Hail to the King, baby
To say that Avenged Sevenfold's lead singer, M. Shadows, is a big fan of gaming would be an understatement--but you already knew that if you watched the band's music video at the end of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. After talking to the guy it became obvious that he's the real deal, with a deep knowledge and love for games (we bet he'd like our list of the 100 best games ever made). And unlike the rest of us, who use that knowledge to get in arguments on the internet, he's doing something with it: making a game based around the music he's known for. Hail to the King: Deathbat (a title referencing the band's album, Hail to the King) is an action-RPG that'll remind you of games like Diablo, but there's a ton there that should make fans of Avenged Sevenfold fans lose their shit.
The game follows the band's mascot, Deathbat, as he attempts to reclaim the underworld from the evil Dark Andronikos. And I use "evil" loosely, since, you know, we're talking about a metal band here, and I'm sure Deathbat isn't the kind of guy you'd want to take home to your parents, either. Those who live and breathe Avenged Sevenfold are undoubtedly going to love the music, which is composed entirely by the band, as well as the bountiful fanservice found throughout the game--you can even buy powerful alternate characters based on different members of the band.
But don't expect a watered-down experience just because it's on mobile. In fact, that's one of the biggest points M. Shadows wanted to make when he showed me the game--Hail to the King: Deathbat is no pushover, and it'll prove to be a challenge to gamers expecting some half-baked tie-in. There are unlockables hidden behind dangerous traps and plenty of other neat secrets and Easter eggs to find. It definitely looks like a good time for fans of the band, and--who knows? It might end up surprising you when it launches this July.
Check out the following screenshots for additional info!
There are a number of different weapons, all of which have unique abilities.
The mobile controls aren't as strong as a mouse and keyboard would be, but they're totally serviceable.
You can collect bats, hidden around the levels.
A PC release is in the cards, but the developer is focusing on finishing the mobile version first.
Different locations bring different enemies to fight.
The presentation is nice, and filled with winks and nods towards retro gaming.
Hail to the King also has a cartoon series on YouTube.
