Unreal Engine 5's City Demo Shows Why an Open-World Superman Game Would Be Difficult

gamerant.com:

Out now and available for anyone to download is a Superman-esque flight demo created by developer Tyson Butler-Boschma. This prototype uses the framework of the city sample demo from Epic Games’ The Matrix Awakens on Unreal Engine 5, but “replaces the character with a flying superhero variant.” The city’s fidelity is remarkable on Unreal Engine 5, and Superman’s interactive flight throughout the city comparably emulates what a real open-world Superman game could look like on modern hardware.

In A Superman Style Flight Experience (UE5), as it has been dubbed, the player has control of the character in free-roam. Of course, the demo is not officially licensed, has no actual connection to Superman or DC, and is completely free for players to download. It has, however, ignited conversation about what a AAA open-world Superman title could look like today, and why one has not been executed to the standards fans believe is possible. However, there are unforeseen challenges to a standalone Superman game that would make adapting the character to an open-world difficult.

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The Unreal Engine 5 Superman sample demonstrates that supersonic flight can be achieved and stunningly realized with contemporary graphics. That is not where contention is held when it comes to the potential of a Superman game. Instead, meaningful and satisfying combat would be its chiefest gameplay hurdle for a couple of reasons.

Superman’s combat mechanics are relatively straightforward and could be adapted well with other open-world games as blueprints. For example, combat in a Superman game could allow players to target and decommission weapons using heat vision, as well as fire heat lasers from Kal’s eyes.