Artificial Detective vs Relic: The First Guardian

• Camera: Third-Person
• Language Support: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese
• Mode: Single Player
• Physics: Chaos Physics (Destructible Environments)
• Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Dark Fantasy (Inspired by Korean Folklore)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
• Release Window: Early 2026
• Unique Feature: A unique, level-less progression system where character strength is determined by finding runes and gear, combined with a fast-paced, stamina-breaking combat system inspired by Sekiro.

• Fragments: Found by exploring the vast environments. These are essential for unlocking new skills, armor, and weapons.
• Runes: Found through exploration and by defeating enemies. Runes are the primary method of enhancing and customizing the player's abilities.

• Dark Fantasy
• Soulslike
• Korean Folklore
• Action RPG
• Mythology
• Post-Apocalyptic

• Pneumatic Drill: Melee/Utility
  High-torque industrial tool used for crushing metal armor and opening sealed doors.
• Taser Revolver: Ranged
  A customized sidearm that fires electrical bursts to short-circuit enemy bots.
• Monk Blade: Melee
  A makeshift sword crafted from the razor-sharp chassis of a defeated Rise Corp Monk.

• Weapon Options (5 Types): Varies (Swords, Axes, etc.)
  Players can choose from 5 different weapon types that radically change the combat style, from heavy, armor-crushing swings to high-mobility jumping attacks. Each weapon has unique, alterable skills.
• Shield: Defensive
  One of the weapon options includes a shield, allowing for a more defensive playstyle centered on blocking and bashing to disrupt opponents.

Progression is split between AD's detective suite and his physical chassis. Players can upgrade the 'Evidence Link' to reconstruct holographic crime scenes or enhance the pneumatic drill for combat. Mowgli acts as the primary upgrade technician, allowing players to install 'Scavenged Logic Cores' found in the world to unlock new hacking abilities or improved stealth cloaking.

Progression is a significant departure from traditional RPGs, as there are no character levels. Instead, players strengthen their character by finding and upgrading runes, items, and crafting new gear. Each of the 5 weapon types has unique skills that can be altered to fit a player's playstyle. Progression is intrinsically tied to exploration and completing dungeons.

The game features a 'vertical open world' consisting of 10 distinct districts. Unlike horizontal maps, exploration is about altitude and density. Regions include the opulent 'Skyline Spires,' the industrial 'Foundry Flats,' the overgrown 'RoboZoo,' and the derelict 'Old Ground' where the city first began. Each district has unique gravity rules, enemy types, and environmental hazards.

The game features a semi-open world structure that encourages free exploration of the collapsed world of Arsiltus. The environment is dynamic, with random enemy encounters and interactive terrain that can be used strategically in combat, such as breakable cliffs and flammable surfaces.

• The Last Guardian: Playable Protagonist
  The hero of the story, tasked with a mission to find the pieces of a broken great relic to save the continent of Arsiltus.
• The Brutals: Bosses
  70 formidable and massive bosses that the player must defeat. Each Brutal has a personal tale of sorrow that the player inherits.

• Main Story Quests
  A cinematic campaign that follows the Last Guardian's quest to find the pieces of the broken great relic and close the void that has consumed the continent of Arsiltus.
• Dungeons
  Optional and mandatory dungeons that must be completed to expand the world and acquire essential items and upgrades for character growth.
• Brutal Hunts
  Targeting and defeating the 70 formidable 'Brutal' bosses scattered throughout the world to progress the story and gain powerful special items.

The game is strictly single-player. However, an asynchronous 'Detective Board' allows players to see 'Echoes' of where other players found specific clues or struggled with certain puzzles, similar to the message systems in Souls-like games but themed as intercepted radio transmissions.

Standard Edition ($69.99): Base game. Deluxe Edition ($89.99): Includes 'Deco-Gold' skin pack for AD and DAWG, Digital Artbook, and Soundtrack. Investigator Edition ($199.99): Includes a physical 10-inch AD 2846 statue, a replica pneumatic drill keychain, a steelbook, and 48-hour early access.

VIVIX has planned two major narrative expansions. The first, 'Shadows of the Under-City,' explores the foundations of Conglomerate North. The second, 'The Last Transmission,' is expected to provide a definitive conclusion to the mystery of humanity's exit. Cosmetic 'Retro-Skin' packs will be released quarterly.

