Photo credit: arstechnica.com
When considering video game controllers, the keyboard stands out as the most intricate option currently available, boasting more than 100 individual inputs on a broad grid layout. However, most games that utilize keyboard controls typically engage only a small fraction of these keys during gameplay.
One notable exception is a typing game, which inherently requires players to use every letter on the keyboard—often in rapid succession. Typically, these games take the form of simplistic typing exercises, where players repeat words and phrases as they appear on the screen, often accompanied by simplistic animations.
In contrast, Blood Typers introduces a significant layer of complexity to this basic typing mechanic, intertwining its typing challenges with the engaging narrative of a survival horror game that hearkens back to the origins of the PlayStation. This blend results in a thrilling action-adventure experience that doubles as an effective platform to improve touch-typing skills.
From Visuals to Action: Typing in Context
Many players might draw initial comparisons between Blood Typers and Typing of the Dead, Sega’s playful, typing-focused iteration of the House of the Dead series. However, Blood Typers elevates the experience considerably beyond the confines of on-rails gameplay, delivering an adventure that feels reminiscent of Resident Evil but driven by typing mechanics.
In Blood Typers, nearly every action hinges on typing visible words. Movement, for example, involves inputting short terms that are strategically placed throughout the environment, allowing players to navigate by typing. While this control scheme may seem unfamiliar at first, players quickly adapt by memorizing checkpoint names and utilizing shift keys to steer their character’s perspective as they stroll through the game.
As threatening creatures emerge, switching to combat mode is as simple as pressing the tab key, transitioning gameplay to require typing longer words that appear over the enemies to engage weapons. More formidable adversaries may demand typing multiple words to defeat them, especially those that possess armor, necessitating repeated typing of a single word to move forward.
Each player starts scenarios in Blood Typers armed with an efficient melee weapon but will soon find themselves managing a variety of ranged firearms, all tailored to fit the typing-centric gameplay. For example, a shotgun can eliminate larger enemies with just one accurate word, while a quick-firing submachine gun allows players to type only the initial letters of each word, creating a fast-paced shooting experience. Moreover, the flamethrower can incinerate groups of enemies, making subsequent words for attacks shorter and faster as they are unleashed.
Source
arstechnica.com