Aether's Veil

Aether's Veil is a stealth action-adventure video game developed by Zenith and published by OnyxWare for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One video game consoles. The game was announced and subsequently teased by Sony Computer Entertainment in conjunction with OnyxWare during E3 2014 on June 17. Aether's Veil was officially released worldwide on November 8, 2015.

The main storyline concerns a floating city by the name of Aether, which was created by the United States government as a substitute for penitentiaries, which have exceeded the maximum capacity of prisoners. Due to this, numerous congressional votes led to the creation of Aether, which was marketed as "the prison of the future". In Aether, many of the country's prisoners were sent there to live in confinement while also obtaining natural liberties such as the freedom to move around as they please. However, this led to infighting amongst the prisoners, who formed their own clans and gangs in an attempt to make Aether their own. The plot in this case follows Preston Callahan, who was wrongly convicted of the murder of a prominent politician and later dumped into Aether, which has devolved into a warzone. Adamant that he can escape Aether, Preston is forced to become a killer himself whilst trying to avoid transforming into a complete savage.

The story combines elements of science fiction with stealth and action, presenting the player a widely varied experience.

Gameplay
Aether's Veil is primarily an action-adventure game with many stealth elements incorporated. The player controls Preston from a third-person perspective, and is capable of roaming around Aether, which is separated into different zones.

Combat
While stealth is a factor that is heavily enforced, Preston will sometimes be required to openly fight against other enemies. In these situations, the player can punch, kick, grapple, and use the environment along with many other tactics. At first, Preston is ill-equipped, but as the game progresses, he can learn new abilities and find upgrades to increase his vitality (see "Upgrades" below") and other skills.

Stealth
As stated previously, stealth is a significant aspect to the game. The player is encouraged to use silent tactics when faced with a number of enemies; especially those with weapons. In these cases, the player can sneak, use the environment to lure, trap, and otherwise incapacitate or kill enemies, and more. Enemy intelligence was a focal point in the game's development, and has been a high note in many reviews of the game. Enemies are constantly aware of their surroundings, and will notice if something is amiss, such as a missing comrade or object that was once there in plain view. Enemies can also use individual strategies to survive, such as sticking together, arming traps of their own, or ridding the area of potential threats such as bricks, weak floors, etc.

Enemies also possess a line of sight, which varies depending on the enemy. For example, if an inmate is wearing a mask, their vision is reduced, thus giving them a more narrow line of sight. Certain inmates can also hear noises and will act accordingly depending on their perception of them. If an inmate hears Preston's footsteps, he may interpret it as another inmate in the room (note that this occurs when he knows that other inmates are present). If the inmate hears clanking (Preston dropping a pipe for example), he may become suspicious and investigate.

Upgrades
As the player makes progress in the storyline, they can improve Preston's skills and weapons. This is made possible through parts Preston finds in Aether as well as nutrients, pills, and cybernetics. Experience can also be earned which can go towards leveling up Preston. Experience can be earned from combining parts to make something, neutralizing enemies, and finding new areas.

Setting
Aether's Veil is set in the 2030s; a specific date is not mentioned.



Characters

 * Preston Callahan (voiced by Josh Blaylock): the main protagonist.
 * Maximus (voiced by Sam Douglas): an artificial intelligence which controls the functions of Aether. Maximus is frequently referred to as an "administrator class AI", which led to it being dubbed simply "the Administrator" by inmates and the U.S. government.
 * Seth "Stuart" DeWitt (voiced by Danny Jacobs): the main antagonist. Seth is the leader of the largest gang in Aether.
 * President Fletcher Wells
 * Watchman: an enigmatic serial killer who has made a name for himself in Aether.
 * Commander Wheeler: a ranking officer who is in charge of monitoring Aether and the inmates' activity. Wheeler is also in charge of a clandestine military regiment known as Tartarus, which is often dispatched into Aether to carry out secret tasks. He serves as the secondary antagonist.