I have always been a huge fan of first-person shooter games. Whether it’s Overwatch, Call of Duty, or Valorant, I’m always looking for the next game to get my adrenaline pumping. That’s why when I heard about The Finals, a new first-person shooter that was taking the gaming world by storm, I knew I had to give it a try. Little did I know that it would become my new obsession.
The Finals is not your typical shooter game. What sets it apart is its Battlefield-style building destruction feature. This aspect of the game is truly impressive, allowing players to shoot and destroy buildings, windows, floors, and even explosive canisters. The level of destruction is unlike anything I have ever seen in a shooter game before. It completely changes the dynamics of the combat and adds a whole new level of strategy to the game.
The game is played in teams of three, and the objective is to collect as much cash as possible. It’s also styled like a game show, adding to the excitement and competitiveness of the game. In competitive modes, players have to qualify to progress, just like in a real competition. This adds an extra layer of thrill to the game and keeps players engaged and motivated to improve their skills.
One of the things that I found most captivating about The Finals is the constantly changing environment. The game features dynamic time of day and weather conditions, which means that every time you play, the experience feels different. This keeps the game fresh and ensures that players never get bored. Additionally, the game incorporates in-game modifiers that can suddenly change the gameplay, such as low gravity or increased destruction damage. This unpredictability adds an element of chaos and excitement to the game, making each match unique and thrilling.
Related Post
Unlike traditional battle royale games where you have to spend time looting for weapons and armor, The Finals allows players to create loadouts based on three different classes: light, medium, and heavy. Each class has its own set of abilities, weapons, and mobility options. The light class is all about speed and agility but sacrifices health for combat. The heavy class is like a tank, with high health and powerful damage options but lower mobility. The medium class strikes a balance between the two, offering support and healing abilities while still being effective in combat. This class system adds depth and variety to the gameplay, allowing players to choose a play style that suits their preferences.
One of the impressive technical feats of The Finals is that all the destruction happens server-side. This means that the physics engines are not hogging your CPU every time something blows up around you, ensuring smooth gameplay. I particularly enjoyed using the canisters found throughout the map. The expanding foam canisters create a shield between you and your opponents, providing a moment to heal or reposition. The explosive canisters create chaos when they explode, while the toxic gas canisters disorient enemies and force them to change their attack strategies.
Among the classes, I found the light class to be the most fun to play. The grappling hook ability is incredibly satisfying to use, allowing players to traverse the map at high speeds. The zip lines that exist in The Finals maps further enhance the mobility of the light class. With a cloaking device and a motion sensor, the light class has the advantage of being able to go invisible and detect invisible opponents, making it a formidable force on the battlefield.
As much fun as the light class is, I found myself gravitating towards the medium class. As someone in my late thirties, my reflexes and sharp shooting skills are not what they used to be. The medium class offers a more supportive role, with the ability to heal teammates and instantly revive them with a defibrillator. This class allowed me to contribute to my team’s success even if I couldn’t compete in terms of pure combat skills. Pairing up with heavy-class players and bringing them back into the fight with the defibrillator was a game-changer.
The heavy class, on the other hand, excels in destructive abilities. With the Charge ‘n’ Slam ability, players can literally slam through walls, opening up new pathways for their teammates. The heavy class also boasts weapons like flamethrowers and sledgehammers, perfect for close combat situations. Surprisingly, the shotgun is also an effective weapon for the heavy class.
The Finals open beta recently came to an end, and it was a huge success. Over 7.5 million people got to experience the pure chaotic joy the game has to offer. It quickly climbed the charts on Steam and gained popularity on Twitch. While the game still needs some work to balance the classes, the core destruction mechanic is truly unique and sets it apart from other first-person shooter games on the market.
The impressive destruction technology in The Finals is a result of the talented team at Embark Studios. This Swedish studio, led by former Battlefield developers, has brought their expertise to create a game that pushes the boundaries of what is possible in a shooter game. The studio’s focus on connected players, big data, speech recognition, cloud computing, and advanced AI is evident in The Finals.
The beta did face some controversies, primarily surrounding the use of AI-generated voices. Embark defended their decision, emphasizing that their goal is not to replace actors but to explore new possibilities in game development. This shows that the studio is committed to pushing boundaries and trying new things in the gaming industry.
Now, we eagerly await the release date of The Finals and see how Embark will implement its free-to-play battle pass system, progression, maps, and cosmetics. The foundations are strong, and I have no doubt that the studio will continue to improve and expand on this unique formula in the future. The Finals has captivated me with its impressive destruction technology, dynamic gameplay, and thrilling combat. It’s a game that has reignited my love for first-person shooters and has me eagerly anticipating its official release.
