The Finals (2023)

• Bounced a grenade on a jumppad that I placed and it killed someone.
• Dematerialized a ceiling and got my teammate crushed by a cache box. He found it funny. Then proceeded to steal a round win.
• Placed a bad zipline and we rode with my teammate into a death pit.
• Placed a jumppad under an enemy to get them away from the thing we're defending.
• Did a plenty of last second match win steals, because someone used a gadget in a very fitting way.

There are a lot of gadgets and destructible buildings give space for creativity.

Also TTK is longer than in most online shooters, which is good for this kind of game.

"The Finals" is a fast-paced shooter that offers a unique twist on the first-person shooter genre. The game features matches with either three teams of three or four teams of three, depending on the mode you choose. One of the standout aspects of "The Finals" is its extensive range of cosmetic microtransactions, which, while plentiful, do not impact gameplay.

Initially, I found the game highly enjoyable due to its fresh take on the FPS genre. The class system is straightforward, allowing players to choose between being fast, tanky, or a balanced middle ground. However, I would have appreciated the ability to mix and match traits from different classes to create a more personalized playstyle.

The graphics and sound quality are impressive. Using my Turtle Beach headset, I was able to pick up the footsteps of other players, which significantly enhanced my ability to react and strategize during matches.

Compared to other shooters like Fortnite, Overwatch, and Apex Legends, The Finals offers a different feel with its environment and money-grab game mode. The objective of banking money while fending off 2-3 other teams adds a unique layer of strategy and excitement.

However, the game's progression system, which requires significant playtime to unlock weapons and attributes, was a bit of a drawback for me. Despite my initial enthusiasm, I found it challenging to keep up with the competition after about 20 matches. This could be due to either the matchmaking system or simply the increasing skill level of other players. As a result, the game became less enjoyable for me, similar to other shooters where I couldn't dominate.

Overall, "The Finals" is a fun and dynamic shooter that will appeal to fans of fast-paced, team-based gameplay. However, be prepared for a grind if you want to unlock all the available gear. While I don't plan to replay the game, my friends still enjoy it occasionally, so it remains relevant for some players. If you enjoy a game with a unique approach to the FPS genre and don't mind the microtransactions for cosmetics, "The Finals" is worth checking out.

I would like to learn/play more of this in spite of the attitude, but random queuing feels dirty. Maybe when there's a snowstorm I'll feel more apt to communicating and cooperating with strangers.

In the meantime, that ex-DICE sheen has me downloading Battlefield V... or Battlefield 1... (who can keep track??) for some sweet, sweet, conquest. Pure, simple, loosely communicated conquest. I'm excited. It's been some time since Cad Company 2.

First MP shooter I picked up on my own. Main problems:

1. Respawn/spawn system. I often get spawned 200-300 meters away from objectives, start running and see that some opponents are already on it, meaning they spawned right next to it. This happens constantly and is rather problematic since it gives some obvious advantages. Spawning between enemies also occurs.
2. Class/weapon balance. Some weapons are just terrible, and the Heavy class seems to outperform all others in combat most of the time, with the health and equipment. Being the tankiest and best in DPS seems like too much for the drawback of being somewhat slower and not being able to fit in air vents.
3. Voice over and music. I muted the dialouge and music quite fast. Music is bland and repetitive, there seems to be 1 track per map that plays over and over, the rest is just noise. The voice over is annoying and gets old fast.

Good things:

1. Fast paced. If you do not get spawned far away from actions every time and keep on fighting, the pace is great. Specially when you are doing well. It has a great tempo, reminiscent of Quake 3 (slower, but somewhat close)
2. Destruction. That is great. It is not oversold, not just a marketing pitch. It is the main draw of the game, and why I tried it, despite not liking MP shooters. It is just so fun, how you can destroy everything in so many ways.
3. Map design. That is really good too, although maps are a bit limited for now, not that many of them and you can't choose which maps you want to play at. Some even have variations, but you also cant choose that. Nevertheless the design itself is great. The objective points are often really interesting, moving, or located in a way that opens many possibilities. Sometimes you can get suprised by a pitfall to your death, but that is a matter of getting to know the maps a bit I guess.

This came out yesterday, been eager to see it for myself for nearly a year now. Had a play today but all its done is remind me of the fact that competitive games are not my jam.

Great destruction and team work elements, but damn it feels like i'm playing against people who have been playing it at e-sports level.

Back to singleplayer stuff for me!

Been following this game for a while now. I'm away currently so can't try out the open beta but the sense of scale and destruction looks incredible. It's reminding me of the best parts of Battlefield and Halo's fun game modes.

It has got me thinking though about the prevalence of high octane games on the market. Warzone, Apex Legends, even games like Lego 2k Drive which doesn't waste a moment between switching vehicles when the terrain changes. It's all GO GO GO! Are our attention spans diminishing rapidly? I hardly see slower, more methodical games in the spotlight anymore.

Anyway, excited to try this out when I do have the energy!