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A frantic, fun gameplay with a touch of card strategy | Full Review - Friends vs Friends

4K View2023-06-06

Friends vs Friends is a deck/FPS game hybrid developed by Brainwash Gang and recently released for PC. It features an arena based shooter feel and deck building game mechanics that promises a frantic, fun gameplay with a touch of card strategy.

🟩Pros

+A unique blend of FPS and deck-building

+Fun FPS combat

+Superb art style and presentation

+Includes boosters packs but actually not pay to win

🟥Cons

-Matchmaking can take long due to low playerbase (for now)

-Maps are too small and cramped

-Imbalanced matchmaking, matching against higher leveled players

The Art Design of Friends vs Friends is just superb, the fun and cheerful music, the cel-shaded graphics that is backdropped by the stylized cartoon graphics feels something you’ve watched late at night. I mean, just look at the reveal trailer down below! It genuinely feels like a cartoon intro.

The core gameplay revolves around intense FPS fights between players – in either 1v1 or 2v2 format, where they utilize their chosen character's unique skill and strategically deploy cards from their deck. As a player, you'll have to make tactical decisions on which cards to use at specific moments, considering their strengths, weaknesses, and synergies. At the end of the day though, it ultimately boils down to the FPS action as shooting them down is ultimately the most reliable way of killing them.

The FPS experience is fluid for the most part. Gunshots have impact, movement is fluid, and you have numerical feedback on hits in an RPG fashion. Without the card power-ups and buffs, the closest experience to the gunplay I can think of is probably a source engine game like Half-Life 2 or CS:GO, although I found that the maps are too small and cramped for my tastes to cater to the frantic and chaotic gameplay this game is offering.

There are many different cards you could choose from that affect the gameplay. Slow-motion cards, powerful weapons, cards that will make your head smaller, or make the enemies’ bigger, debuff cards, disappearing cards, reversal cards, or even as straightforward as increasing speed, or replenishing HP. And you can collect more and level these cards by just playing the game.

A player's deck must consist of at least 25 cards and the cumulative value of all the cards should not exceed 50, with each card having their own value. At the beginning of a match, characters are dealt six random cards and subsequently draw three random cards each round. In 2v2 matches, the initial hand is reduced to four cards, with two cards drawn per round. There is no maximum limit to the number of cards a player can hold, so it's possible for someone to accumulate an 18-card hand and completely overpower their opponent in the final round.

The deck building aspect of the game allows players to customize their playstyle and adapt to different situations. You can unlock new cards, earn upgrades, and experiment with various combinations to create a powerful deck that suits your playstyles. It looks like a pay-to-win game at the start, with loot drops, randomized packs, and everything. But rest assured, everything in this game is ONLY obtainable by playing. There are no in-game purchases or premium currency.

There are four “friends” to choose from, with more unlockable for a total of 10 characters, each with their own unique skill that adds to the gameplay. For example, Moose Salto starts each round with double jumps, while Spike Remington has his bullets deal more damage. There are also unlockable skins for these characters, which adds another layer of progressions aside from collecting cards. These characters are fully voiced, each with unique actors and decent performances which is in line with the superb art direction this game has.

Friends vs Friends isn’t as popular as many other multiplayer shooter games right now, so I found the matchmaking a little longer than usual. Fortunately we have an instant rematch option if every player is willing, for those looking for a quick match without re-queueing. As for the matchmaking, the game can get a bit imbalanced if you’re matched with other players who have a pretty beefed up deck of cards equipped. Player skill still triumphs in this game, but I wish there was a way to make the playing field a bit more balanced.

Conclusion:

With its fast-paced and frantic gameplay, Friends vs Friends provides an engaging multiplayer experience where players compete against each other in varied arenas. The game emphasizes skillful execution of deck building strategies, FPS reflexes, and duo teamwork to outsmart opponents and secure victory.

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