Narrative adventure game The Council is out on March 13th, with the release of its first episode, "The Mad Ones". To commemorate, Focus Interactive released a very interesting behind the scenes look at Big Bad Wolf's approach to the project.
A historical RPG with an episodic release, The Council takes place in a private island where a number of important figures reunite to decide the fate of the world. From Napoleon to George Washington, this secret group pulls the string behind the world's major powers.
Out for the PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One, The Council takes an episodic approach similar to Telltale's games, where your decisions affect the outcome of the history. Unlike Telltale, however, Big Bad Wolf wants several endings per episode and several endings at the end of the game, which means you will be unable to see every outcome in a single playthrough.
On the video, the developers talk about how they are reimagining the narrative adventure genre, from the way your character interacts with the world to the lack of quick save and quick loading, which means all of your decisions have a lasting impact.
The game features an RPG system with multiple skills, and the core gameplay comes from manipulating and manoeuvring through character encounters using a "unique" Social Influence system: "During confrontations, skills and limited resources can be used to gain the upper hand and achieve the desired outcome. Players will be rewarded for their knowledge of each character’s psychological vulnerabilities and immunities, as well as their preparations made during prior exploration and investigation. Failing an encounter does not mean ‘game over’, and no action can be taken back. The consequences are permanent and may result in persistent physical disfigurements or mental traits that help or hinder the rest of the player’s adventure."
The first episode is out on March 13th, with others to follow shortly.
