Seize a duplicate of Overwatch off some dusty GameStop shelf and rub it below the musky armpit of the Guardians of the Galaxy’s Peter Quill and also you might need one thing near the sensation of Concord. As aggressive hero shooters go, this sci-fi contender from Sony performs it fairly protected, full with instantly charming characters immaculately rendered in gobsmackingly stunning cutscenes and talent-based mostly PvP fight that by no means addresses why these characters are combating each other after they’re clearly allies in mentioned cutscenes. However simply because it doesn’t supply a lot in the best way 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 recreation modes out there in its preorder beta this previous weekend, the overwhelming majority of the ten+ hours I’ve spent with it to date have been a sweaty, gun-toting good time.
You and your squad will type a 5-individual group of tremendous-powered characters, every with their very own distinctive strengths, weaknesses, and particular skills, after which deliver them to bear in opposition to an opposing group in quite a lot of formulaic recreation modes. These embrace a typical deathmatch mode, a “Kill Confirmed” mode referred to as Trophy Hunt, an assault-and-defend mode referred to as Cargo Run, and a zone management mode referred to as Conflict Level – none of which possess even the slightest trace of novelty. However being overly acquainted isn’t essentially a nasty factor for those who’ve acquired finest-in-class gunplay and superior characters with compelling powers to again it up, and boy, Concord has acquired 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 strategy 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 world-controlling previous girl, Duchess, wields a submachine gun that’s devastating at shut vary, whereas the sneaky and tactical Vale largely depends on an extended-vary sniper rifle to take out enemies from afar. Not all the things appears completely balanced – I, for one, assume most issues ought to in all probability 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 sluggish-loading missile launcher as her most 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 looks like one thing wants tweaking right here and there.
Equally, the skills that complement these weapons are implausible, various, have very beneficiant cooldowns, utterly altering the best way fight performs out relying on which character you’re enjoying as. The floating, fireball-chucking Haymar can blind opponents for a time period and make them pay for standing in the identical spot too lengthy, whereas the rampaging ogre, Star Youngster, 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 authentic, 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. Studying every character, utilizing their skills to counter the group comp of your opponents, and juggling the insanity on the battlefield with high-notch gunplay was simply as enjoyable in my first match because it was in my thirtieth, and I actually can’t say I’ve felt that approach about most hero shooters I spend time with.
One of many few novel twists Concord brings to the style is the best way its aggressive playlist works. Not like the informal playlist the place you’ll be able to 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 for those who win a spherical whereas utilizing them. Since matches go to better of seven rounds, meaning profitable one will push you to get exterior of your consolation zone and use a minimal of 4 completely different characters. Not solely is that this a neat strategy to power individuals to grasp greater than only one or two choices, it additionally encourages communication together with your group between rounds to make sure you’ve acquired correct protection to play out no matter technique you’re attempting to drag off as your choices get slimmer.
The opposite fascinating wrinkle Concord provides to the system is character variants: Barely completely different variations of current characters that include a singular perk and an altered look, and which may be unlocked by finishing particular aims throughout matches. For instance, the gunslinger Lennox can usually reload his weapon by dodging, whereas the variant you’ll be able to unlock for him loses that means, however will get extra ammo for all his weapons as an alternative. The 5 variants out there for every character to date supply largely minor modifications like this, however they positively add a significant factor to chase that gives extra choices in fight. Maybe extra importantly, additionally they provide the alternative to fudge the numbers a bit within the aggressive playlist, since variants depend 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 stuffed with goofy phrases in its “How To Play” tutorial part, like the way it tells you if sure recreation modes are prone to be sweaty by assigning them a “Sweatstrum” score, or the way it explains you’ll be able to recharge your skills with “Sloops,” AKA “Ability Loops.” There won’t be a lot of a narrative but, however this recreation’s acquired allure popping out of its Martian ears.
There’s nonetheless extra I haven’t been capable of play on this early beta model, like the 2 recreation 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’s going to deliver 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 date and am trying ahead to enjoying a complete lot extra when it launches subsequent month.