SCORE:
Game: 9
Graphics: 8
Sound: 8
Overall: 8.5
Pros: Modern/ futuristic setting is a breath of fresh air; great graphics and effects; combat more fluid and accessible for those unfamiliar with the genre thanks to easy to control characters.
Cons: Besides WASD movement and Loadout system, the actual combat game play isn’t massively different to other MOBAs.
We’ve only just got the opportunity to have a look at Shards of War, BigPoint’s new futuristic twist on the popular MOBA genre which allows players to form teams of five to engage in action-packed, lane-pushing, base-destroying battles. Presently in closed beta testing, the MMO will be utterly free-to-play upon release with various premium currency options available.
Upon entering the game, we were welcomed by the tutorial, essentially a 5v5 battle with some AI bots. However, our first real match that we recorded for our First Look video was basically the same game due to that fact that Shards of War has only just become accessible, meaning there are no players online by now. We fought on the Empire City map (not completely sure whether the three different Shards mentioned are all accessible through the same gameplay mode at this), giving Striker, an attacker role Sentinel, a try. As you would expect, Striker is a pretty heavy damage dealing fighter capable of throwing grenades, unleashing powerful automatic barrages from his rifle as well as some other clever things.
Being relatively novice to the MOBA genre, we have to give a tip of the hat to the WASD controls which enable players to move their character around while freely aiming with their mouse independently. This felt significantly more intuitive to us and was easy to control, which allowed for some run and gun type tactics as we moved and shot at the same time.
The map is made of the traditional three lanes, each one being lined with allied as well as enemy turret towers you have to push past in companion of waves of drones. All of this pretty much resembles other MOBA titles, which makes Shards of War feel that familiar and easier to pick up and play. There are additional sub objectives within the map revolving around accessing other control points; however, we didn’t really manage to find out what they were about. Our reading about the game prior to our play test revealed that they seemingly revolve around upgrading drones.
Combat seemed relatively balanced and, in all honesty, as a relative newbie to the genre and the game itself, we actually didn’t do too bad and got our fair share of kills, which only emphasises how easy Shards of War is to get into. Giving a pretty cool impression from the outline, the ten available Sentinels fall into three different roles (Tank, Attack and Support), thus proving the typical Trinity for combat.
One aspect we particularly liked was the Team Levels, allowing the team as a whole to benefit from each success they have, be it killing a player, destroying turrets or a variety of actions. This way, the entire team periodically levels up, proving every team member with access to their next Loadout tier. The Loadout comprises the players’ customised items and gear they are able to take into battle. For each Team Level, they have three different items they can equip (e.g. they can put three A Grade items into their Team Level A slot, which are the weakest items, but couldn’t put F Grade gear, the strongest items, into the Team Level A slots). As their team levels up, they gain access to better gear as opposed to purchasing items in the game and upgrading them. The moment their Team Level increases, players learn what items they will have access to.
Players will typically fill their Loadout with items that they have crafted from the materials gained with War Chests, which are granted at the end of each battle and give random materials used to create gear. They will collect different components until they have enough to make an item of a certain Grade. You additionally have the option to purchase new War Chests via the in-game shop as well as new skins for the available Sentinels or alternatively a membership, all of which requires the premium currency in form of Gold. Being a member grants several different benefits, e.g. increased XP, the chance to re-role your War Chest, skin vouchers and other bonuses.
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