Concord's Struggle in the Competitive Shooter Arena
In the realm of competitive shooters, Concord presents an intriguing yet ultimately disappointing experience. While individual elements like Roka’s heat-seeking missile launcher emit a satisfying bleep bleep bleep, and Starchild’s double-jump/power slam combo offers fleeting moments of exhilaration, the overall gameplay often feels sluggish and uninspired. The game struggles to deliver engaging tactics, frequently reducing matches to teams clustering together on objectives, devoid of the dynamic interactions that characterize successful shooters.
Need to Know
- What is it? An underbaked, overpriced, and dated hero shooter.
- Expect to pay: $40 / £35
- Developer: Firewalk Studios
- Publisher: PlayStation Publishing
- Reviewed on: Radeon RX 6600, Ryzen 7 5700G, 32GB DDR4 RAM
- Multiplayer? Yes
- Steam Deck: Not Verified
- Link: Steam
The gunplay in Concord is serviceable but lacks the punchy feedback that players have come to expect from genre leaders like Destiny 2. Instead, it channels a more lackluster experience, with floaty movement and a time-to-kill that encourages teams to swarm single targets rather than engage in strategic combat. This design choice leads to a repetitive cycle of mobbing opponents, reminiscent of better games that are also more affordable.
One of the most perplexing aspects of Concord is its reliance on a gameplay model that has already been overshadowed by more robust titles. The Crucible mode in Destiny, for instance, was part of a larger PvE/PvP ecosystem that kept players engaged. In contrast, Concord offers a stripped-down experience that often feels tedious and uninspired. The absence of ultimate abilities diminishes the excitement typically found in hero shooters, reducing matches to a monotonous grind of shooting and standing on objectives.
The characters, known as “Freegunners,” lack the distinctiveness that players might expect. Their forgettable names and backstories fail to leave a lasting impression, making it difficult to form any emotional connection. The gameplay mechanics tied to these characters often feel cumbersome, with abilities that are either underpowered or too complex to deploy effectively in the heat of battle. While some characters, like Kyps, offer a glimmer of hope with their reconnaissance abilities, they are few and far between.
Despite its ambitious lore—filled with tales of mercenaries and powerful merchant guilds—Concord struggles to translate this narrative depth into engaging gameplay. The writing often veers into cringe-worthy territory, attempting to capture the charm of franchises like Firefly and Guardians of the Galaxy but falling short. Players are left with a sense of disillusionment, as the promise of an exciting sci-fi setting is overshadowed by the lackluster execution of its core mechanics.
As matches unfold, a troubling trend emerges: players frequently abandon games mid-match, leading to one-sided victories that further diminish the experience. This phenomenon highlights a broader issue with player engagement, as many find themselves questioning their investment in a game that fails to deliver on its potential. With a lack of compelling gameplay and a dwindling player base, Concord struggles to carve out a meaningful niche in the crowded hero shooter market.
