Microsoft revealed more information on Scalebound, the upcoming Xbox One and Windows 10 fantasy RPG from PlatinumGames. Specifically, the game will allow the player character to both control his dragon, along with a way to customize its appearance and abilities.
Xbox Wire talks about controling the dragon Thuban via the player character of Drew:
We're debuting Dragon Link as a way to directly control Thuban through Drew's point of view, making your dragon a playable character. Using a button press, you'll be able to switch in and out of the mode to exploit enemy weaknesses and create openings for Drew. This collaboration with Thuban translates into the stylish-action that so many fans of PlatinumGames have come to know and love. High-level play really opens up when you take control of Thuban and use him to complement Drew; however, when Drew is using Dragon Link, he is defenseless, so you have to be really smart about where and when you use this critical technique. It also creates a fun metagame in multiplayer where you cover each other as you use your different dragon's unique abilities in Dragon Link.
The game will have three core dragon types (Rex, Tank and Wyvern) but Scalebound will also allow players to morph those types into one creature:
These types are connected in an evolutionary circle and by using gems at a dragon shrine, players will be able to seamlessly blend both their physical and visual attributes, whether it's the strength of the Tank or the swiftness of the Wyvern. You can even make our personal favorite – fat Rex. He's a blend of a Tank and a Rex that is a bit slower than a normal Rex, but can also take and deal more damage.
Even more customization will be possible by adding dragon parts that will throw in new attributes as well as changing the physical look of the creature. Finally, armor can also be added to the dragon to provide better protection. Scalebound is due for release in 2017.
