What Makes Rise of the Argonauts Different #1:

Favor: Much More Than Just Skill Points

Most role-playing games follow a familiar pattern– kill enemies, get experience points, level up, buy abilities, repeat. While this loop is tried and true, it’s also characterless. Everything is based on combat, and very little draws on the choices that the player has been making – choices that are core to an RPG experience.

In Rise of the Argonauts, Jason progresses by increasing his Favour with his four patron gods – Ares, Athena, Apollo, and Hermes. Instead of merely gathering experience points, Jason performs "Deeds", which he may then dedicate to one of the four gods watching over him, increasing his Favour with that god. Each god has their own set of unique powers and abilities that reinforce particular play styles. You can’t go wrong – what kind of Jason do you want to be?

Defeating a score of enemies while remaining completely unscathed is Deed-worthy, as is saving a poor merchant hurled into the Arena, slaying of a particularly fearsome foe, or effectively outwitting or intimidating an NPC. Rather than gathering nameless “exp”, each Deed chronicles a key moment or achievement in Jason’s journey.

The other way to gain Favour with the gods is through narrative choices. Dialogue in most games exists to progress the plot, and every so often provides a moment where the player will gain some experience. In Rise of the Argonauts, since the gods are always watching Jason's actions, every choice you make will impact your Favour. For example, choosing a confrontational approach will please Ares, while a more cunning course of action would appeal to Hermes, increasing your Favour accordingly. Gone are the days of clicking endlessly through dialogues – in Rise of the Argonauts, every choice matters.

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Prepare to live a life of brutal combat as Codemasters reveals the gladiatorial adventure that awaits in Rise of the Argonauts.

With deep exploration and epic quests, players will take the role of Jason, King of Iolchis, and battle alongside iconic mythological heroes including Hercules, Achilles, Atalanta and others. As Jason grows from young king to true legend, set sail aboard the Argo and explore the vast Aegean – a dynamic world of islands filled with shining cities, lush jungles and deep forests.

Gamers will leave their mark on ancient Greece as they engage in heart-pumping, lethal, blood-spurting combat against hordes of enemy warriors, ruthless beasts and truly formidable mythological creatures. Whether Jason is lopping off heads or cutting warriors in half with his sword or if Hercules is wrestling with giant beasts, the intense action in Rise of the Argonauts™ will leave players wanting for their next confrontation.

Like all true heroes of Greece, the gods follow Jason on his quests. Jason will gain the favour of the gods and earn special abilities, but his actions may please some gods and displease others. Earning a god's favour will grant players powers within the god's domain, but drawing a god's wrath may cause them to inflict a torment on the heroes at the worst possible moment.

Rise of the Argonauts, developed by Liquid Entertainment, is in development for PS3, X360, PC, and currently scheduled for Q4 2008.