When Riot Video games first introduced Valorant, the hero shooter style was already nicely previous exhibiting its age. And but, it managed to face out with its deal with tactical capturing, 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 at all times revitalize an expertise, even when the general fundamentals are price trying out.
FragPunk happens in a smooth futuristic setting the place a mysterious reality-altering materials known as Glunite has been found and harnessed into Shard Playing cards. Activating playing cards can lead to every kind of results, from flipping actuality to altering the habits of weapons. As such, varied mercenaries generally known as Lancers need to get their fingers on this materials to make extra playing cards. To what finish? The cinematic trailer does shine some mild on this, however good luck making an attempt to study any of that in-game.
“At its core, FragPunk is kind of akin to Valorant. It’s 5v5, every participant controlling a singular Agent – er, Lancer. You’ve gotten the “Purchase” section, the place you purchase main, secondary and melee weapons.”
And that’s effective. It offers sufficient cause to battle different Lancers, although I query the apply of utilizing Shard Playing cards to acquire extra materials to make extra Shard Playing cards. Maybe there’s one thing in regards to the countless cycle of battle for doubtlessly restricted assets.
At its core, FragPunk is kind of akin to Valorant. It’s 5v5, every participant controlling a singular Agent – er, Lancer. You’ve gotten the “Purchase” section, the place you purchase main, secondary and melee weapons. Every of your skills has particular fees that gained’t replenish mid-combat. The primary mode is Shard Conflict, the place one workforce is in command of planting a Shard Convertor whereas the opposite should defend. Play sufficient rounds, and either side finally change roles.
The playing cards are on the coronary heart of the expertise. Earlier than a spherical, either side 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 dimensions of their head hitbox and permitting for simpler headshots; deactivating therapeutic for the enemy workforce; enhancing a random weapon in your arsenal; and one in every 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 possibility). It’s additionally doable to strengthen a card’s impact with extra Shard Factors, thus turning a comparatively regular possibility into one thing much more potent.
“In any other case, including playing cards to this type of aggressive shooter format is…effective. They’re solely energetic for that particular spherical and never all the match – which is comprehensible to stop issues from falling into full anarchy.”
Shard Factors are obtained from dealing harm, assists, kills, and whatnot. Thus, even when your workforce is curb-stomped within the first spherical or two, it’s doable to make a comeback utilizing stronger Shard Playing cards from the factors collected to date. Nevertheless, a extra complicated 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 probably with little probability to show issues round aside from uncooked talent. Nevertheless, the identical applies to a workforce that invests too many Shard Factors when issues are going nicely, doubtlessly ending up on the again foot in case your opponents flip issues round.
In any other case, including playing cards to this type of aggressive shooter format is…effective. They’re solely energetic for that particular spherical and never all the match – which is comprehensible to stop 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 grew to become energetic, unleashing a swarm of hail and dealing ignite harm over time to an unfortunate enemy. However these situations 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. In case you’re defeated in a spherical, your beforehand chosen weapon is locked out, so you have 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 wanting feeling too overwhelming at occasions.
“Everybody has their quips and voice traces, even the announcer (to an annoying diploma at occasions), however they in any other case come off as strangers to 1 one other.”
The capturing 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 time beyond regulation and pits groups in 1v1 battles till one aspect is totally worn out, which is neat.
However they will’t conceal FragPunk‘s most obtrusive downside 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 occasions as Valorant‘s (even when they beat it when it comes to sheer visible constancy).
The assorted Lancer skills are additionally nothing too out of the unusual, ranging out of your typical scanning, turrets and remote-controlled allies to detection beacons, camouflage and coming into the void to keep away from harm (however not with the ability to see enemy gamers). All of it works nicely 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 smooth designs belie the dearth of natural interactions between the characters. Everybody has their quips and voice traces, even the announcer (to an annoying diploma at occasions), however they in any other case come off as strangers to 1 one other. I might argue that this type of strategy to character interactions would make extra sense in Valorant relatively than FragPunk‘s extra informal, over-the-top id, however your mileage could range.
Whenever you’re bored of Shard Conflict, you would attempt different modes like Crew 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’ve got the usual challenges and occasions, the latter specializing in finishing further 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 stable if principally “impressed” (within the nicest manner doable) aggressive shooter.”
I get it – it’s a free-to-play recreation, it’s all beauty, Valorant fees loads of exorbitant costs for his or her skins, and even Overwatch 2 introduced again loot containers. However even in case you can justify all that, there’s no denying that FragPunk makes it needlessly troublesome to navigate all of this. I nonetheless don’t know what Weapon Keys do, why soda cans are gacha, and even how we received up to now. Even in case you ignore all of the beauty nonsense, you continue to should unlock further Lancers with Gold or FragPunk Cash (acquired by spending actual cash). At the least all of the Shard Playing cards are free perpetually.
Even with out the sheer abundance of monetization, FragPunk is a stable if principally “impressed” (within the nicest manner doable) aggressive shooter. The bombastic type and gunplay may 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.
