A year and a half after its initial reveal, the open-world adventure game The Pathless finally shows off some upcoming gameplay as well as a more precise release window.
From the creators of ABZU, The Pathless was first revealed back in December 2018 and was expected to be a PS4 release. The game was marketed as an open-world exploration game, following a hunter and the bond they share with their eagle. Earlier this year, however, it was revealed not only that Pathless would also be releasing late 2020 for the PS5 as well. And though Pathless was one of the anticipated games missing from the PS5 event in June, players finally got a closer look at the gameplay in today's State of Play livestream event.
The Pathless is set on a mystical island where the player must dispel a curse of darkness. The combat will focus on an archery system combined with magical elements and talismans, and other gameplay will depend on the Hunter's relationship with their eagle. The Pathless will encompass a beautifully designed world open for players to explore, and as the State of Play event showed, the footage of this stunning world was captured on the PS5.
The developers from Giant Squid put fluid movement at the top of its priority list for Pathless, with the game's take on archery timing-based, rather than accuracy-based, making for a satisfying user experience. With the help of the Hunter's eagle, flying can also be used to traverse the forest, and this relationship will be an important mechanic implemented throughout gameplay.
Secrets lie all over the island and offer upgrades for the player character, but there's a catch. There won't be a map in The Pathless, unlike most other open-world games. However, the Hunter will have a mask that allows them to see into the spirit world, which not only shows distant landmarks, but also shows where the player has already been.
Many puzzles reminiscent of Breath of the Wild shrines also make an appearance in the State of Play gameplay trailer. Similarly, getting to higher vantage points is another open-world mechanic that has found a place in Pathless, and as the State of Play shows, several towers off in the distance are discoverable, and light must be returned to their obelisks in order to dispel the cursed spirits.
The Pathless will release for PS4 and PS5 during the Holiday season of 2020.
