Electronic Arts it is known for the development of large triple A productions and, although sometimes criticized, it has managed to bring to the screen works that have been able to conquer the public. For years, alongside the EA Blockbuster market, we find the necklace EA Originals, a project that includes a series of small works supported by the giant Electronic Arts. Thanks to this EA branded necklace, we all got to know pearls like A Way Out, Sea of Solitude or the two chapters Unravel.
Rocket Arena, debut title of Final Strike Games goes to flesh out the well-stocked catalog of the EA Originals series. Compared to the other productions mentioned above, the title developed by the guys of Final Strike Games is an online shooter with brawler elements, mainly based on 3 vs 3 clashes with various game modes that wink at the competitive world. Before the review that will arrive on our pages, we have had the opportunity to thoroughly test the title and we are happy to share with you our first impressions of this particular title.
Barrel from orbits
The motto of the title is quite clear to have fun and entertain, certainly it is what the Final Strike Games team had in mind during the development of Rocket Arena. The title of the software house is strongly inspired by the shooter of PopCap "Plants vs Zombies". It borrows the colorful and quirky art style, but, winks at the competitive world. Rocket Arena puts heart-pounding battles in the center of the screen and forces the player to hone their playing skills. In this way the title manages to have its own identity, detaching itself from the other EA production.
Without going into the history of the title, an aspect that we analyze in detail during the review that you will soon find on our pages, the player will compete in the Rocket Tour giving life to spectacular battles. Having selected one of the ten fighters at our disposal, we will find ourselves catapulted into the game map intent on showing our potential. Our aim will be to triumph at the end of the match. Although the design of the game arena is not particularly inspired, Rocket Arena he manages to entertain and show his potential.
Compared to the production of PopCap to which it is partly inspired, the title of Fire Strike Games favors the direct confrontation with the participants and brings out its brawler soul. During our game sessions we will find ourselves hitting enemies with the aim of bringing them to a critical state which will then allow us to throw them off the game map. What is surprising and we have been able to appreciate a lot, is the painstaking work of balancing the fighters.
If at the beginning of the game you find yourself choosing fighters without apparent logic, only with the desire to try them, with the passing of the hours it emerged how each fighter actually blended well if side by side with specific characters. Each fighter has specific "counter”When used in presence or against particular wrestlers. This balance that appeared to be painstaking in this "first look“, It will have to be analyzed over time if the development team will be able to maintain it over the long term. This aspect will certainly be important especially when new fighters are distributed on the market (hopefully, Ed.).
Some imperfections
Each fighter is equipped with a special weapon, a triple jump and two skills that can be used after reloading them. To complement these aspects, the player will be able to use their skills and weapons available to climb walls or reach elevated points. By gaining access to these high points on the game map, you can have a tactical advantage over your opponent. These aspects overall work well, because they are well blended with the soul of the game.
The only aspect that is apparently less successful for now is the speed of recovery, which still seems too slow and limiting. This aspect is still not very refined and perhaps penalizing today and compared to the closed beta a few months ago we would have expected progress from the development team. The game modes tested in this first look are interesting.
The mode deathmatch e treasure hunt, the game modes were interesting and the matches were able to entertain us for several hours. Note that here, the only mode that currently works well for the presence of other players online was the deathmatch mode.
This mode takes about a minute to catapult the player into the arena but it managed to give us some satisfaction. Unfortunately, we were unable to test the other modes thoroughly in this first appointment.
The other modes were in fact deserted and the only way to start them was to combine the encounter with the Razzobots. It should be noted that the AI of the latter was not received, thus dampening the initial enthusiasm. It will be necessary to see in the second place how the user will be divided in the game modes and whether they will be able to keep us glued to the screen in the long run. Another aspect to consider is how the developers intend to support their creation over time.
The team has confirmed that further aesthetic content will be released shortly. Note how some of them can be purchased through micro transactions, while others with the in-game currency. Final Strike Games will have to pay close attention to these aspects: if it will be able to keep the interest of the players alive with new and constant content, possibly free, and to balance the system of micro transactions, surely we will hear about Rocket Arena.
A few days after the release of the title, the graphic aspect of Rocket Arena is slightly more refined but far from the graphic care that we expected: the wrestlers and the game maps, although well characterized but are not very inspired even if in this first look we want to give a final judgment on the EA title. Surely it is to be appreciated how the developers wanted to add a different product to the EA Originals project, capable of attracting a wide audience. The proof in view of the review that will soon arrive on our pages, appeared satisfactory and able to entertain us for several hours: what we ask ourselves is whether all this will be enough to reward the title of Final Strike Games given that the aspects to be analyzed are many. We are sure that the answers will not be long in coming. Stay tuned!
► Rocket Arena is a Shooter type game developed and published by Nexon for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the video game was released on 14/07/2020
Rocket Arena is a nice game that we recommend: we decided to rate it with a 68%, if you are interested in learning more you can read the Rocket Arena Review
