View source for Software:Clash: Artifacts of Chaos

{{Infobox video game
| state       = expanded
| title       = Clash: Artifacts of Chaos
| image       = Clash box art.jpg
| caption     = ''Unconfirmed packshot''
| developer   = [[Company:ACE Team|ACE Team]]
| publisher   = [[Company:Nacon|Nacon]]
| designer    = Carlos Bordeu
| writer      = Jonas Kyratzes
| composer    = Patricio Meneses
| series      = ''[[Software:Zeno Clash|Zeno Clash]]''
| engine      = [[Unreal Engine]]
| released    = March 9, 2023
| platforms   = {{Ubl|[[Software:Windows|Windows]]|[[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]]|[[Engineering:PlayStation 5|PlayStation 5]]|[[Engineering:Xbox One|Xbox One]]|Xbox Series X/S}}
| genre       = Action-adventure, [[Software:Beat 'em up|beat 'em up]]
| modes       = [[Software:Single-player video game|Single-player]]
}}

'''''Clash: Artifacts of Chaos''''' is a 2023 action-adventure [[Engineering:Video game|video game]] developed by [[Company:ACE Team|ACE Team]] and published by [[Company:Nacon|Nacon]]. The game is the third installment in the [[Software:Zeno Clash|''Zeno Clash'' series]].

==Plot==
The story of ''Clash: Artifacts of Chaos'' takes place in Zenozoik, the fantasy setting of ''[[Software:Zeno Clash|Zeno Clash]]'' and ''[[Software:Zeno Clash 2|Zeno Clash 2]]''. The protagonist is a martial artist named Pseudo who becomes the bodyguard of the Boy, a small creature with healing powers desired by the tyrant Gemini and her henchmen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2022/09/02/clash-artifacts-of-chaos-preview-a-fantasy-adventure-thats-doing-everything-differently/|last=L|first=Dominic|title=Clash: Artifacts of Chaos Preview – a fantasy adventure that's doing everything differently|work=The Sixth Axis|date=September 2, 2022|access-date=October 28, 2022}}</ref>

==Gameplay==
Like the previous titles of the series, the gameplay of ''Clash: Artifacts of Chaos'' is centered on unarmed melee combat. While its two predecessors used exclusively a first-person perspective during gameplay sequences, the third installment plays mostly in [[Software:Virtual camera system|third-person perspective]]. First person is limited to brief sequences which can lead to the execution of finisher attacks.

Combat against intelligent beings can be preceded by a round of the Ritual, a dice game that grants a tactical advantage to the winner from a range of options, such as an extra ally or a fog cloud opaque only to the adversary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gameshedge.com/clash-artifacts-of-chaos-gameplay-trailer/|last=Shah|first=Salik|title=Clash: Artifacts of Chaos Reveals Gameplay with New Trailer|work=Gameshedge|date=March 24, 2022|access-date=October 28, 2022}}</ref>

For the first time in the series, the game features a character customization system including attributes to increase when leveling up and combat stances to unlock, such as the Spear stance which grants long reach attacks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gamingboulevard.com/2022/08/hands-on-clash-artifacts-of-chaos-gamescom-2022/|last=Van der Biest|first=Lander|title=Hands-on: Clash: Artifacts of Chaos - Gamescom 2022|work=Gaming Boulevard|date=August 26, 2022|access-date=October 28, 2022}}</ref>

Another innovation to the series is the maze-like world design: instead of maps divided by loading screens, ''Clash: Artifacts of Chaos'' takes place in a semi-[[Software:Open world|open world]] inspired by ''[[Software:Bloodborne|Bloodborne]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1430680/view/3070884928545698979|last=Bordeu|first=Carlos|title=Level Design in Clash: Artifacts of Chaos|work=[[Software:Steam (service)|Steam]]|date=October 25, 2021|access-date=October 28, 2022}}</ref>

