Grab a replica of Overwatch off some dusty GameStop shelf and rub it beneath the musky armpit of the Guardians of the Galaxy’s Peter Quill and also you may need one thing near the sensation of Concord. As aggressive hero shooters go, this sci-fi contender from Sony performs it fairly secure, full with instantly charming characters immaculately rendered in gobsmackingly stunning cutscenes and ability-based PvP fight that by no means addresses why these characters are combating each other after they’re clearly allies in stated cutscenes. But simply because it doesn’t supply a lot in the way in which of innovation doesn’t imply Concord isn’t extraordinarily enjoyable to play. I nonetheless have tons extra to see when it launches correctly subsequent month, however with 16 characters and 4 acquainted sport modes obtainable in its preorder beta this previous weekend, the overwhelming majority of the ten+ hours I’ve spent with it to this point have been a sweaty, gun-toting good time.
You and your squad will type a five-person crew of super-powered characters, every with their very own distinctive strengths, weaknesses, and particular talents, after which carry them to bear towards an opposing crew in a wide range of formulaic sport modes. Those embody a normal deathmatch mode, a “Kill Confirmed” mode known as Trophy Hunt, an attack-and-defend mode known as Cargo Run, and a zone management mode known as Clash Point – none of which possess even the slightest trace of novelty. But being overly acquainted isn’t essentially a foul factor in the event you’ve received best-in-class gunplay and superior characters with compelling powers to again it up, and boy, Concord has received each of these down pat.
Concord sagely retains its weapon choice very slim, with simply two choices given to every character by default and no option to customise that – however the upshot there’s that each single weapon feels extremely responsive and finely tuned, and no two characters have weapons that really feel in any respect related. The arena-controlling outdated woman, Duchess, wields a submachine gun that’s devastating at shut vary, whereas the sneaky and tactical Vale largely depends on a long-range sniper rifle to take out enemies from afar. Not every part appears completely balanced – I, for one, suppose most issues ought to most likely die after they take a sniper rifle shot to the top, and it’s a bit bizarre that the character that makes use of a slow-loading missile launcher as her important weapon doesn’t do extra injury with it – however all of them really feel actually good to make use of, and meaning I’ve been having enjoyable even when it appears like one thing wants tweaking right here and there.
Similarly, the talents that complement these weapons are improbable, numerous, have very beneficiant cooldowns, fully altering the way in which fight performs out relying on which character you’re taking part in as. The floating, fireball-chucking Haymar can blind opponents for a time frame and make them pay for standing in the identical spot too lengthy, whereas the rampaging ogre, Star Child, can shut distances rapidly together with his charging assault and smash the bottom to do heavy injury round him. Not all characters really feel fairly as unique, like how Teo is the world’s most generic soldier and comes outfitted with a smoke grenade and cluster grenade as his two powers, however these bland choices are few and much between. Learning every character, utilizing their talents to counter the crew comp of your opponents, and juggling the insanity on the battlefield with top-notch gunplay was simply as enjoyable in my first match because it was in my thirtieth, and I definitely can’t say I’ve felt that method about most hero shooters I spend time with.
One of the few novel twists Concord brings to the style is the way in which its aggressive playlist works. Unlike the informal playlist the place you may play whichever character you please (as long as another person hasn’t already chosen it), in aggressive you cleverly aren’t allowed to pick the identical character once more in the event you win a spherical whereas utilizing them. Since matches go to better of seven rounds, meaning profitable one will push you to get outdoors of your consolation zone and use a minimal of 4 completely different characters. Not solely is that this a neat option to drive folks to grasp greater than only one or two choices, it additionally encourages communication along with your crew between rounds to make sure you’ve received correct protection to play out no matter technique you’re making an attempt to drag off as your choices get slimmer.
The different attention-grabbing wrinkle Concord provides to the method is character variants: Slightly completely different variations of present characters that include a singular perk and an altered look, and which will be unlocked by finishing particular aims throughout matches. For instance, the gunslinger Lennox can usually reload his weapon by dodging, whereas the variant you may unlock for him loses that means, however will get extra ammo for all his weapons as an alternative. The 5 variants obtainable for every character to this point supply largely minor modifications like this, however they positively add a significant factor to chase that gives extra choices in fight. Perhaps extra importantly, in addition they provide the alternative to fudge the numbers a bit within the aggressive playlist, since variants rely as separate characters in your crew, and due to this fact, allow you to play as the identical characters in a number of rounds.
I additionally simply love that Concord is chock filled with goofy phrases in its “How To Play” tutorial part, like the way it tells you if sure sport modes are more likely to be sweaty by assigning them a “Sweatstrum” ranking, or the way it explains you may recharge your talents with “Sloops,” AKA “Skill Loops.” There may not be a lot of a narrative but, however this sport’s received appeal popping out of its Martian ears.
There’s nonetheless extra I haven’t been in a position to play on this early beta model, like the 2 sport modes that stay locked for now, however Concord is already shaping as much as be a heavyweight hero shooter I may simply see competing with the style’s giants. It doesn’t appear to be it would carry a lot new to the desk, and that’s a little bit of a bummer contemplating we’ve already performed nice video games similar to this one earlier than, however I’m heartened by what I’ve seen to this point and am wanting ahead to taking part in an entire lot extra when it launches subsequent month.
