In a recent teleconference, the development team behind Iron Phoenix shed light on the multiplayer modes, weapons, relics, and a forthcoming demo. The multiplayer modes in Iron Phoenix are as follows: Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Giant Kill, VIP, and Ring Challenge. Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch standards in almost any online first person shooter should be familiar to most, but the other modes may be more of a mystery.

In Giant Kill, players will literally have to take down two other players who are actually giants. It's 14 versus 2 in this mode, and players will have to team up to stop these more powerful, but not necessarily faster, behemoths. In VIP, each team has to protect their specific VIP, who has the ability to revive everyone on the team, while also trying to kill the opposing team's VIP. Ring Challenge is all about one-on-one, mano y mano battles. Players will be either battling or watching as a spectator until a match opens up. As players advance, they'll eventually make it to the top tier, which is the only place points can be scored.

In addition to multiplayer modes, there are also multiplayer strategies that can turn the tide of a battle. Team Kill, the most impressive and damaging move in the game, requires teammates to work together by timing their chi attacks to create massive splash damage that hopefully leaves no opponent alive. Then there is the answer to annoying attack and run players: Bloodlock.

Bloodlock is essentially a one-on-one duel where players can engage opponents who they've been chasing all night long, or just some random dude for the heck of it. Of course, it wouldn't be a proper fight to the death if anyone could jump in and kill you, so there is a force field bubble that surrounds you and your opponent and no one can enter. Also, those players engaged in Bloodlock will continually lose health, and are only able to regain it by attacking.

When we asked about voice communication and the possibility for proximity voice, the developers stated that voice communication will be present, and that they will also be including team speak.

They also talked about weapons and relics during the event. There are nine different weapons in the game that allow players to fight in a style they'd find more comfortable. There are pros and cons to using the various weapons, just like in any other game. Larger weapons, like the hammer, deal more damage but take longer to swing, while smaller weapons like daggers don't deal that much damage, but the attacker can be as quick as lightning with them.

Relics allow for various types of player enhancements to take place for a limited amount of time. Whether it's going invisible, increasing your attack power or defense, or even generating more chi, relics allow you to do that. You can only use one at a time, but smart players will use relics near their teammates so the effects splash onto them.

Also, the development team talked about the upcoming demo of Iron Phoenix, available exclusively in OXM. The demo will be in the February issue and will include one level and Xbox Live features so that players can test out some of the online features.

Iron Phoenix is coming out in February 2005, so look for plenty of more information on this title as it becomes closer to release time.