Fresh art from The Conduit draws inevitable comparisons
by Chris Greenhough 
{ Jun 19th 2008 at 1:15PM }
In our High Voltage interview last week, Lead Game Designer Rob Nicholls was frank enough to admit that the team making The Conduit has "looked at and stole shamelessly from mega-hits like Halo." Such honesty is probably advisable, because there's no mistaking it: artistically at least, The Conduit isn't afraid to borrow visual cues from other shooters. It kind of is Halo.
This point was rammed home by a bunch of art distributed this morning (delivered in one huge combined strip -- see the full loooong version after the break) that deals with everything from weapons to enemies to the backstory. Truth be told, it's overflowing with tired sci-fi clichés, but if the game ends up being half as absorbing as Bungie's classic shooter, we've a feeling most of you will be able to forgive it.
Gallery: The Conduit
[Via press release]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
danny. @ Jun 19th 2008 1:20PM
Looks more like a space pirate than anything I saw in the Halo I've played (basically just Halo 3).
Sonic_13 @ Jun 19th 2008 1:53PM
I agree. When I first saw that I thought Metroid, not Halo.
TJF588 @ Jun 20th 2008 11:06PM
Agree'd. After reading the top and seeing the pic, "Prime" came to mind.
coast19 @ Jun 19th 2008 1:43PM
Not bad, but LOL @ the cat! hahahahah
The Dom @ Jun 19th 2008 1:46PM
Halo 3 + wii controls = win in my book. Steal at will High Voltage.
TheCoats @ Jun 19th 2008 2:10PM
I want this game so much.....release please!!
religiousjedi @ Jun 19th 2008 2:14PM
Thirded. Looks like my pic...
psyborg @ Jun 19th 2008 2:38PM
Yea Fourthed I've always thought the Halo enemies were goofy versions of Metroid's Space Pirates.
Phil @ Jun 19th 2008 4:15PM
Yeah, Metroid Prime has a more sinister design with their enemies, not the dorky, goblin like designs the covenant seem to reflect.
The art design still looks awesome.
Mr Khan @ Jun 19th 2008 2:59PM
Oh noes! The Space Pirates are invading Earth!
sn1per @ Jun 19th 2008 3:47PM
Wow, the original strip is a bit longer than longcat. Impressive.
Author X @ Jun 19th 2008 4:16PM
If it's half as absorbing as Halo?
I'd play it if it were half as absorbing as Halo, but you could actually figure out where you're supposed to be going.
PhoenixGeek @ Jun 19th 2008 4:45PM
Actually the first thing I thought it looked like was an Angel from Neon Genesis Evangelion
FYIan @ Jun 19th 2008 4:49PM
Halo has to be one of the least absorbing FPS games that I've ever played. The only thing that's good about it is the multiplayer, which I still hate because I'm a mouse and keyboard kind of guy. Xbox Live is a great system though, and I see why people love the online play. I think that the story and single player is completely lame, though.
What I'm trying to say is that I'd rather that they rip off something like Half-Life, but I don't even care if the story sucks as long as the gameplay is solid, and we have some decent online modes.
bluezy @ Jun 19th 2008 5:09PM
Looks more Metroid than Halo.
jservs7 @ Jun 19th 2008 7:41PM
I still cant believe how absurd some comparisons are. As soon as someone makes a game with alien villains, we think Halo? Yea, because Halo of course was the originator for humanities' perspective on alien life. Are people really serious? From Halo, to Aliens, to E.T. and many others; the visual concept of alien life hasn't really changed much.
Now if you see Mr. Ford with a helmet, leading a group of troopers, jumping in a jeep and throwing sticky bombs, we can start to jump the gun a bit more. Hasn't anyone brought up more comparisons to say the Matrix? Mix that with Perfect Dark, ok now I'll listen to that.
I hope the fanboys really stop the Halo comparisons already. As much as I loved the first Halo and still see the series to have way more of an open world than this game, Halo 2 was one of the most overrated games of our time. Ill save judgement for part 3 when I play it.
Good luck Conduit! You are looking sweeter by the day and I hope your story line, gameplay and features kick arse! Great graphics would just be icing on the cake. :)
Dan @ Jun 20th 2008 12:37AM
Honestly, the game reminded me more of Half-Life when I first saw it. This enemy is the first Halo-esque thing I've seen, and it's not like Halo is a bastion of originality.
Let's be honest, the story for a lot of games really stinks. I'll settle for a game that's fun.
Drahken @ Jun 20th 2008 9:45AM
Definitely Metroid.
Alexisonfire @ Jun 20th 2008 10:46AM
If it is shamelessly stealing from Halo, let us hope that is only doing so with the good half of the game. Like the online functionality (fat chance on that one though) and the co-op..... aaaaaandd...... ummm....... Yeah, that's about all.
Yep. And that reminded me of metroid immediately.