==Development==
The game was announced at the Nacon Connect online press conference in July 2021 with a release originally scheduled for June 2022,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-world-of-zeno-clash-returns-with-clash-artifacts-of-chaos|last=Smith|first=Graham|title=The world of Zeno Clash returns with Clash: Artifacts Of Chaos|work=Rock Paper Shotgun|date=July 6, 2021|access-date=October 28, 2022}}</ref> but was postponed to November 2022, then February 9, 2023,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://technewsspace.com/fantasy-melee-action-clash-artifacts-of-chaos-has-been-pushed-back-to-next-february/|last=Elmers|first=Robbie|title=Fantasy melee action Clash: Artifacts of Chaos has been pushed back to next February|work=Tech News Space|date=July 7, 2022|access-date=October 28, 2022}}</ref> and later March 9, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-20 |title=Clash: Artifacts of Chaos delayed to March 9, 'Corwid Fight' gameplay trailer |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/01/clash-artifacts-of-chaos-delayed-to-march-9-corwid-fight-gameplay-trailer |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}</ref>

''Clash: Artifacts of Chaos'' uses a unique cross-hatched rendering filter which gives it a hand-painted pencil style.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2022/09/02/clash-artifacts-of-chaos-preview-a-fantasy-adventure-thats-doing-everything-differently/|last=L|first=Dominic|title=Clash: Artifacts of Chaos Preview – a fantasy adventure that's doing everything differently|work=The Sixth Axis|date=September 2, 2022|access-date=October 28, 2022}}</ref>

After a first collaboration with [[Company:ACE Team|ACE Team]] on SolSeraph and ''[[Software:The Eternal Cylinder|The Eternal Cylinder]]'', ''[[Software:The Talos Principle|The Talos Principle]]'' writer Jonas Kyratzes has been involved in the development of ''Clash: Artifacts of Chaos''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jonas-kyratzes.net/2022/03/03/updating-soon/|title = Updating Soon|last=Kyratzes|first=Jonas|date = 3 March 2022|website=jonas-kyratzes.net}}</ref>

A free demo was distributed at the Steam Next Fest of October 2022<ref>{{cite web|url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1430680/view/3289341115493499856|title=Clash: Artifacts of Chaos - Steam Fest Demo FAQ|work=[[Software:Steam (service)|Steam]]|date=October 4, 2022|access-date=October 28, 2022}}</ref> and at the ID@Xbox Winter Game Demo Event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2022/12/06/idxbox-winter-game-demo-event-showcases-22-games/|title=ID@Xbox Winter Game Demo Event Showcases 22 Games|work=Xbox Wire|last=Ronnell|first=Jessica|date=December 6, 2022|access-date=December 20, 2022}}</ref>

On release, ''Clash'' received only a 64% from PCGamer<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Jon Bailes |date=2023-03-10 |title=Clash: Artifacts of Chaos review |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/clash-artifacts-of-chaos-review/ |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=pcgamer |language=en}}</ref> and a 71% from Metacritic<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clash: Artifacts of Chaos |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/clash-artifacts-of-chaos/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=Metacritic |language=en}}</ref> but a 95% score on Steam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clash: Artifacts of Chaos on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1430680/Clash_Artifacts_of_Chaos/ |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en}}</ref> Ace Team co-founder Carlos Bordeau said: "<nowiki/>I don't think we ever had such a giant disconnect between the critic scores and the players. Clash stands at an incredible 95% Steam approval rating (highest for any of our titles) ...and the press reviews are mostly: "meh.""<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Bordeu |first=Carlos |user=CarlosBordeu |number=1637780804737572864 |date=March 20, 2023 |title=@JonasKyratzes I don't think we ever had such a giant disconnect between the critic scores and the players. Clash stands at a incredible 95% Steam approval rating (highest for any of our titles) ...and the press reviews are mostly: "meh". |language=en |access-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321213227/https://twitter.com/CarlosBordeu/status/1637780804737572864 |archive-date=March 21, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{official|https://clash-artifacts-of-chaos.com/}}

{{ACE Team}}

[[Category:Action-adventure games]]
[[Category:Martial arts video games]]
[[Category:Fantasy video games]]
[[Category:Unreal Engine games]]
[[Category:Video game sequels]]
[[Category:Windows games]]

{{Sourceattribution|Clash: Artifacts of Chaos}}