Assemble Entertainment and developer Tiny Roar have announced that XEL, "a vibrant sci-fi Zelda-like," is headed to Switch in 2022.
The game has players exploring a colourful world while solving puzzles, taking on dungeons, and fighting against robots and exotic wildlife. The Zelda series has served as an inspiration for the title's development, and you can certainly see that in the item usage and exploration shown in the new trailer above.
XEL puts you in the shoes of Reid, who finds herself shipwrecked with no memory of her previous life. Your goal is to get to the bottom of the mystery behind this confusing new land, engaging in combat where necessary and finding and upgrading a variety of weapons and items in what the game's publisher promises to be an "epic and heartwarming story filled with fantastical settings and memorable characters".
Here's a feature list to tell you a little more:
Sci-fi Dungeon Diving: The world of XEL features a vast, extensive overworld and challenging, Zelda-like dungeons to explore
A Deep Combat System: Become proficient at using a variety of attacks and combos, while dodging, and parrying to tackle and take out foes
Gadgets & Guns: Master and upgrade your weapons, shield, and gadgets to smash your foes and open up new areas to explore
Deep Lore and a Deeper Mystery: What exactly happened to this world, and who is responsible? Piece together a captivating story and dive into the legends behind the cryptic history of XEL
Spacetime? Not a Problem: Unlock special abilities that allow Reid to bend the rules of space and time, granting her access to previously impassable areas and opening up new ways to defeat difficult enemies
If you're liking the sound of the game, make sure to keep an eye out for its release in Q2 2022; you'll be able to get another look at it during the 'Assemble: Spotlight On' which kicks off on Thursday 26th August at 7:30am EDT on the RocketBeans Twitch channel.
Comments 32
Hmm, might keep an eye on this
Think I'll pass
Looks nice but not sold on the gameplay.
I like it. I LIKE IT.
I want more Zelda-like games. We get so many awesome metroidvanias, but just a few of these are worthy.
It has Zelda-like characters, with Zelda-like dungeons, and uses enhanced Zelda-like grass and Zelda-like Zeldas. The Zelda in this Zelda is really Zelda-ing! o_o
Oh I love deep lore and mystery. Deep implied backstory really draws me in even if you never really find out about it. This is makes good Zelda-likes good in my opinion.
And there's that term again. You can hear the drums in the deep. The orcs skittering down the columns. You said Zelda-like. They demand blood.
“Zelda-like” is becoming a worn-out phrase
Hooked me at "sci fi", "zelda-like" also got me. Trailer looked good for an alpha build. Was that an homage to the guardians from botw, at the end there. Or a blatant copy.
Idk…trailer did nothing for me. Most likely a pass for me.
More like MEHlda
Wow, I hope this game isn't 100% Zelda like and is unique it's own way to make it stand out.
Reminds me so much of the barrage of Souls like games. So much mediocre with only a handful of gems.
You only hurt your indie game more when you compare to already established highly praised franchises.
I’d love a Zelda-like to captivate me the same way as an actual Zelda game, but so far I’ve not been impressed with the ones I’ve tried. I’ll probably give this one a try if the reviews are good and I need something to tide me over between Nintendo’s releases.
The term 'Zelda-like' is enough to put me off a game.
When it's the first letter of a word, the letter X is pronounced "Z". So the name of this game is pronounced "Zel". Hmmm, I wonder what game it was inspired by.
Normally not a fan of isometric games, but that looks pretty good.
Very generic character design.
But the gameplay might be good, let's see how it turns out.
Ahhhh, Zelda-like as in Link's Awakening. Almost got me!
On the other hand, I've found that games which evoke BOTW-style Zelda are a real turn-off. I'm thinking Immortals, Pine, etc. They just serve to water down the memories of BOTW and the anticipation for BOTW2.
Seems to run pretty close to Hob, which is already on Switch.
RemindME! 6 months
Why play a poor man's BotW when you can play actual BotW?
@invictus4000 This is more like Zeldas 2D, not BotW.
@thegametb I also was going to compare this game to Hob. The landscape, character movements remind me of Hob, which is an excellent game.
I hope attack isn't mapped to the A button, or if it is, that it can be remapped to Y. I know buttons can be remapped on the Switch's menu but that also makes navigation awkward.
I know its an alpha but...it looks terrible
Oh come on. I prefer the upcoming zelda over those pretendous indies which they describe it as game - like or love letter to game. There some exceptions but this looks mediocre. It was a fad in mid 10's with games like Shovel Knight and it sounds too obsolete nowdays.
@N64-ROX Genshin Impact, DarkSiders.
Why are so many ‘Zelda-likes’ so lifeless and generic—aesthetically and otherwise. It’s kind of weird.
Needs more Lore, and less fortnighty looking character. also more first person. top down isnt doing it for me here.
Please don't be another Biomutant. Please don't be another Biomutant.
First thing should be a Physical and Digital release not just Digital. That's what will stop me from buyin.
I like what a saw on that trailer even tho a comparison with a game like Zelda is a no-win for any game ever, I'll file this on the keep an eye on it
@BloodNinja It's more Zelda than BoTW at least. That's just (insert any open world game where they forgot to put actual things to do here) with Link placed in it.
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