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Concord, developed by Firewalk Studios, is Sony’s latest entry into the competitive hero shooter genre. Currently in beta for PC, this title aims to carve out its niche in the crowded multiplayer market.
Modes and Gameplay Feel
The beta offers two main categories of gameplay modes: Brawl and Rivalry. Brawl includes Takedown and Trophy Hunt, where players collect trophies from defeated opponents. These modes allow respawns and cater to a more casual playstyle. Rivalry, on the other hand, features Clash Point, focusing on team elimination or zone control, and is geared towards competitive play with locked characters between rounds. This variety in game modes provides options for different player preferences and skill levels.
The game boasts a roster of 16 “Freegunners,” each with unique abilities and playstyles. Characters are divided into roles and possess individual traits that affect gameplay. Concord places a strong emphasis on mobility, with characters having varied movement speeds tailored to their roles. Tanks move slower, while agile characters can perform multiple jumps to reach higher areas. The game incorporates dodge maneuvers with cooldowns adjusted for each Freegunner, adding an extra layer of tactical movement.
Combat mechanics include manual reloading, dodge maneuvers with cooldowns, and two main skills per character. The Trait system offers passive bonuses, adding another layer of strategy to character selection and gameplay. One standout character is Roka, who offers incredible mobility with triple jumps and air dashes, along with a high-speed rocket weapon and solid primary skills. However, the enjoyment of playing other characters varies, with some feeling less engaging or underpowered in comparison.
Another interesting feature in the Concord Beta is the Crew Builder, which allows players to create custom loadouts of 12 characters, including variants. This system enables the creation of specialized teams, such as all-Healer or all-Tank compositions, with the game providing templates to facilitate diverse crew setups. While Concord shares similarities with other hero shooters, these distinctive elements aim to set it apart in the competitive multiplayer market.
Progression System
The progression system in Concord’s beta primarily offers cosmetic rewards such as weapon skins and charms. As players level up their account through matches and completing tasks on the Job Board, they unlock new rewards. However, during the beta, most of these rewards were relatively standard, with the exception of access to new character variants with different traits.
There’s an expectation among players that character leveling should unlock new cosmetics, abilities, or other character-specific rewards. Such a system would provide more incentive for players to master different Freegunners and add depth to the overall progression experience. However, in the current beta version, these expected features are noticeably absent. Though it is important to note that this lack of clear character progression benefits could be due to the limited nature of the beta. As Concord moves towards its full release, addressing this aspect of the progression system could be crucial in enhancing the game’s long-term appeal and player retention.
The Bad
Despite its promising elements, Concord’s beta revealed significant shortcomings. The Freegunner roster suffers from underwhelming character designs and imbalanced abilities. For example, Teo’s limited skill set and Lark’s ineffective weapon highlight issues with character effectiveness. Even popular characters like Roka have flaws in design and skill implementation.
The beta lacked several standard features for modern multiplayer shooters, including kill cams, chat boxes, position marking, quick commands, and flexible matchmaking options. These omissions noticeably impacted the overall gameplay experience.
Technical problems additionally spoiled the beta experience, even on relatively capable hardware (Intel i5 gen 9, GTX 1600 Ti, and 16GB of RAM), there are significant performance problems such as low framerates, stuttering, and severe delays, even on capable hardware and at low graphics settings. Some of these problems were attributed to ping issues, despite players having good internet connections. These persistent issues suggest that substantial optimization work is needed.
Impression So Far
The Concord beta demonstrates potential with its polished presentation, unique gameplay elements, and solid gunplay and mobility mechanics. However, as a paid title entering a market with established free-to-play competitors, it faces significant challenges. The numerous issues identified in the beta, including character balance, missing features, and technical problems, suggest that Concord still has considerable work ahead to make a significant impact in the hero shooter genre.
To justify its price tag and compete effectively, Concord needs to address these concerns promptly. Improving character designs and abilities, implementing missing features, and optimizing performance should be top priorities. For more gaming reviews and impressions, check here.
