The first-person shooter (FPS) genre has gone through many changes over the years. Lately, it has had much more of a focus on futuristic combat. Call of Duty, Titanfall, and even Overwatch all feature an aesthetic that is very futuristic, though they all go about it in different ways. However, some have been longing for the good old days of World War 2 shooters, and Battalion 1944 is trying to deliver just that this year.
Developer Bulkhead Interactive is at work on a WW2 shooter that “recaptures the core of classic multiplayer shooters and revives ‘old school’ FPS for the next generation.” The game started its journey through a Kickstarter campaign that kicked off last year, which ended up being very successful. It’s set to focus on 5v5 infantry based combat, with multiplayer being its core focus. This is good to hear, as it means more polish on what really matters.
It’s All About Skill
What’s even better to hear is that the game is being developed with an emphasis on player skill rather than monotonous unlock trees. Everyone will be dropped into the game with all of the same tools at their disposal, and it’s up to them to learn how to use them and become a better player. They won’t do this by upgrading their weapons for better perks, but by simply becoming better with the weapons themselves. This should turn out great for the game’s competitive scene, as it ensures that there are very few barriers of entry. The developer has even been pushing for the game to be a big player in the eSports scene, which seems to reinforce that prediction.
The game is also impressing a lot of people when it comes to actual hands-on gameplay, with the shooter being available to play at EGX Rezzed earlier this month. The general consensus seems to be that the developers have nailed the look and feel of classic FPS games. Everything from player movement, level design and the way classic guns perform are spot-on. This really isn’t much of a surprise to hear, as the numerous gameplay videos that have been released since the game’s initial announcement have shown exactly that. The game’s visuals have been called into question, however, as it definitely doesn’t compete with current shooters in that regard. Still, there’s plenty of time for the developer to make improvements in the coming months.
Will Battalion 1944 Compete With The FPS Juggernauts?
The big question is going to be whether or not the developer is too late to the party. With the Battlefield series going back in time last year (and still being supported heavily) and Call of Duty set to go specifically to WW2 this year, it’s possible that this lesser-known game gets left in the dust. However, thanks to the fact that the game will be entering its closed alpha period at the end of next month, there’s plenty of time to get people hooked before the next big shooter releases. The current plan is to get the game out of early access on PC by the end of this year. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One releases should be coming at some point after that, according to the developer.
It seems crazy to think that everyone is longing for a WW2 shooter again, as a decade ago everyone was trying to get away from them. However, people have gotten sick of super-fast movement and complicated game design, and want something more focused and simplified. Battalion 1944 may be just the game to scratch that itch this year.
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