When Riot Video games first introduced Valorant, the hero shooter style was already properly previous displaying its age. And but, it managed to face out with its concentrate on tactical taking pictures, practical weapon habits, and competitive-focused gameplay. What does that say about Dangerous Guitar Studio’s FragPunk, arriving a number of years after Valorant with its personal twist on this particular hero shooter sub-genre? Simply {that a} deck of playing cards can’t all the time revitalize an expertise, even when the general fundamentals are price testing.
FragPunk happens in a modern futuristic setting the place a mysterious reality-altering materials known as Glunite has been found and harnessed into Shard Playing cards. Activating playing cards may end up in all types of results, from flipping actuality to altering the habits of weapons. As such, numerous mercenaries often called Lancers need to get their arms on this materials to make extra playing cards. To what finish? The cinematic trailer does shine some gentle on this, however good luck attempting to study any of that in-game.
“At its core, FragPunk is kind of akin to Valorant. It’s 5v5, every participant controlling a novel Agent – er, Lancer. You’ve gotten the “Purchase” section, the place you purchase major, secondary and melee weapons.”
And that’s wonderful. It gives sufficient cause to battle different Lancers, although I query the follow of utilizing Shard Playing cards to acquire extra materials to make extra Shard Playing cards. Maybe there’s one thing concerning the infinite cycle of battle for probably restricted sources.
At its core, FragPunk is kind of akin to Valorant. It’s 5v5, every participant controlling a novel Agent – er, Lancer. You’ve gotten the “Purchase” section, the place you purchase major, secondary and melee weapons. Every of your talents has particular prices that gained’t replenish mid-combat. The primary mode is Shard Conflict, the place one crew is in command of planting a Shard Convertor whereas the opposite should defend. Play sufficient rounds, and each side ultimately swap roles.
The playing cards are on the coronary heart of the expertise. Earlier than a spherical, both sides can make investments Shard Factors right into a card of alternative, including a modifier to tip the scales. Activating Massive Head Mode for enemies, rising the scale of their head hitbox and permitting for simpler headshots; deactivating therapeutic for the enemy crew; enhancing a random weapon in your arsenal; and considered one of my favorites, placing your whole reserve ammo right into a single journal and unleashing it multi functional burst are a few of the highlights.
Relying on the impact, gamers should make investments extra Shard Factors right into a card to activate it, and you may subject a number of playing cards without delay (or refresh a present choice). It’s additionally potential to strengthen a card’s impact with extra Shard Factors, thus turning a comparatively regular choice into one thing much more potent.
“In any other case, including playing cards to this sort of aggressive shooter format is…wonderful. They’re solely energetic for that particular spherical and never your complete match – which is comprehensible to forestall issues from falling into full anarchy.”
Shard Factors are obtained from dealing harm, assists, kills, and whatnot. Thus, even when your crew is curb-stomped within the first spherical or two, it’s potential to make a comeback utilizing stronger Shard Playing cards from the factors collected so far. Nevertheless, a extra advanced financial system is notable solely in longer Shard Conflict matches.
For the common Commonplace format, the place it’s 4 rounds to victory, snowballs really feel far more seemingly with little likelihood to show issues round apart from uncooked talent. Nevertheless, the identical applies to a crew that invests too many Shard Factors when issues are going properly, probably ending up on the again foot in case your opponents flip issues round.
In any other case, including playing cards to this sort of aggressive shooter format is…wonderful. They’re solely energetic for that particular spherical and never your complete match – which is comprehensible to forestall issues from falling into full anarchy. I did get pleasure from swapping out the tried and true SMG for an automated shotgun as soon as Dragon’s Breath turned energetic, unleashing a swarm of hail and dealing ignite harm over time to an unfortunate enemy. However these cases of drastically altering your general setup felt few and much between. If something, they’re enjoyable modifiers which boost the in any other case overtly acquainted gameplay.
FragPunk tries different methods to alter issues, like a knockout system for weapons. For those who’re defeated in a spherical, your beforehand chosen weapon is locked out, so it’s essential to choose one other (or loot it from an enemy). The visible type can be tremendous colourful, brimming with graffiti and results that cease simply in need of feeling too overwhelming at instances.
“Everybody has their quips and voice strains, even the announcer (to an annoying diploma at instances), however they in any other case come off as strangers to at least one one other.”
The taking pictures mechanics and general weapon suggestions really feel gratifying sufficient, even when they’re leaning away from your typical tactical shooter. The Duel is an alternative to extra time and pits groups in 1v1 battles till one facet is totally worn out, which is neat.
However they’ll’t disguise FragPunk‘s most evident drawback in a nutshell – you’ve seen all this earlier than, albeit in different, extra compelling titles. This contains the slower, extra methodical motion that encourages nook peaking and never merely speeding in, swapping to your melee weapon to maneuver a bit sooner. The maps with a number of sightlines and flanking routes, although they don’t really feel as naturally built-in at instances as Valorant‘s (even when they beat it when it comes to sheer visible constancy).
The varied Lancer talents are additionally nothing too out of the peculiar, ranging out of your typical scanning, turrets and remote-controlled allies to detection beacons, camouflage and getting into the void to keep away from harm (however not with the ability to see enemy gamers). All of it works properly sufficient, although there are some intervals of awkwardness, and little or no feels non-derivative, which is a disgrace due to how cool the Lancers themselves look.
Then once more, their modern designs belie the shortage of natural interactions between the characters. Everybody has their quips and voice strains, even the announcer (to an annoying diploma at instances), however they in any other case come off as strangers to at least one one other. I’d argue that this sort of strategy to character interactions would make extra sense in Valorant relatively than FragPunk‘s extra informal, over-the-top identification, however your mileage might differ.
Whenever you’re bored of Shard Conflict, you may attempt different modes like Workforce Deathmatch or An infection. The latter appeared promising however seems laughable, given the lopsided benefit survivors have over the Contaminated and the way annoyingly lengthy the matches can final. In any other case, you have got the usual challenges and occasions, the latter specializing in finishing extra duties. Thus we arrive on the sheer quantity of currencies and microtransactions inherent in FragPunk.
“Even with out the sheer abundance of monetization, FragPunk is a strong if largely “impressed” (within the nicest method potential) aggressive shooter.”
I get it – it’s a free-to-play recreation, it’s all beauty, Valorant prices loads of exorbitant costs for his or her skins, and even Overwatch 2 introduced again loot packing containers. However even in the event you can justify all that, there’s no denying that FragPunk makes it needlessly tough to navigate all of this. I nonetheless don’t know what Weapon Keys do, why soda cans are gacha, and even how we acquired so far. Even in the event you ignore all of the beauty nonsense, you continue to must unlock extra Lancers with Gold or FragPunk Cash (acquired by spending actual cash). No less than all of the Shard Playing cards are free without end.
Even with out the sheer abundance of monetization, FragPunk is a strong if largely “impressed” (within the nicest method potential) aggressive shooter. The bombastic type and gunplay will be enjoyable, particularly with the unpredictability that the playing cards add, however the actual meat of techniques and depth of weapon mastery really feel considerably wanting. Whether or not it could actually evolve additional and set up its personal area of interest or fall behind its superior inspirations stays to be seen, however for now, it’s gratifying sufficient.
This recreation was reviewed on PC.
