Dinosaurs and video games have always worked really well together. For whatever reason, the selection of this sub-genre has always been slim in the interactive entertainment medium. The most popular title that is related to these giant lizards is, of course, Jurassic Park. There is indeed a slew of titles within the gaming industry that are associated with that IP. Beyond that, original adventures are few and far between. Everything from; Turok: The Dinosaur Hunter, Primal Rage, Dino Crisis, and now the most recent, Exoprimal effectively brought the dinosaurs to life. However, there has been a void waiting to be filled by this current generation that captures the spirit of these aforementioned titles.
Now, the developer of Quantum Error, Teamkill Media, is creating a whole new adventure with these reptilian beasts. Players will be taking control of a sheriff named Sam Judge who, while working on a case, gets mysteriously transported to a lost land. Forgotten by time, Sam will find himself fighting for survival against the ‘Thunder Lizards’ as he tries to find his way back home. Teamkill Media just recently dropped a trailer. It showcases a rather good amount of gameplay and clear inspirations of popular FPSs from past generations.
Son and Bone – Gameplay Details
Older gamers will, undoubtedly, get some Turok II: Seeds of Evil vibes by watching the trailer of Son and Bone. Although the main appeal of this game is dinosaurs, there will also be some sci-fi elements interlaced into this game. Biological experiments and reptilian humanoids, to name a few. Sam may be a rugged sheriff from the Wild West, but he will be open to using a variety of weaponry. Everything from; chain guns, M-4 grenade launchers, machine guns, shotguns, and revolvers make an appearance.
It appears that the combat won’t be slow and tactical. Instead, this game will be all about movement. The best example is with Doom: Eternal. Sam will need to run, strafe, and dodge enemy encounters and not sit still. The same way the ‘Doom Slayer‘ plays will echo with Sam Judge. This will also be true with “takedown” animations found in the Son and Bone trailer. Everything from stabbing a triceratops with its own horn to splitting an enemy’s head open will be possible during combat. Plus, it appears that there will be boss encounters that range from giant insectoids to the T-Rex, itself.
Son and Bone – Level Design
Even though details are scarce on what format Son and Bone will be under, there is no question that the level design will be rather large. This is only natural, given that Son and Bone will be crawling with prehistoric creatures. Not to mention, that players will also be swarmed with various enemies like velociraptors to compsognathus’. It looks like there will be plenty of room to explore and different ways to approach combat. Whether or not this game will be open-world, or linear remains to be seen.
Given the theme that Son and Bone will have, the level design can go in any direction. Even a Metroidvania layout could be a possibility. This game is still under heavy development and anything can change during the process. From what was shown in the trailer, the environments will be varied. Everything from underground tombs, to futuristic facilities, and rich jungles will be available for Sam Judge to explore. There’s clearly more happening in this prehistoric setting than what meets the eye.
Son and Bone – Online Components
There appear to be no plans to have any kind of multiplayer with Son and Bone. This game is going to be an old-fashioned single-player experience. Games like these are becoming a rarity these days. However, there is still a demand for them. This is going to be a PS5 exclusive and the gameplay will be tailor-made with Haptic Feedback in mind regarding the DualSense controllers. This is subject to change, but this title is planned to be single-player only in the foreseeable future.
This year is set up to be the year of the dinosaur. There are a few new titles in the works for multiple platforms involving these prehistoric monsters. Son and Bone seems to be the most unique in terms of its setting. A cowboy fighting dinosaurs is an interesting mix that hasn’t really been done before. It will be interesting to see what other features and mechanics the developers will come up with during production. This game will have a particular vibe to it that will be a mix of Turok and Red Dead Redemption.
Conclusion
Son and Bone is one of those titles that nobody was expecting and it came out of nowhere. It is nice to have another dinosaur-themed adventure to keep an eye on. This sub-genre is having a resurgence this year and there is a lot to look forward to. There is still much to discover and let us see what the developers have in mind with their vision. Son and Bone is scheduled to be released for the PS5 later this year.
