One year after the announcement, CyancookGames studio has once again demonstrated the gameplay of the open-world fantasy adventure game Of Peaks and Tides and revealed details about the game. The project is being developed for PC (steam), a release date has not yet been announced.
Powered by Unreal Engine 5, Of Peaks and Tides combines survival, building, exploration, and combat with a physics-based system that lets you use the world around you to solve gameplay problems. The action takes place in the world of Everland and is inspired by ancient Chinese mythology. According to the plot, this land once had a connection with the gods, but the conflict between heaven and earth destroyed this connection, leaving humans to fend for themselves and civilization in decline. Players take on the role of Nolands and embark on a journey almost from scratch, collecting resources, building shelters, and gradually exploring the remains of the lost civilization, trying to find out the cause of the incident and find the gods who left humanity behind.
The main idea of Peaks and Tides has to do with experimentation and use of environments. Sandstorms and blizzards can change the course of combat, plants can be used to capture and control the movements of giant creatures, and tamed animals can carry bases built upon them. Giant flying creatures are also used to move around the world.
The physics system also works with ordinary objects. The developers gave examples of weapons made from berries and beehives that could even be used against big bosses. Therefore, some combat decisions should come directly from the player’s interaction with the environment, rather than being limited to a predetermined set of tools.
The world of Everland is populated by creatures influenced by Chinese mythology and the Book of Mountains and Seas. Among them, the developers are named Fu Zhu, Xiao Taote, Naughty Monkey and Giant Xi. Animals must also function as part of a separate ecosystem, hunting, hiding, and reacting to what’s going on around them, rather than just waiting for the player to show up. Exploration of the world will take place through several biomes, including forests, deserts, and snowy mountain areas. One of these territories will be Zangmuquan, and the construction of roads and bridges will become another element of the world layout. The developers have also expanded the natural interaction system and increased the scale of boss battles.
Over the past year, the team has redesigned and expanded the game, adding more dynamic environments, new visuals, and additional ways to interact with nature. The two-day event has been held in Shanghai, where more than 500 players were able to try out the updated version of Peak & Tide for themselves and see new content dedicated to construction, natural hazards and road and bridge systems. After the event, participants began posting their gameplay clips on local platforms.
