Concord Firewalk Studios and SCE’s bid to conquer the hero shooter genre had a closed and open testing period last week. This was in anticipation of its launch on Friday, August 23. We had the opportunity to participate in the closed test and later in the open period for the general public and these are our first impressions of this proposal from Sony and Firewalk Studios.
Characters and skills for every type of player
Concord presents us with a cast of 16 heroes, each with a unique design and abilities that encourage experimentation and strategy in choosing teams. Among these characters we highlight Duchess, an old woman who controls the arena with her devastating submachine gun. Star Child, a furious ogre with a charge attack and the ability to slam the ground to deal massive damage and finally, Roka. This is a character with a rapid-fire rocket launcher, jetpack and a ground-bombing move. However, there are many more options that we would have liked to have the time to experiment with.
During the trial period of Concord We were able to try out four game modes. While these are not a turning point for the genre, they offer what you can expect from a game of this type. Team Deathmatch, Trophy Hunt (a confirmed casualty of sorts), Cargo Run (attack and defense) and Clash Point (zone control) are the modes we had the opportunity to try out.
Concord It also brings some interesting new features, but they can generate different opinions, both positive and negative. Since, in competitive mode, you cannot repeat a character if you win a round with it. This forces the player to leave their “comfort zone” and leads them to have to master a wider variety of heroes. Something that in such a short time as the test period was an obstacle.
The maps left us with a bittersweet taste
In our experience with the beta of Concordthe maps left a bittersweet feeling. While their design isn’t very complex, offering multiple routes and hiding places, their design fails to match the excitement of the characters. For the most part, the available maps feature linear layouts, which are mainly made up of square structures connected by narrow corridors. This lack of complexity can make the matches feel repetitive and predictable over time. Although Concord shines in the graphical section with detailed characters and a polished aesthetic, the environments fail to convey the same personality and originality as the characters.
Concord Has brilliant potential, but also areas to polish
The characters of Concordbeyond the controversy, stand out for their visual diversity and unique abilities, they are without a doubt the heart of the game. Additionally, the variety of weapons and abilities along with the condition of changing them when we have won a game with them enrich the tactical experience so far unique in its genre. The weapons, although limited in number, feel well balanced. However, the maps turn out to be the weak point, with uninspiring designs and a lack of visual appeal. Despite these problems, the beta demonstrates the potential of ConcordHowever, before its imminent launch, some of these points – along with other technical problems – will have to be reviewed in order to offer a satisfactory experience to players who decide to buy this game for PC or PlayStation 5.
First impressions of Concord made with an early access of the game for Steam provided by Sony Computer Entertainment.
