There are plenty of competitive shooters on the market, with something for everyone. Overwatch obviously caters to different kinds of fans, depending on what they’re in the mood for. Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds is a terrific experience in its own right, and it differs greatly from other games on the market. And dare we forget the other AAA shooters on the market, like Call of Duty and Battlefield 1.
That leaves LawBreakers in a rather tough spot. Debuting a new franchise is always a tough sell, mainly because, well, it’s new compared to something that’s established. But it has a great team going for it, led by Boss Key founder Cliff “Cliffy B.” Bleszinski, who knows a thing or two about competitive style of play. So it stands a better chance than most, mainly based on the reputation of its team.
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But it’s funny how things work out, because LawBreakers becomes more than you might expect. The more skills you bring to the game, the more you get out of it, as it has the kind of deep, strategy-laden gameplay that will really bring out the best of your twitch shooting skills. It’s certainly a different experience, relying more on its heightened style of gameplay than the typical shooter, but I’d say that works excitedly in its favor – even though that won’t be for everyone.
The thing is, LawBreakers seems to cater to a certain kind of player – the “skilled AF” kind that know a thing or two about mobility and/or precision shooting. That may leave a few rookie players in a rough spot, as there are no tutorials that allow you to try out characters beforehand, or see a map without getting into a live round, since there’s no practice option like there is in Overwatch. I admit, it was frustrating for me at first, as I was being racked up for quick kills while just trying to get a feel for the game. Just a word of warning for those who think they can conquer any game they come across – this will pose a challenge.
Tough AF, But Worth It AF
But that doesn’t mean you’ll get shut out of the fun. If you can accept the slight learning curve and having to adjust across several rounds as you try out each characters, you’ll find the game’s mobility works incredibly well. Some characters have an advantage with heightened jumps and/or grapple cables to get around, while others work better from the ground game, to a point. But each one offers something unique to the table, and makes each round that much more unpredictable, no matter what kind of mode you select. (But let’s be honest, BlitzBall is king, just because we have a Morty-sounding like projectile that warns you about what’s going on.)
The variety of weapons and abilities for each character is really something, and while some have advantages over others (like a sword to, say, a sniper rifle, though that can easily switch around depending on the situation), they offer a lot of diversity. I also like how the classes are a little more closely balanced than in other games, as the Medic actually serves more of a purpose kicking ass here than they would in other games, where they’re too busy healing up others. Not here – lay waste, heal and get a move on.
The team communication throughout is sold, and, provided you have the best squad for the job, you can really have some great rounds within the game. Again, there is a good dynamic to grasp to make absolutely sure you’re on the same page, so it may take some time to mesh. But the more you learn, the better you get at the game, and the more LawBreakers begins to grow on you.
Plus I like the fact that you can use height to your advantage. Sure, you could run along the ground, but being able to take out enemies from up above is an exhilarating feeling – and it’s nuts how you can rescue yourself from a last-second fall with a well-placed grapple. Sometimes you’ll just have to die, but them’s the breaks for an up-and-coming shooter.
Prepare For A Fight
The frantic pacing of the match-ups really pays off as well. You could go hiding, but it won’t be long before you come across some enemy that you’ll try to take down. There is room for distance shooters as well, but this game is built on quick thrills, and that’s something quite a few of you are sure to appreciate. It might be too quick for some, but, again, adjustments will save the day.
The presentation for the game doesn’t quite go above and beyond, but the frame rate is pretty swift on console (probably faster on PC, and with more 4K details), and the maps look pretty good, even though a little variety with future DLC wouldn’t hurt. I like the audio and music too, as if Cliffy B. was channeling back to his older competitive days (after Jazz Jackrabbit, of course). The characters don’t really say as much as I’d prefer, but they still have a good zinger or two, here and there.
Again, though, with just a little bit more, LawBreakers could’ve been accommodating. Having some form of practice option would’ve gone a long way here, especially to noobs trying to get a hang of what the game is all about. But I digress, as the game has more than enough to offer for the rest of the shoot-em-up crowd, especially with its intense battles, sweet height game, and its many, many unlockables, almost on the same level as Overwatch.
It’s not definitive, but LawBreakers is definitely a strong starting point for what could be some sweet shooter content to come. Here’s hoping that, like its characters, it isn’t afraid to shoot to new heights.
RATING: 4 out of 5 stars.
Disclaimer: A review code was provided by the publisher.
