Chip 'n Clawz vs. The Brainioids is the latest project headed up by the creator of X-COM. A hybrid title with third-person action elements, Chip 'n Clawz could prove to be a real shake-up of the RTS scene.
Published by Arc Games, Snapshot Games' Chip 'n Clawz is set to deliver something new for fans of the RTS genre. The game will have players muster an army of machines to combat the invading alien Brainioids and reclaim the Earth's supply of Brainium Crystals. The Best War Games sat down with members of the game's team, including game director Julian Gollop and game designer Nikola Petrov, who discussed how the upcoming title expands on the RTS genre with its third-person action elements.
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How Chip 'n Clawz Will Be Revitalizing RTS Games
Chip 'n Clawz' Spin on the RTS Genre
In discussing what Chip 'n Clawz will be bringing to the RTS genre, Petrov spoke about how the team viewed the genre before setting out to create the game. He brought up how the genre has seemingly stagnated since the times of games like Starcraft II, and how Chip 'n Clawz can bring change to the table:
"First, we felt there hasn't been a lot of movement in the RTS scene pretty much since StarCraft II. Some games have come and gone, but the genre has definitely taken a step back, and the players have moved towards MOBA games. We wanted to create our own, modernized version of RTS gameplay. One that doesn't require the high APMs and intense eSports-style gameplay classic RTS is known for. On the other hand, we wanted to create a fun and engaging action game that isn't purely focused on the player hero, but involves strategic command of a small army of minions. The combination of the two immediately felt like a great fit."
Petrov also cited the strategy elements of games in the Pikmin franchise and other strategy-adjacent IPs, saying "Titles like Brutal Legend, Pikmin, Overlord, Tooth and Tail, and Orcs Must Die! Were a great inspiration and awesome examples of a fun mix of action and strategy." It's fitting for Chip 'n Clawz to take inspiration from other games that blend genres, and this mix of influences will likely benefit the end title and its ability to modernize RTS.
Walking the Line Between Third-Person Action and RTS Tactics
Gollop, who previously created the X-COM franchise, addressed some of the pitfalls of attempting to blend genres. He spoke on how the team has avoided these potential problems and how being a genre hybrid strengthens the game's constituent parts:
"The key to making it work was to keep the control scheme simple and constrained, avoiding the micromanagement traditionally associated with RTS games. The player has only four rally beacons, one for each minion type, to place in the map to direct troops. The Command View gives a great overview of the whole battle and can be quickly accessed at any time. We had to balance the objectives and mechanics such that players are rewarded by using both the strategic controls and fighting directly in battles. Players may adopt a more action-based style or a more strategic style, which are both valid, and supported by various “HQ Mods” which offer buffs for character combat, minions, production and economy."
Chip 'n Clawz needs to get this mixture right, and simplicity might just be the answer—not only for blending genres but for streamlining RTS titles to reach a wider audience. However, simplifying RTS gameplay was one of the problems with Minecraft Legends, a title with similarities to Snapshot's project. Indeed, only time will tell whether Chip 'n Clawz hits the mark.
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence
- Developer(s)
- Snapshot Games
- Publisher(s)
- Arc Games
- Multiplayer
- Local Co-Op, Local Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
