Unveiling the Extraordinary: Clockwork Revolution Triumphs Over the Deception of Lies of P
Clockwork Revolution faces comparable hurdles as Lies of P, as both titles encounter fresh challenges due to the comparisons drawn between them However, they strive to distinguish themselves in terms of influences and unique aspects, ensuring their individuality
Xbox unveiled Clockwork Revolution during their showcase on June 11th. Developed by InXile Entertainment, the creators of The Bard's Tale and Wasteland 3, this upcoming first-person RPG transports players to the Steampunk metropolis of Avalon. Clockwork Revolution promises an extraordinary time travel adventure, allowing players to shape Avalon and its inhabitants by influencing pivotal moments in the city's history, all in an effort to dismantle Lady Ironwood's oppressive reign.
One noteworthy observation is the striking resemblance Clockwork Revolution bears to a prominent AAA title, much like Lies of P from Round8 Studio. Just as Lies of P drew comparisons to the influential PS4 game Bloodborne, Clockwork Revolution garners similar associations with the highly acclaimed BioShock. While this parallel could be advantageous, it also poses potential drawbacks.
Lies of P and Clockwork Revolution’s Influences
Although the similarities between Lies of P and Bloodborne are reportedly unintentional, it's difficult to overlook them. The influences can be seen in the visual design and combat of both games. However, there are distinctions. Lies of P's city of Krat draws inspiration from late 19th-century France, while Bloodborne's Yharnam is not linked to any specific time or place. The enemies in Lies of P are mostly human and mechanical, lacking the unsettling qualities of foes found in FromSoftwhere games. Nevertheless, these differences are insignificant when considering the overall comparisons.
On the other hand, Clockwork Revolution strongly resembles a BioShock game. InXile's latest offering is a first-person shooter set in a fictional city with advanced technology and a retro-futuristic look. The city is governed by a charismatic and visionary megalomaniac, with Lady Ironwood bearing similarities to villains such as Andrew Ryan and Zachary Comstock. Both the ruler's influence and the city's prosperity are derived from a highly advanced technology, which in Clockwork Revolution's case is time travel.
Clockwork Revolution bears a striking resemblance to BioShock: Infinite, particularly in terms of time period and visual style. BioShock: Infinite is set in 1912, with its floating city of Colombia built in 1893, drawing inspiration from the architecture of the real-world 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Similarly, Clockwork Revolution's city of Avalon, while distinctly English, shares a similar aesthetic and technology from around the same era.
Notably, both cities' names evoke similar concepts. "Colombia" was not only an old name for America, but it also represented the female personification of the United States, commonly featured in propaganda and political cartoons during that time period, symbolizing Manifest Destiny. On the other hand, "Avalon" derives its name from a mythical island associated with the forging of Excalibur and the resting place of King Arthur after his battle. In the case of BioShock: Infinite, the name contributes to the game's satire of American Exceptionalism, and Clockwork Revolution seems to adopt a similar approach.
How Clockwork Revolution and Lies of P Might Still Stand Out
Resembling highly influential games such as BioShock and Bloodborne does not condemn Clockwork Revolution and Lies of P. However, it does create a platform for comparison between the two games, which can have both positive and negative ramifications. On one hand, fans of BioShock and Bloodborne are likely to be attracted to Round8's and inXile's new games. On the other hand, there is a risk of being labeled as mere copies, particularly if players feel that the new games do not live up to the standards set by their predecessors.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that neither game is a direct replication of their main inspirations. For instance, aside from Sekiro, FromSoftware's Soulslike games mostly emphasize the setting rather than the characters. In Elden Ring, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne, the protagonists are blank canvases upon which players can project their desired personalities and motivations. Conversely, Lies of P's Pinocchio has a distinct objective of searching for his creator Geppetto, leaving no ambiguity.
Based on the trailer, Lies of P appears to focus more on individual characters. While FromSoftware games have great characters, players typically only experience short chapters, leaving much of the story implied. In contrast, Lies of P seems to feature a more traditional main cast and even introduces a companion character for Pinocchio in the form of the Talking Cricket.
Clockwork Revolution, on the other hand, deviates from BioShock: Infinite in several significant ways. In a tweet, inXile's CEO Brian Fargo clarified that Clockwork Revolution is an RPG rather than an immersive sim like BioShock. This means players can create a custom protagonist instead of using predefined characters. The game also offers branching dialogue trees and a more complex leveling system.
Content: Clockwork Revolution's tone differs from the BioShock games. While BioShock games are satirical in a Warhammer 40K-esque manner, exaggerating real-world concepts to absurdity without intending to be humorous, Fargo emphasizes the importance of dark comedy in Clockwork Revolution. However, it is worth noting that Clockwork Revolution is not solely a comedy game, and its inclusion in a list of features may be somewhat tongue-in-cheek. This distinction should not be ignored.
The main point is that Lies of P and Clockwork Revolution are not mere copies of Bloodborne and BioShock: Infinite. Both games have their own unique vision and should be evaluated based on their own merits, rather than being viewed as alternatives or rivals to the older titles.
Clockwork Revolution is in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S. Lies of P releases for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on September 19th.
