#XDEFIANT ALPHA FULL#

This could definitely change as time goes on given the in-progress nature of the build though.įootstep detection audio is good, perhaps even a bit overdone, while the rest of the game felt 'muffled' by comparison. Things were well-optimized however, and I didn't run into any noticeable framerate drops in the dozen or so matches I played. The visuals and audio were also fine, if perhaps slightly underwhelming. Running at mostly ultra settings on my PC, the preview build looked alright, but there were no real standouts visually. These matches were tense and every fraction of a second counted, which was incredibly fun. Across three different Escort maps, there were different lanes, vantage points that are perfect for snipers, and different ways of flanking to get the drop on whoever currently controls the robot. With a couple of exceptions, they feel a bit too hectic, and it's easy for a team carefully using certain ultimate abilities (like the aforementioned flamethrower) to gain the advantage to a ludicrously lopsided effect.Įscort definitely feels like the best game mode right now, and a large part of that is down to the map design, which properly funnels enemy teams into each other. While Ubisoft plans for there to be 14 maps available at the game's launch, some of the maps I played on just don't feel fun when combined with the available game modes.

Unfortunately, things are a bit uneven right now. Range of modes, but more work neededĮscort is the strongest mode so far. Other modes like Domination and Occupy involve holding certain sections on the map to score points. Escort tasks one team with bringing a robot from one side of the map to the next, while the other team tries to stop them.

#XDEFIANT ALPHA FULL#

While the preview I played was solely on Windows PC, the full game will support cross-play across PC and consoles, meaning players can play together no matter what systems they opt to use. Time to kill never felt too unfair, and while XDefiant is definitely closer to something like a Call of Duty game than it is to Overwatch 2, the time to kill and wide mixture of abilities mean it's not all down to having the fastest reflexes, but also rewards clever plays and more strategic combat.ĭifferent factions play off of each other well - special mention must go to the Libertad characters, who can heal themselves and allies - so I imagine there'll be a lot of fun in playing together with a dedicated team, mixing and matching different combinations to find the best balance. With only two hours of matches under my belt so far, it's hard to gauge certain things, but overall the gunplay feels fine. Once you're in a match, the action is frenetic. Earning enough points will give you a brief use of special goggles, marking enemies no matter where they are on the map.īy contrast, playing as a member of the Cleaners will allow you to use a flame drone to strafe enemies while unlocking an ultimate flamethrower can burn out an area with ease. Regardless of faction, you can choose from one of five classes, each geared around a particular primary weapon such as an assault rifle or shotgun. As an example, if you're playing as Echelon, you can regularly activate a stealth suit to go practically invisible. At the start of a match, you pick from one of five factions pulled in from other Ubisoft franchises: Cleaners of The Division, DedSec from Watch Dogs, Echelon of Splinter Cell, Libertad from Far Cry 6, and the Phantoms of Ghost Recon.Įach faction has access to the same classes, but with different special abilities and one of two unique ultimate abilities to choose from. I've played lots of shooters, some more complex than others, but there isn't a heavy learning curve to XDefiant. That definitely feels like an accurate summary from my hands-on experience.

Xdefiant alpha