As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen countless shooters come and go, each promising to be the next big thing. Some have succeeded, while others have fallen by the wayside. Arc Raiders, from Embark Studios, is one of those titles that caught my attention at last year’s Game Awards, only to change its tune a few months later.
As a gamer, I must admit that the extraction shooter genre is starting to feel a bit congested. The Battle Royale genre was once the talk of the town, but now it seems like the extraction shooters are giving them a run for their money. Games like Escape From Tarkov have gained significant popularity, and in recent months, we’ve seen titles such as Gray Zone Warfare, Dark and Darker, and even Helldivers 2 joining the fray.
It’s such a tough genre to get into and remain relevant in that even Battlefield and Call of Duty couldn’t make it stick. And, for everything I like about Arc Raiders from Embark Studios, I fear it’s not quite doing enough to stand out.
Much has changed
In the Game Awards held in December 2023, Arc Raiders was initially presented as a free-to-play cooperative game (PvE). However, it seems that neither the “free-to-play” nor the “cooperative game” labels are accurate for this title now.
Re-emerging at Gamescom 2024, the game is now a PvPvE shooter with a premium price tag of $40.
At the event, I was given a private viewing of Arc Raiders, and although I wasn’t able to play it myself, I must say there are unique elements that set it apart within a familiar game structure. For instance, instead of raiding resources from the sky using shuttles or helicopters, the main characters, the Raiders, come from underground cities to dig up resources, which gives the game an interesting twist.
It seems they’re adding a bit of playfulness with novel extraction techniques for Embark, such as underground trains and lifts. Upon reaching Speranza’s main base, you can personalize your living area; however, moving around within the space will be done through menus rather than exploring in-game.
As a gamer, I’ll be choosing missions, then making my way to the surface to gather loot, all while dodging obstacles, foes, and trapdoors – oh, and let’s not forget about encountering other gamers now!
An Arc Reminder
From the gameplay clips, it’s evident that Arc Raiders seems user-friendly, as it appears less focused on players spending time sifting through a virtual bagpack during gameplay.
Its combat looks slick and exciting, with a third-person perspective that serves the dual purpose of keeping it nicely separate from its stablemate The Finals and allowing you to see your Raider’s hard-earned gear.
My only issue is that I’m not sure if it’ll be enough to justify dropping $40 on a title. I hate the notion that all games should have a free-to-play entry point, but for a shooter such as this that will need to garner a community in a competitive field very quickly, the asking price for you and two friends to chip in together is considerable.
It might be appropriate that the main artwork at the top of this page appears similar to one found in Concord, a game whose difficulties have been evident since its release last week. Launched with a slightly reduced price and support from Sony as a first-party title, yet it’s failing to resonate with the gaming community.
Indeed, these are distinct games, and I’ll be honest – Arc Raiders seems to embody the more relaxed, loot-shooter experience I had envisioned Call of Duty’s DMZ mode to offer. However, it undeniably faces a significant challenge ahead.
Fortunately, players will get a chance to explore it starting from October, marking their initial interaction through a public test. I’m optimistic it might captivate me, though there are moments of uncertainty.
Final Thoughts
Despite having a somewhat typical appearance, Arc Raiders might be priced high enough to deter some gamers. However, given Embark Studio’s reputation and the possibility of an engaging loot-shooter gameplay, it could still be an attractive choice for many.
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2024-08-30 16:42