A brand-new first-person shooter, Wardogs, could be a breakout title for the genre, according to players who recently went hands-on with an early version of the game.
If you’re not already familiar, Wardogs is a large-scale FPS that feels like a mix between Battlefield and Arma. There are vehicles, 100 players per match, massive maps, destructible environments, looting, and grounded tactical gunplay, but there are also some pretty unique elements.
Every time you die, you spawn back at your base and build your loadout from scratch using money. You earn money by killing enemies, capturing objectives, and assisting your team in various ways. You can even tip your teammates for reviving you, healing you, or transporting you from base via helicopter, meaning players can show how much they value their teammates with direct rewards.
All in all, it’s a pretty interesting blend of the shooters we know and love with new twists. The game had a sizable closed alpha playtest over the weekend, and fans have weighed in on their feelings about the game. Many of them are glowingly positive, with some saying they see it having the potential to be a big hit.
“Wardogs I feel has the ceiling to be incredibly successful,” said one player. “Especially if they can eventually get it to console. Everyone loves ARMA [Worst Case Scenario mods] once they sink time and teeth into it. Wardogs has those same wow moments in a much more pickup-and-play accessible format.”
“Wardogs is an absolute blast,” said another fan. “Time vanishes playing this game. Doesn’t matter if you’re sweating gunfights, running vehicles, building bases, or getting farmed.”
Another fan commented on how the long matches mean players have time to try different strategies, try different things, and feel immersed in a battle.
“Something about Wardogs games going for over an hour just hits different,” they said. “The actual fight feels more alive, builds a world around you, a real one. Not just a fast paced rush to victory. You have time to do so many different things in a match. I loved it. Casuals might not.”
Of course, with it being a playtest, some fans made sure to give feedback on how they think the game can be improved. Some fans feel there are areas where the game’s pacing can be improved (such as having saved loadouts) without degrading the delibrately slower feel of the game in addition to balancing weapons, vehicles, and other aspects of the game.
I went hands-on with the game over the weekend and really enjoyed what I played. The inclusion of things like proximity chat adds a layer of immersion (and humor, depending on the person), the gunplay feels hefty and deadly, and the game really does empower everyone to work together. Players were constantly bandaging each other, dragging others out of the chaos to revive downed allies, and giving each other money or loot for being helpful.
The lack of arcade-y elements like hitmarkers means you have to really pay attention to ensure your hitting your shots, especially from a distance. I also appreciate the lack of sliding, diving, or advanced movement that can make games like this feel absurdly twitchy. It has the right balance of grounded movement and gameplay.
It definitely has room to improve, though. It can be extremely tedious to die and spend a minute or two building your loadout from scratch again. Having a button that can spawn your previous loadout or a very cheap default one would massively improve the experience. Wardogs is meant to be pretty punishing, but I think this is one area where the game could be a bit lenient in order to get back into the action. You should be spending your time playing, not dragging the same items in a menu over and over again. It begins to feel too much like Groundhog Day otherwise.
Bulkhead, the developer behind the game, has also been pretty blunt about its vision for the game. Given that major franchises like Call of Duty and Battlefield have been somewhat compromised by catering to influencers and content creators, Bulkhead has no plans to lean on those voices for Wardogs. That doesn’t mean it isn’t open to constructive feedback, but it isn’t letting one particular part of the community be overemphasized because they have a platform.
Although the playtest has ended, Bulkhead has also teased that Wardogs will have some big news on Tuesday, August 11, and that the game will be playable again very soon. It’s expected to get an early access release date on PC in the near future.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
