Duality

Look familiar?

Duality is an abandoned video game project set in a futuristic megapolis, with big corporations, slums and elaborate virtual worlds (cyberspace and the like). Some of the concepts are visually close to Bungie's Oni, and more generally the dystopian setting (to the best of our understanding) seems rather fitting for an Oni2 kind of game.

Like Strident, Duality was developed by Trilobite Graphics / Phantagram Interactive in the early 2000s, but never made it to beta stage. There are no hands-on reviews and no detailed accounts of the game's universe or gameplay. The official promotion was limited to two trailers, as well as a mix of screenshots and concept art (several dozens of images). Several years after the project died, additional samples were revealed when a few developers started showcasing select assets in their portfolios (or, in rare instances, releasing them for public use).

Portfolios

Phantagram is Korean, but in Duality's case it appears that the actual development team was Spanish. Six contributing artists are known at the time of writing, and four of them have active portfolios on ArtStation:

• Alberto Gordillo, concept artist (and art lead?). His concept art portfolio offers a broad overview of Duality's factions and entities, with succinct but informative annotations.
• Emilio Serrano Garcia, animation artist. His demo reel showcases character animations and gameplay, and he is also sharing the Mercenary character in Gumroad, HERE.
• Guillermo Toston, environment artist. He is sharing five screenshots of modular architecture (TechCorp interior).
• Alberto Moreno, prop artist. He is showcasing an animated BioCorp asset (organ-growing machine).
• Oscar Perez Ayala, character artist. Credited by Emilio Serrano and Alberto Moreno as the author of the Mercenary character.
• Jorge Sanchez Magdaleno, concept artist. He showcases designs for an advanced prop (http://www.jsmart.me/portfolio/8sp60q5kr1ewe8eeudgha2e22x9ynx, dead link) and for a dozen characters (http://www.jsmart.me/portfolio/2ov8dx1nxnxqoqbrjefppgyk546h5q, dead link).

Further concept art is (or used to be) available from gaming websites (IGN, GameSpot, etc), along with promotional screenshots, wallpapers etc.

Factions

There seems to be at least three main factions - TechCorp, BioCorp and Templar -, each with their areas of influence.

The corporate districts are complemented by a dilapidated "Underworld", possibly ruled by another dominant faction.

Each of the three main factions/corporations has an "intranet" (VR environment) that can only be accessed on-site.

A vast public cyberspace also exists, apparently overseen by an "A.I. council".

Fantastic locations exist within the cyberspace, among them a "VR sanctuary".

The only named character we know of is "Cpt. McKenna" (owner of the "Electric Sheep" club?).

A provisional not-quite-review mentions three playable characters: a female Hacker, a male Mercenary, and a "Virtual Being".

• 

  A concept visually similar to Oni's Daodan (actually a cyberspace avatar).

• 

  An Oni Ninja lookalike, among other designs.

Trailers

There are two trailers (neither of them overly exciting) and the demo reel shared by Emilio Serrano.

          

 First trailer

The trailer follows the Hacker (female) and the Mercenary (male) as they break into a heavily guarded TechCorp facility, steal some important stuff, and then escape.
The Mercenary uses regular stealth, acrobatics and weaponry, whereas the Hacker spends most of the time as a VR avatar in TechCorp's intranet, fighting weird monsters.

Segmented/incomplete version on IGN's YouTube (6 segments): 1 2 3 4 5 6

Full version on geyser's YouTube: Duality trailer (canceled game) [mirrored from https://bonusweb.idnes.cz/duality-trailer-0j6- (dead link)]

Another full version (crappier resolution but without a watermark): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up8r2Dj8bMo

The segments published by IGN are dated April 8, 2002, and labeled "Gameplay", although the trailer is clearly staged/rendered (not unlike Oni's first trailer).

          

 Second trailer

This trailer is higher-resolution and shows some actual gameplay (mostly stealth), as both the Mercenary and the Hacker make their way through enemy territory. A basic game menu is shown to illustrate character selection, and appears to be using the Xenotron font.

Full version on some guy's channel dedicated to canceled games: Duality [XBOX Trailer Action/Stealth - CANCELLED!]

The final sequence of that second trailer can be interpreted as a hint at the third playable character - the "Virtual Being". Apparently it plays chess.

          

 Animator's demo reel

Titled Demo Show Reel, this video showcases many animations both for the playable character (mostly Mercenary) and for the enemies (mostly BioCorp troops). Included are several types of environment/prop/character interaction (climbing, stealth locomotion, entering/piloting a power suit, grappling a hostage), and a few animated cutscenes not featured in the official trailers. The "implant clinic" and its doctor are featured, as well as the "Evil Hacker".

You can watch it on Vimeo (Demo Show Reel) or via Serrano's ArtStation portfolio (HERE).