Concord™: A Brash New Shooter in a Sea of Familiar Faces
Join the crew of the Northstar and navigate the tumultuous waters of hero shooters in Concord™ — a bright and sleek leap into the future... or perhaps just a misstep?
last updated Aug 26, 2024
Concord™ dazzles with vibrant visuals and solid gunplay, but character designs risk alienation in a crowded genre.
Gameplay: A Polished Gem with Rough Edges
Concord™ dives into the hero shooter genre with a burst of flashy gameplay that feels both fresh and familiar. The mechanics are tight, offering players snappy movements and an arsenal of unique character abilities that promise a bit of chaos and a lot of fun. As you engage in fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping matches, you'll notice that the game's design heavily emphasizes teamwork and strategy, demanding players to communicate and coordinate effectively. However, don’t be surprised if you find yourself frustrated at times; games can quickly turn from thrilling to chaotic depending on team composition and matchmaking. The absence of a robust communication system and a ranking feature may leave some players feeling adrift, potentially causing losses to feel more punishing than necessary.
Audio: A Symphony of Gunfire and Defiant Beats
The audio landscape of Concord™ is a standout feature that complements its vibrant aesthetics. With each crack of gunfire and the whoosh of abilities activating, players are treated to an immersive sensory experience that heightens every firefight. The sound design effectively ramps up the tension during intense exchanges, while the meticulously crafted soundtrack wraps around you like a warm hug during quieter moments. However, while the sound effects are often impressive, some players might find the lack of nuance within the audio comes off as a missed opportunity to further engage them in the game’s lore-rich environment.
Graphics: A Mixed Bag of Visual Wonders
Concord™ can dazzle with its colorful visuals and stylish character designs, but this beauty isn’t without its thorns. The game impressively runs smoothly on a variety of systems, showcasing vibrant maps that burst with life and detail. Yet, character designs appear to polarize players, with some heroes receiving accolades for uniqueness while others elicit smiles of disdain. It’s an uncanny valley effect that detracts from the otherwise solid graphical experience, reminiscent of styles from beloved IPs like Guardians of the Galaxy while struggling to find its own identity. Performance-wise, players report smooth gameplay on capable hardware, which is a breath of fresh air in today's gaming milieu where game optimization is often an afterthought.
Character Design: Uniqueness Unleashed or Misstep?
When it comes to character design in Concord™, the breadth of representation is commendable, but it sometimes borders on the bizarre. Each character is imbued with distinct abilities that encourage diverse playstyles, offering players a chance to experiment and find their niche. Even so, several of the character designs might seem off-putting and overly quirky, perhaps alienating gamers who prefer more conventional appearances. The reliance on increasingly diverse icons feels more like a checklist item than a well-weaved narrative thread, leaving some players yearning for more engaging visual storytelling and better aesthetic balance. In a market swamped with compelling hero aesthetics, their approach could use some fine-tuning.
STEAM RATING
Developer
Firewalk Studios
Publisher
PlayStation Publishing LLC
Release Date
August 23, 2024
A Fun but Flawed Adventure in a Crowded Genre
Concord™ stands proudly at the intersection of cherished hero shooter mechanics and vibrant ear-candy graphics, yet stumbles on execution and balance. With its spirited gameplay, the potential for a thriving community remains, though the fuzzy reception poses challenges.