• Q: Is Artificial Detective an open world game?
  A: It is semi-open; it features 10 dense, interconnected vertical districts rather than one massive flat map.
• Q: Can I play as Mowgli or D.A.W.G.?
  A: Players primarily control AD 2846, but you can issue tactical commands to Mowgli and D.A.W.G. during combat and puzzles.
• Q: What is 'Decopunk'?
  A: It is a visual style that combines 1930s Art Deco aesthetics (like BioShock) with futuristic, chrome-heavy robotics.
• Q: Does the game have multiple endings?
  A: Yes, your choices regarding how you interact with rogue machines and the fate of Rise Corp influence the final outcome.
• Q: Is there a photo mode?
  A: Yes, a full cinematic photo mode is included at launch to capture the detailed cityscapes.

• Q: What is Relic: The First Guardian?
  A: It is a single-player, dark fantasy action RPG with Soulslike elements. It features a semi-open world, fast-paced combat, and a unique progression system without character levels.
• Q: How does progression work without levels?
  A: Instead of gaining XP, you strengthen your character by exploring the world to find and upgrade runes, items, and crafted gear. Defeating the game's 70 bosses is also essential for acquiring powerful upgrades.
• Q: What is the combat like?
  A: The combat is fast-paced and skill-based, often compared to Sekiro. The core mechanic is parrying enemy attacks to break their stamina gauge, which staggers them and allows for massive damage.
• Q: Is it an open-world game?
  A: It is described as a semi-open world. Players can adventure freely and explore, but the experience is still guided by an exciting main story.

Powered by Unreal Engine 5, utilizing Lumen for realistic light bounce off metallic surfaces and Nanite for immense geometric detail in the Art Deco architecture. The 'Decopunk' aesthetic features high-contrast lighting, volumetric fog, and intricate gold-trimmed robot designs.

The soundtrack is a 'Synthesized Swing' fusion, blending big-band jazz elements with dark, industrial synth-wave. Dynamic music transitions based on combat intensity. Sound design focuses on mechanical textures—the hiss of steam, the clanking of gears, and the unique 'voice' of different robot brands.

The UI is highly diegetic, appearing as holographic projections from AD's eyes. Health and energy levels are visible on AD's chassis through glowing gauges. The 'Detective Vision' highlights forensic evidence in a high-contrast monochromatic overlay, reflecting the 1930s noir aesthetic.

• Targeting 60 FPS at native resolutions with Nanite and Lumen enabled. SSD is mandatory due to high-speed vertical asset streaming.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptops should utilize 'Turbo' or 'Performance' modes to maintain stable clock speeds during dense urban traversal. Expect 10-15% lower performance compared to desktop equivalents.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Minimum 95W TGP suggested for RTX 40-series laptops to avoid thermal throttling in the RoboZoo district.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Dual-fan cooling solution recommended; the game heavily utilizes AVX instructions which increase CPU heat.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Ensure PL1/PL2 limits are not overly restrictive to prevent stuttering during district transitions.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch to bypass integrated graphics provides a ~10% FPS uplift in congested 'Corporate Lab' areas.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: DLSS 3.5 (Frame Gen), FSR 3.1, and XeSS are fully integrated at launch.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Global Illumination and Shadow Density have the highest impact on performance in neon-heavy districts.
• Game Name: Artificial Detective

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As official specs are To Be Confirmed (TBC), these are hypothetical projections for a next-generation Soulslike built on Unreal Engine 5.
• Laptop Performance Note: A title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop for the best experience. The fast-paced, reaction-based combat requires a high and stable framerate.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features, ray tracing, and maintain high framerates during boss fights.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the advanced enemy AI and physics-based combat.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a game reliant on precise timing.
• Game Name: Relic: The First Guardian

• Upscaling Tech: DLSS 3.5 (Frame Gen), FSR 3.1, and XeSS are fully integrated at launch.
• Key Settings Impact: Global Illumination and Shadow Density have the highest impact on performance in neon-heavy districts.

• G P U T G P: Minimum 95W TGP suggested for RTX 40-series laptops to avoid thermal throttling in the RoboZoo district.
• Cooling Thermals: Dual-fan cooling solution recommended; the game heavily utilizes AVX instructions which increase CPU heat.
• C P U Power Limits: Ensure PL1/PL2 limits are not overly restrictive to prevent stuttering during district transitions.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch to bypass integrated graphics provides a ~10% FPS uplift in congested 'Corporate Lab' areas.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features, ray tracing, and maintain high framerates during boss fights.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the advanced enemy AI and physics-based combat.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a game reliant on precise timing.