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A refreshing take with its hardcore and unforgiving tactical gameplay | Review - Arena Breakout
2K View2023-07-17
Arena Breakout is a thrilling and intense first-person shooter game that will test your skills, patience, and strategic thinking. This mixed PvP and PvE multiplayer experience takes the concept of a survival shooter to new heights — as far as mobile gaming is concerned — offering a unique and unforgiving experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
🟩Pros
+High quality graphics
+Impressive sound design, and has been adapted well to mobile gaming
+Immersive realistic gameplay
+Hardcore looter extraction mechanics translated well into mobile
+Weapon customization
+Lite version for low-end mobile phones
🟥Cons
-Slow-paced hardcore gameplay may not appeal to everyone
-Confusing inventory system
Set in a war-torn city Kamona with a post-apocalyptic atmosphere, Arena Breakout drops players into the midst of a fierce battle for survival. You'll find yourself navigating through desolate streets, abandoned buildings, and treacherous alleyways, all while engaging in heart-pounding do-or-die firefights against both AI-controlled enemies and other players. The game's atmosphere is amazing, immersing you in a war-torn world where danger lurks around every corner.
Visually, the game impresses with its stunning console level graphics and attention to detail, powered by none other than Unreal Engine. The war-torn battlefields are believable and the whole environment is pretty much immersive and fits the realism tones the game is going for, both visually and mechanically.
Additionally, support for 120fps and Ultra HD graphics ensures smooth and visually pleasing gameplay for gaming phone owners looking to take advantage of their often underutilized devices. However, Arena Breakout also has a Lite version optimized for players with limited memory on their mobile phones to enjoy the same content and gameplay experience as the official version of the game.
The core gameplay mechanics of Arena Breakout revolves around dropping into Dark Zones, where they will need to loot for weapons, valuable items to sell, and survive enough to be able to extract and keep the loot, as failing to extract and dying will result in the loss of gear and loot.
You can extract at any point in the game, and you aren’t required to kill all adversaries in the area to continue, making the scavenging for valuable loot amidst the chaos of the battlefield both thrilling and rewarding. The risk versus reward dynamic keeps players on their toes, as they must carefully weigh the potential gains against the dangers of engaging adversaries. The satisfaction of surviving to acquire and keep rare and powerful items serves as a core gameplay loop of the game.
Mechanics wise, Arena Breakout incorporates various hardcore mechanics from Escape From Tarkov, a PC game known for its realistic and intense gameplay. The slow and methodical animations from as mundane as changing the firing mode of the gun to as complex as reloading contribute to a more realistic and deliberate feel to the gameplay.
The persistent magazine cycling reloading system is another mechanic that adds realism and tactical decision-making. Being mindful of the remaining ammunition in a magazine and the need to manage reloads can significantly impact gameplay. This mechanic encourages players to plan their actions and consider the right moments to reload, as well as the potential consequences of running out of ammunition in critical situations.
The ability to check ammo and gauge its rough estimate of remaining capacity is an immersive way of providing players with important information while adding a bit of hardcore challenge. Additionally, leaning left or right is also possible, allowing players to optimize visibility and cover. However, I found it to be more challenging due to the limitations of touch controls.
The slower paced gameplay encourages players to carefully plan their movements, consider their options, and analyze the situation before taking action. This deliberate approach rewards patience and foresight, but it might not appeal to everyone, especially those who are used to action packed games like Call of Duty Mobile or PUBG Mobile.
Stealth is also important in Arena Breakout, and the game emphasizes the significance of sound design and positional audio which is impressively made. Recognizing the limitations of proper 3D audio on many mobile phones, the game also compensates by incorporating visual cues that represent sound into the gameplay. The compass displays white lines to indicate lighter sounds like footsteps, while red lines indicate combat-related sounds. This visual representation of sound enhances the player's ability to make informed decisions and enhances the overall stealth gameplay experience.
Aside from playing the usual Tactical Ops where you play as your own operator and carry your own equipment into raids, you can also play Covert Ops, taking control of a random militia — basically as NPCs in the game in an undercover fashion, trying to loot more peacefully at the expense of having random initial gear, and you can still encounter other operators in the field and engage battle with them.
Customization plays a significant role in Arena Breakout, allowing players to tailor their arsenal to their preferred playstyle. The Gunsmith system, with its vast selection of gun parts and modification options, provides players with a wide range of possibilities to fine-tune their weapons. This level of customization not only enhances the gameplay experience but also adds a deeper sense of immersion. Players themselves can be deeply invested and attached to their customized gear, this makes the potential loss of their gear even more impactful, creating a sense of emotional investment in their equipment.
While Arena Breakout offers a unique and engaging experience, it's not without its flaws. The highly complex inventory system can be confusing and in my opinion requires more quality of lite tweaks to be more easily understandable and usable. Certain UI elements, such as objective text appearing dead center on the screen blocking the player's view, hinders the overall gameplay experience. Addressing these issues would greatly improve the user interface and enhance the gameplay flow.
Conclusion:
Arena Breakout offers a refreshing take on the mobile gaming landscape with its deliberate and immersive tactical gameplay inspired by extraction games like Escape from Tarkov. While it may not cater to those seeking high-octane action, it provides a unique and engaging experience for players who appreciate a more methodical approach. With its attention to detail, strategic gameplay, and immersive atmosphere, Arena Breakout stands out as a mobile gaming pioneer in the genre.
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