Telekinesis, body-swapping and other tricks. Demonik was supposed to be a game created by Clive Barker and Bloodrayne devs

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Terminal Reality studio, known for hits like Blair Witch Volume I: Rustin Parr, BloodRayne, and BloodRayne 2, teamed up with renowned artist Clive Barker (film director, screenwriter, painter, and game developer). Combining their unique talents, they envisioned a game called Demonik. Today, we delve into the history of this game, which we’re bringing back to life.

Demon in human’s clothing

In keeping with a title that a master of horror might pen, Demonik finds us transforming into a demonic entity. The protagonist, Volwrath, would initially be summoned by those seeking vengeance against their tormentors. Serving as an emissary from the underworld, he would initially be bound by his masters’ control, but as time goes on, he would begin to shatter the constraints that held him back, eventually turning against them.

Clive Barker was anticipated to offer input not just for the screenplay of Demonik, but also for the scene transitions. Furthermore, it was his responsibility to select the performers who would portray the diverse characters as well.

Body swap

In the game called Demonik, you’ll experience the action from a third-person viewpoint. The gameplay is structured into missions where you’ll encounter both human adversaries and otherworldly creatures. Volwrath, your character, possesses various supernatural powers that will be at your disposal. Among these abilities, the most significant one allows you to command people, opening up some truly extraordinary possibilities, as IGN suggested in their coverage of the game’s unveiling.

In simpler terms, you could hire a security guard, provoke him to open fire on his fellow comrades, then swiftly exit and seize control of a scientist. As the scientist flees, the other guards will turn against their ally, who’s bewildered as to why everyone is suddenly firing at him.

In general, we’d typically employ the power, similar to what was depicted in Shiny Entertainment’s Messiah, during battles. However, it could prove beneficial in diverse scenarios, including stealthy ones as well. The storyline becomes intricate because Volwrath would, in essence, absorb a body to gain strength, growing more powerful over time but also shedding his human facade bit by bit, revealing his demonic nature. Over the course of events, he would transform gradually into his true, demonic form.

In essence, the final result is gaining full capability to leave one’s body entirely. This would allow us to observe the world as if through Volwrath’s eyes, a being without a tangible form who could effortlessly pass through walls and other solid matter. However, as Volwrath moves further away from his physical casing, he grows weaker.

Telekinesis and other tricks

Absolutely, Volwrath wouldn’t rely solely on body-jumping. This formidable character might also unleash a plague upon enemies, set foes ablaze, or wield the “Devil Hand,” a telekinetic ability. Let’s listen to the IGN announcement writer once more:

“Volwrath’s arsenal is not limited to body-jumping. This character could spread disease among enemies, attack with fire, and even use his ‘Devil Hand,’ which is a form of telekinesis.

Volwrath has the ability to lift objects and enemies as if they were toys. What sets him apart is that he can interact with anything in his surroundings. Everything! At a chemical plant, Volwrth can even pick up humans and hurl them into acid vats, where they would bubble and evaporate. He can also throw crates or toss barrels around.

As we advanced, we could enhance certain skills, enhancing our battle readiness. The game was designed to let us utilize multiple powers simultaneously, creating intricate sequences of effects. Managing Volwrath was important because it wasn’t just ordinary humans and demonic messengers we’d encounter; more formidable opponents would also be part of the challenge.

In relation to these opponents, the Demonic Hunters, they’d be immune to most of our supernatural powers, save for telekinesis. During confrontations with them, we’ll have to rely on conventional fighting techniques, like physical strikes and firearms instead.

Lonely crossing and not only

The heart of Demonik consists of a solo journey spanning approximately 10 to 12 missions. This journey will take us through various earthly settings as well as the Underworld, where Volwrath resides – the realm that serves as their home. In addition, developers are working on a multiplayer aspect, allowing both humans and demons to engage in combat with one another.

The game “Terminal Reality” was anticipated to captivate viewers with its top-notch visual design, primarily due to the potent capabilities of the Xbox 360 console at that time and the artistic touch provided by David Finch, a renowned Canadian artist known for crafting character models. To quote IGN:

Demonik shows the power of Xbox 360. (…) has dynamic lighting and looks fantastic.

Departure to the afterlife

Majesco Entertainment, slated to launch Demonik, faced escalating financial difficulties during production. This ultimately led their publisher to terminate the project in early 2006, a decision that also scrapped Taxi Driver – a game inspired by Martin Scorsese’s cult film of the same name.

It’s intriguing to note that not only trailers and gameplay footage from developers and publishers showcased Demonik in action, but also the movie “Grandma’s Boy” featured it. The protagonist of the film was a game developer and tester, and his grandmother happened to be playing the game titled Demonik.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=-1171

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2025-04-13 21:32