The first-person shooter genre is extremely oversaturated. There is a new game that comes out every month and most of them end up feeling like copies of each other. The reason behind this is that there is not a lot of innovation that can still be done within that category. The newer games mostly end up trying to reshape the games that came before them – and generally fail.

 

Splitgate is one of the few cases where the developers managed to create something that feels fresh, even if the game’s core mechanics combine things that have been done before. You’ll quickly be under the impression that the gameplay is a mixture of Halo and Portal – and that’s exactly what it is.

 

So, is this new twist something that pays off or is it just too much of a gimmick to be worth your time? Let’s find out.

 

 

Unapologetically fun

Splitgate is a proper sci-fi adventure. The game has everything that you’d expect from a sci-fi shooter inspired by Halo – space gravity, lots of satisfying guns to use, dynamic maps with different types of spots to go to, and multiple game modes. It executes all of these aspects with a decent attention to detail, since there’s a little something for everyone.

Want to fight at a distance? Use the sniper rifle or the carbine. Want to be up close and personal? Grab the melee BFB and ram it through anyone that stands in your way. The maps are varied as well and allow for different types of playstyles to thrive – and there are maps meant for both closed-off environments and more open-ended space adventures, depending on what the players like.

 

 

But Splitgate is not just another typical first-person shooter, nor does it try too hard to be a Halo clone. It does have an identity of its own and features many things from different video games that you don’t usually see in the same place. For example, the Plasma Rifle acts exactly like the one from DOOM, yet the Railgun is closer to something you’d see in Halo.

And the most unlikely thing to encounter in an FPS game are the portals. Straight out of the Valve classic, you can use portals to travel both towards and away from enemies. The concept sounds strange on paper, but it works surprisingly well within the gameplay. It’s neither useless nor overpowered, and it’s not what you will be using every second either. So, it’s fun and you’ll wonder why it hasn't been done before.

You can be very strategic with the portals if you’re willing to spend the right amount of time to learn how they work. The first thing to do here is to familiarize yourself with the map layout, so that you spot where you might be slipping in and out of. Sometimes you will be able to

 

 

successfully move closer to an enemy and get the advantage that you need against them. At other times, the opponents will successfully guess where you will exit – in which case you will be in trouble and might quickly be eliminated. You will also need to learn when to close your portals, else your enemies might be able to slip in and eliminate you as you try to run away.

All in all, it’s a lot of fun to be had and portals add a dynamic new way to enjoy first-person shooting, which is something that is hard to believe since it’s 2021 and almost everything has been tried in the genre already.

 

Free-to-play

Splitgate does not only showcase its free-to-play tag, it really is a free to play game. Players won’t be given any significant advantages if they decide to spend money in game, since the battle pass is mainly directed towards cosmetics. Everyone starts with the same loadout and has the same HP regardless of how cool they look.

 

Also, the game is designed with balance in mind so that players who are exceptionally good with certain weapons do not gain an unreasonable advantage over others. You will be using SMGs and assault rifles for the most part as special guns are not that easy to find. And even so, they require a lot of practice to be handled with efficiency and they do not make anyone annoying to fight just because they found a shiny weapon before you did.

 

Colorful and vibrant

Splitgate is not another grim-looking war game, nor does it try too hard to be the next Fortnite. It finds its identity in offering environments that do not shy away from having some color to them, but at the same time, the maps don’t look like kindergarten either.

The maps are distinct from one another, some are more vibrant than others – and you can easily tell that the developers probably had a lot of fun designing the game. All in all, each setup provides an atmospheric experience that only a game not afraid to take itself too seriously could.

Aside from the visual design, the graphics in general are pretty smooth too. Everything looks great and the weapons and player models have a fair amount of detail. It’s not as graphically heavy as Halo Infinite, but it manages to do a good job with a mixture of simplicity and fun.

 

Actively in development

Splitgate is currently a beta. Although it’s not an insufferable early access game, it’s still not complete just yet and is being changed based on both feedback and what the developers believe would work best for it. This includes balance changes to how the characters and the map work, and nerfs and buffs for the weapons every time they are deemed at an advantage or disadvantage in comparison to each other.

What makes the game even better is that it’s on every major platform at the moment and it features complete cross-play between them all, which makes it an incredibly fun game to get into with all of your friends. On top of that, there are 20 maps, 15 game modes, and even a ranked option for those who want to be more competitive than the casual player.

 

 

The Verdict

An unapologetically entertaining game that takes a little from many popular games and combines it into a successful Frankenstein that will satisfy most fans of first-person shooters.

Splitgate is not revolutionary, but sometimes all you need is a game that knows how to keep itself fresh and separate itself from an oversaturated crowd – and that’s exactly what this game is. It’s very fun, it’s pretty addictive, and it seems to us that the game has a bright future.

Pros:

• Fast-paced gameplay with sci-fi elements
• Innovative mixture of classic FPS games that surprisingly works
• Lots of variety in weapons, game modes, and maps
• Competent matchmaking and full-fledged cross-play
• Free-to-play but not pay-to-win
• Vibrant visuals that are a nice break from grim war games

Cons:

• Although innovative, it does not offer too much of anything new. It just combines what has already been done in a slightly different way.
• Not as polished as something like Halo: Infinite
• Might feel repetitive after a while to those who have been burnt out from the genre, since it’s still an FPS at the end of the day
• Battle Pass is not that appealing