The developers at 5th Cell have finally set a release date for their new third person shooter Hybrid, while also giving us insight into the combat style and online experience featured in a new trailer. The downloadable title will be released on August 8th, firmly setting its place in the popular “Summer of Arcade” on the Xbox Live Marketplace. The game is 5th Cell’s first 3D title, a big departure from their previous creation Scribblenauts which was only available for the Nintendo DS. Now they hope to create a new unique, online experience with Hybrid, which will keep players entertained long after release with their worldwide combat setting.
The game was first announced early last year, but was pushed back all the way into 2012 which appears to have resulted in a total overhaul. The additional polishing time has given the game a sleek new finish, complete with character changes, different controls, and the all new persistent online “world war”. Hybrid is a fast paced futuristic third-person-shooter, and going off what was seen in the newest trailer, has a strong focus on mobility and parkour elements as players fly around the map on jetpacks and jump rockets.
Hybrid’s battle system is made out of two factions, and a worldwide map. Players can then choose which between the “Variants” or the “Paladins” faction, either of which will bring you into the game at rank one. No matter your choice, the end goal of both factions is to collect whats called Dark Matter, over a series of battles. It starts you off at the world map, and you can pick and choose from there where you would like to play. Players all over the world are still connected on a central server, and can be matched up during game play, regardless of where you’re actually located. Once you’ve chosen your battlefield, players will go through a series of online games, with a goal of Dark Matter every time. The faction who emerges victorious will be awarded two samples of Dark Matter, while the losing team still gets one. Once a faction has collected one hundred pieces of Dark Matter, the map and rank levels will reset, but players still retain their items and experience.
Each battlefield will have its own base, which can be leveled as players continue to fight for it. These bases give off different passive abilities and effects, depending on your location of choice. The idea is to gradually push your factions front line closer to the base, which contains the Dark Matter. Each player included in the victorious faction will receive certain items which can provide useful bonuses and experience boosts. The losing faction will receive items of much lesser value.
Before you start off in Hybrid, head over to the armory. Where players can customize appearance, different armors, weapons, and abilities. The armory is also a place where you can create clan tags, swap factions, and acquire XP boosts when available.
Hybrid is set for a August 8th release date, exclusively for Xbox live Arcade. Additional information can be found at their official website here: http://www.whatishybrid.com/
