Splitgate 2’s new modes offer a much-needed variety

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Prior to the upcoming launch of Splitgate 2 this year, I had the opportunity to test out its new gameplay modes and maps for several hours. Being someone who invested multiple sessions into the original game, it didn’t take long for me to appreciate how invigorating online play felt due to the diverse range of available game modes. Among them, Multi-Team Portal Warfare particularly stood out as a highlight.

If you’ve experienced the first edition of Splitgate, the new version will seem quite familiar. The core gameplay remains unchanged: it’s an arena shooter that brings to mind early Halo games, but with a portal feature that significantly enhances mobility and changes up combat dynamics. It’s just as thrilling to take down an unaware opponent through a portal or to make a swift getaway and lock the portal before enemies can chase you.

In contrast, what sets this game apart are the various play modes it offers. One mode I sampled during my trial was called Hotzone. In this mode, teams of four players compete to seize zones on the map to accumulate points. The contest is divided into three rounds, and the team scoring two points first emerges as the winner. Interestingly, this round-based structure has been carried over to another mode known as Team Deathmatch, which is played in a best out of five series. A round of TDM concludes when a team reaches 20 kills.

Playing Splitgate 2, an extraordinary moment for me occurred during Firecracker mode. Players familiar with Call of Duty might draw comparisons to Search and Destroy: two teams fight over planting or disarming a firecracker at two locations on a map. However, unlike Search and Destroy, Firecracker mode permits players to respawn following death. Despite the game’s fast pace, the static objectives necessitate slowing down, creating a unique balance. In an exhilarating instance, I clinched the round for my team by exiting a portal armed with a baseball bat, ambushing and eliminating three adversaries who were under the impression they had enough time to disarm the firecracker successfully.

In a fresh twist on the Big Team Battle concept, Splitgate 2 introduces its most expansive game mode: Multi-Team Portal Combat. This mode is developed by 1047 Games and features three teams of eight players battling it out in a map that’s significantly larger than any other in the game. The vast expanse makes using portals even more rewarding, as you can engage in thrilling third-party gunfights or swiftly escape to opposite ends of the map via these portals. Multi-Team Portal Combat comes in two variations: Team Deathmatch and Domination.

Experiencing Splitgate 2 is reminiscent of a refreshing comeback for one of the more imaginative arena shooters from recent years. Its modes encourage players to explore and master its distinctive features, promising plenty of enjoyable moments once it’s fully released towards the end of this year.

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2025-02-27 20:27