As you probably remember, the final version of
Ryse: Son of Rome was drastically different from its original concept. While Crytek had envisioned
Ryse as a first-person Kinect-only title for Xbox 360, the award-winning studio ultimately came to the conclusion that
Ryse should be a more accessible third-person action-adventure hack and slash video game – and it launched for Xbox One as such in 2013.
Thanks to YouTuber Prototype Preservation, we have our best look yet at an early prototype of
Son of Rome from the time when the title was a promising Kinect exclusive. While this alpha version is definitely rough around the edges, it does a good job showcasing what
Ryse could have been, with the first-person point of view, more personal story, and seemingly vastly superior combat mechanics.
While Crytek's ambitious
Son of Rome is one of those sadly forgotten Xbox One launch titles, it was actually supposed to spark a brand-new franchise – unfortunately the reality verified those plans rather sooner than later, with Crytek and Microsoft fruitlessly fighting for the rights to the soon-to-be series.
Be sure to take a closer look at the aforementioned early prototype of
Ryse: Son of Rome down below:
“Ryse: Son of Rome” tells the story of Marius Titus, a young Roman soldier who witnesses the murder of his family at the hands of barbarian bandits, then travels with the Roman army to Britannia to seek revenge. Quickly rising through the ranks, Marius must become a leader of men and defender of the Empire on his quest to exact vengeance – a destiny he soon discovers can only be fulfilled much closer to home...
Ryse: Son of Rome is available for Xbox One and PC NOW!