Korean action thriller with an incredibly controversial storyline.
Thankfully, there was nothing more than a change of camera and perspective, and a 2.5D platformer feel briefly taken up as Redline progressed down a corridor. The whole thing was very reminiscent of both Oldboy and of course the equally inspired Daredevil longtakes.
Calling Spine a cinematic game doesn’t quite convey enough of what the developers are aiming for, but with a proposed release window of late 2025, it’s certainly something worth keeping an eye on, and for those wanting the ultimate John Wick power fantasy, you’d be mad not to give it a chance, I know I will be.
For more Gamescom 2024 previews, why not check out our coverage of Dying Light: The Beast?
