Bastion, Transistor developer Supergiant is putting a versus multiplayer mode in its latest RPG, Pyre
Supergiant is definitely making a bid to avoid typecasting with Pyre.
Pyre is the next game from Supergiant, the team which brought us Bastion and Transistor.
We already knew it'd be a bit different from Supergiant's first two games, but the indie used PlayStation Experience to showcase Pyre's two player versus multiplayer mode, which is quite the departure.
The aim of Pyre multiplayer is to extinguish your opponent's flame with an object called the celestial orb. Each player has three characters ("Exiles") on screen and can switch between them instantly at any time. Exiles can sprint and dash to bypass opponents, carry or throw the celestial orb, and fire off their defensive shields as a projectile attack.
Each of Pyre's Exile also has their own attributes and special abilities, and there are a number of arenas with different features that can potentially shape play.
Interestingly, right now the versus mode is local only. On the PlayStation Blog, Supergiant said it isn't sure if the small team can implement online multiplayer before Pyre's launch in 2017 along with all the other features, and doesn't seem keen on potentially cocking up an online mode. There will be a versus AI mode if you can't get a buddy over, though.
Pyre's multiplayer mode is a bonus, and will not distract the team's focus from the single-player campaign, which is intended as the primary game. It was playable on the PSX show floor this weekend.