Have you ever been struck by an innovative idea for an online game, prompting the thought: “Why didn’t anyone else think of this?” Every day, numerous concepts are greenlit, maturing into fully-fledged titles that boldly venture off the beaten path, bringing forth unconventional storylines or gameplay mechanics. Some stand out as exceptional, delivering superior quality, while others catalyze innovation. While Double Eleven’s latest game falls short of its predecessors’ success in initial releases, the concept of an aggressive first-person shooter set at night still holds promise. Despite this, prolonging enjoyment highlights the limitations of initially pleasant ideas.
As it stands, this text is currently in its early stages of development, with the PS5 iteration necessitating a connection to an Epic Games Store account; users are thus advised accordingly. The game centers on masked warriors embroiled in intense shootouts to the point of exhaustion. The narrative’s sole justification for existing lies outside an obscure, dying game premise – as touted by the marketing campaign: “the ultra-wealthy wager on illicit bloodsports” and “For contestants lured by the promise of untold riches and unimaginable glory, it’s kill or be killed.” However, this supposed high-stakes excitement fails to manifest in any meaningful way beyond the try-hard announcer’s enthusiasm and a few coins showering down after a match.
“If you’re expecting a frenetic pace similar to other arcade-style shooters, that’s because…”
The unexpected twist is that these intense matches unfold in absolute darkness, with no glimmer of light to illuminate the action. In the dimly lit warehouses, vibrant graffiti under blacklight can spark gamers’ excitement; yet, elsewhere, they’re plunged into darkness, where survival is paramount.
The sound design proves to be a significant problem throughout the matches, with Double Eleven leveraging innovative solutions to mitigate the issue. You can choose between rapid reloading, which allows you to quickly get back into action, or slow reloading, which yields a quieter outcome that won’t alert nearby enemies as readily. On the device, a noise meter is situated to gauge the intensity of your movement. While walking and jogging sounds may be audible at moderate ranges, intense sprinting typically becomes apparent from greater distances before gradually diminishing and reappearing.
The two modes currently available are Kill Race and Bodycount. In a traditional deathmatch, the objective is straightforward: players vie for supremacy by accumulating more points or lasting longer than their opponents before the time limit expires. In this round-based format, the player who achieves the most victories in five rounds secures overall match victory. While you can enjoy this activity alone, it’s equally enjoyable when played with friends or in a group setting?
If the game’s pace and feel differ from what you’d expect in a typical arcade-style army shooter, that’s because it is. Tentacles, nicknamed ‘outcasts’, allow for more accurate matches, while echolocation enables the precise pinpointing of someone’s proximity. The pathway features illuminated sections that automatically turn on when walked upon, providing an added layer of safety and visibility. The mannequins proved to be surprisingly engaging, and I initially had the unsettling feeling that they were real people, at least once or twice. If that’s not sufficient, the muzzle flash from your weapons is a useless giveaway as well. Let curiosity guide you, and perhaps the images will serve as a roadmap to discovery.
While priced at just $8.99, Double Eleven’s vision for future updates is promising, with plans to introduce new content in the coming months. However, currently, the experience feels somewhat lacking, considering its value.
If eliminated, take advantage of the safety cameras and set up alternative traps to catch your opponents off guard. As the model is activated, it springs to life, mimicking the actions of a real firearm by cocking its plastic handgun to target a perceived enemy, or alternatively, triggering one of the numerous parked cars on the ground floor to simulate a dramatic getaway scene. As a spherical entity enters the environment in games like Bodycount, the administration of the surroundings often activates searchlights, which inadvertently illuminate the surrounding area and potentially reveal one’s position.
The expertise stands out sharply from that of any other aggressive shooter I’ve encountered. As you meticulously chart your route, attentively tracking the sound of footsteps or observing your adversary’s nonchalant approach to a glowing landmark, refining their location while frantically tapping Echo with an air of desperation, the stakes are palpably high. Whether you’re quietly dismantling an adversary by unintentionally detonating a nearby explosive crate that you hadn’t even noticed, with the added bonus of being caught off guard yourself and getting blown back, or simply standing mere feet away from each other in silence, there’s a certain satisfaction to be found. The overall responsiveness of the controls and the tactile feedback from each weapon are consistently impressive.
Sadly, it’s not sufficient. Without sufficient skill involved, matches can often feel like a significant amount of luck is at play. Without the need for strict tenting callouts, I often found myself meandering around areas where enemies had been defeated, effortlessly racking up easy kills as they repeatedly respawned in the same location. Despite various obstacles and unpredictable opponents setting off traps, there is room for further innovation to elevate the experience’s dynamism. In solo play, it’s often straightforward to spam Echo and rely on chance to achieve the best results, with an opponent likely to adapt by sliding upwards as a general strategy.
Additionally, there’s the concern of content, which remains insufficient – even following the initial significant update. Two distinct modes, a limited selection of maps, and a complement of four weapons – including two handguns and two shotguns. The current cosmetic lineup is free from charge and presents itself as high-quality, but unfortunately, it lacks diversity in terms of options. Although priced at $8.99, the initial offering from Double Eleven feels somewhat limited, with no clear indication of future content updates beyond a vague roadmap; the current package simply doesn’t justify its modest cost.
“If Double Eleven commits to its vision, I’m keen to witness how this project evolves over the coming months, given that it currently exists as an amusing yet ephemeral concept.”
The potential for that concept to resonate with our current audience is, quite frankly, nonexistent given the complete absence of participants. Following a succession of recent matchmaking issues, I found myself pitted against the same opponent in every Kill Race and Bodycount match, despite selecting the option to play against players without PS5 consoles. Steam’s performance has remained unimpressive, with a paltry 24-hour peak participant count of just four individuals at the time of writing. Lackluster engagement is often attributed to the limited appeal of the game’s niche genre, as well as inadequate marketing efforts. Although the concept is initially captivating and the gameplay alluring, its underwhelming performance makes it virtually unusable on the PS5 platform.
While it’s functional, the game truly shines in its visuals, boasting a unique blend of road artwork and vibrant graffiti that brings the environments to life. While it’s removed from offering the most consistency for an aggressive shooter, it’s sufficient. The PS5’s Efficiency Mode offers a mixed bag of results, yielding decent but not exceptional picture quality while maintaining stability, with the exception of occasional screen-tearing issues at certain points. High-quality mode presents itself as the obvious choice for enhanced readability, allowing neon-painted filters to truly stand out.
While shooters have yet to reach maturity, they still struggle to attract a significant player base despite the need for more engaging content. The product’s quality isn’t hindered by a lack of uniqueness, but rather is already impressively refined, requiring only minor tweaks to reach its full potential in PS5’s Efficiency Mode. Despite the initial challenges of entering the aggressive shooter’s domain, even after going free-to-play, there’s still no guarantee of triumph. If Double Eleven stays committed, I’m excited to observe how this concept evolves over the coming months as it currently amounts to an enjoyable yet ephemeral notion at its current stage.
