As an old-school gamer who’s seen the rise and fall of countless multiplayer games, I must admit that upon first glance at Project ETHOS, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. It looked like just another hero shooter, another Overwatch clone trying to cash in on the genre’s popularity. But then I gave it a chance, and boy, am I glad I did!
Just recently, 2K Games introduced the initial work from the team at 31st Union. At first sight, it’s understandable to find similarities with numerous hero shooters currently available in the gaming market. It’s hard not to notice its superficial resemblance to games like Overwatch. But when these likenesses are set aside, Project ETHOS demonstrates some promise and with a bit of development, could stand out on its own merits.
Project ETHOS could best be summarized as a hybrid shooter game incorporating both PvP (Player versus Player) and PvE (Player versus Environment) aspects. The game commences by plunging players into a central hub world, named ETHOS, where they interact with non-player characters (NPCs). The main gameplay mode is referred to as Trials, an extraction mission in which the goal is to gather Cores. These Cores can be obtained through various methods. At the end of the time limit or when a player decides to leave, they must make their way to the extraction point and exit the game, but exiting safely isn’t straightforward.
As a fan, I’m thrilled about Project ETHOS’ Trials mode! In this intense multiplayer experience, we team up in squads of three. Our main objective is to gather Cores, but here’s the catch – the most effective way to do so is by outsmarting and eliminating other players to snatch their Cores.
In Trials, survival remains crucial, but it gets progressively harder as the game unfolds. Players who accumulate a significant number of kills will amass many Cores, which in turn attract Bounties. A player with a Bounty becomes visible on the minimap, making them an attractive high-value target for others. This feature encourages players to pursue someone on a winning spree or avoid a dangerous adversary altogether, adding an exciting layer of strategy to the game.
One unique feature that sets Project ETHOS apart is the concept of recurring Events during gameplay sessions. These events serve as an additional method for gathering Cores by incorporating a PvE mission, such as eliminating a group of hostile robots within a specific region. The appeal lies in the fact that while Events offer a substantial amount of Cores, they also attract numerous teams, leading to intense team vs. team combat or a PvP battle royale. This mechanism adds excitement and encourages activity, especially when the game pace slows down.
In Trials, the “extraction” mechanism serves as an interesting challenge to perform a specific action. Once you’ve gathered all the Cores, your goal is to escape the map securely. Whenever you wish, you can head to the extraction spot, but staying behind for extended periods will make exiting more difficult. As time passes in the session, a circle will contract, much like it does in other battle royale games. This forces all players towards the extraction point, where automated robots controlled by the CPU are stationed. After defeating these robots, it’s time to leave, but beware as other players might try to grab one final score by eliminating you at the last moment and stealing your accumulated Cores.
In Core, rewards earned during the Trial mode can be brought back to ETHOS and exchanged for Augments. This is where the roguelike element of the game comes into play, as these permanent enhancements can aid players in their subsequent adventures. Essentially, this mirrors aspects found in games like Hades, where a character’s power significantly increases by the 20th or 30th run compared to when they initially began.
Project ETHOS introduces intriguing concepts that we’re eager to see 31st Union develop uniquely. Building upon these ideas won’t be easy, but it’s crucial for them to establish a strong initial impact. This might require rethinking the art style, as it currently seems similar to many other hero shooters available today.
Another significant point worth mentioning is that the game shares a similar appearance with titles like Apex Legends and Fortnite, featuring team-based gameplay and intense player versus player combat. However, the main focus appears to be on collecting Cores, as there doesn’t seem to be much else at stake in terms of rewards or progression. Players are awarded medals based on their Core collection, but there are no victors, losers, post-match statistics, or means to acknowledge other team members after a successful Extraction. Given that this is currently a community playtest, it’s likely that additional features such as these will be added in future updates, potentially by the time the game enters its beta phase.
At first sight of Project ETHOS, I had a good chuckle at its expense. Considering how it appeared, taking aim seemed like an easy task. Maybe my initial reaction was a bit harsh, but after giving it a try, I can admit that it’s indeed similar to other hero shooters out there, visually. However, it does offer some intriguing concepts. As for whether it will evolve into a capable multiplayer game, only time will tell. For now, we’ll keep an eye on Project ETHOS as it approaches PC release. Although the community playtest has ended, it’s likely that 2K will provide more opportunities for players to test and offer feedback before long.
This sneak peek is from a Steam key given by the publisher. The end product may still undergo modifications.
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2024-10-21 21:27