EDITOR’S NOTE: We are updating our Concord review, given the recent news that Sony is pulling the game from digital and physical storefronts alike, with full refunds being offered. The game will go offline at the end of the week, and will not be playable in any fashion.
Live-service games take a little longer to sink our teeth into for review purposes, and we have decided to post this review out of respect for the game, developer Firewalk Studios and Sony Interactive Entertainment, to discuss the game as it was, for its first fortnight.
This rather unprecedented move admittedly hits hard, and we will keep you updated on additional news in the coming days. Our original review is as follows.
Firewalk Studios has finally released their live service shooter Concord on the PlayStation 5 and PC. It comes after PlayStation’s announcement that they would be shifting focus on live service games from their in-house studios, and while this trend was the rage back in 2017 when games like Overwatch were released, a lot has changed in the landscape since that time.
Rocksteady Studios suffered a colossal financial loss with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, with only so many live service games able to fit into gamers’ rotation, Concord feels like a giant misstep. While it’s not unplayable, it feels like a clone of Overwatch with a slight alteration in its characters, the game is promising weekly releases for narrative progression.
The graphics are solid and the flashy CGI cut scenes impress on first watch, the gameplay and progression system don’t feel like anything you haven’t seen or played before.
Choose Your Fighter
The roster of characters features the usual suspects with runners, gunners, sharpshooters, healers and tanks, these characters are all packed with larger-than-life personalities and extensive lore that is locked behind planned weekly drip-fed lore from the studio. There are 16 characters to choose from with some impressive character designs, they have their weapons and skills that are attached to their class type.
Content is available seasonally as with most live games, with daily and weekly objectives on offer for loot and collectibles. You can spend time exploring the Galactic Guide, which is a map filled with information about characters and locations.
General gameplay is also quite responsive and punchy, with crisp visuals to boot. While the Guardians of the Galaxy paint job feels a little familiar in terms of its presentation, moving and shooting feel relatively decent in the hands. In terms of performance, the frame rate can drop rather consistently, but doesn’t necessarily ruin the experience at any given time.
There is quite a lot to read into here in terms of overall lore as well, it is just a shame it wasn’t woven into the main storytelling of the game. Time will tell if the weekly narrative drops flesh this out further beyond what it currently is.
Lacklustre Game Modes
While there are six game modes on offer, the Training Grounds are the best place to start, giving an insight into the weapons and how to use them. There is a lack of guidance around this mode, it does feel very freestyle and after a few minutes of getting used to it, you can quickly dive into the other modes.
The other modes include capture the zone, a no-response mode and a deathmatch. They are all pretty standard fare when it comes to this style of game and are fun in short bursts. Where it falters is in its style and presentation; it is well-designed and animated, but it just doesn’t have enough to offer a distinct style that invites you to be invested in this galaxy.
The game does require purchasing to play so it was disappointing to see that the game still has a storefront offering outfits, accessories, character poses and skins for each weapon. This is typical in a game like this but is more seen with free-to-play games like Fortnite. There is not enough in this store to warrant purchasing anything at this current stage.
Final Thoughts
Concord is a hard sell. It’s not free to play, yet it still offers paid options to get the most out of the game. It’s a brand-new IP that has a lot of leg work to do to build a fan base to support it and ensure its survival in the overcrowded live service genre.
A lot has changed since Overwatch and Apex Legends were released, ushering in a new type of game that rose to popularity quite quickly, the studio has a lot of work to do to establish a dedicated player base to keep the game alive.
Concord is good when it comes to its core gameplay and crisp visuals, but doesn’t do enough to justify its purchase price. Time will tell if it can stay afloat in the currently crowded live-service marketplace.
THREE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Strong gameplay; Clean visuals
Lowlights: It feels like it should be free to play, given the amount of additional paid DLC
Developer: Firewalk Studios
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows PC
Available: Now
Review conducted on PlayStation 5 with a pre-release code provided by the publisher.
