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Plenty of game modes, plenty of fun | Review - Brawl Stars

2K View2023-10-24

Brawl Stars

8.1

ActionCasualMultiplayerArcadeShooter

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✨Overview

Brawl Stars, developed and published by Supercell, has been lighting up mobile gaming since its release on December 12, 2018, and has no plans on stopping. This multiplayer online battle arena and third-person hero shooter brings together a diverse cast of characters called Brawlers and unique fun gameplay modes.

🟩Pros

+Diverse characters with unique abilities
+Smooth and fluid performance
+Multiple gameplay modes which are all fun and great for solo or with friends alike
+Quick matches, only around a minute or so
+No energy system to limit play

🟥Cons

-Pay-to-Win elements are present
-Balancing issues with brawlers

⭐️Score: 8/10

✊Introducing the Brawlers

An eclectic cast of characters, each with their own distinct abilities and playstyles. These characters are unlocked through via credits and chroma credits on progression systems like Starr Road, via Battle Passes, or by spending money. You can further personalize your Brawlers by acquiring skins through Gems, Star Points, Coins, or the Brawl Pass, adding a unique flair to your in-game experience.

🎨Graphics

Brawl Stars features a unique and visually appealing art style that combines vibrant, cartoony graphics with detailed character designs and fluid animations. The game's graphics are characterized by bright and vivid colors. The environments, characters, and special effects are all designed in a colorful and cartoony manner. Each Brawler has its distinct appearance, animations, and personality, as well as a host of cosmetics to be unlocked by the player.

🎮Gameplay Mechanics

Brawl Stars offers a unique blend of strategy and action. Players control their Brawlers using on-screen joysticks and can perform normal attacks, super moves that charge as you engage opponents, gadgets with special abilities, and hypercharges that temporarily boost your Brawler's capabilities. Brawlers can only have three attack charges at a time and using them will need a cooldown to be able to attack again. This prevents spam attacks and rewards players with good precision and timing.

Furthermore, each Brawler can be upgraded with Gold and Power Points affecting their attacks, health, movement speed, and recharge time, making it technically a pay-to-win as you can spend money to upgrade the performance of these characters. Additionally, Brawlers may possess unique traits that influence their interactions with the game's environment and other characters.

📜Variety of Game Modes

One of Brawl Stars' strengths is its wide array of game modes, catering to various playstyles. From the battle royale-style Showdown to team-based sports-like matches in Brawl Ball, players have plenty of choices. As you progress, more modes unlock, such as Gem Grab, where the objective is to hold gems until the timer runs out. The game modes are varied enough and the maps and events rotate every few hours so there is a lot variety even for regular players. Honestly, for the majority of mobile gamers, there’s bound to be game mode that they’ll probably like.

Showdown, the first game mode in Brawl Stars and it’s Battle Royale mode, pits ten players against each other on progressively shrinking maps by way of a toxic gas cloud. Power boosts and bushes for hiding add layers of strategy to the game. The toxic gas cloud keeps the action intense as players must continually reposition.

Getting power boosts increases your brawlers power, and incentivizes players who tries to find these boosts across the map and alongside the toxic cloud, it serves as a catalyst for players to move around and reveal themselves. The game mode is quick, decisive, and fun. Although I found it easy to snowball matches with the other team having no way to upset you, if you grow too powerful. Overall, the ighting feels satisfying and the matches are very brief, lasting around anywhere between a minute to five minutes

For competitive players, the Power League unlocks at 4500 trophies, providing a structured ladder system with ranks and seasons that last two months. The competitive scene offers a chance to earn Star Points based on your rank. There are more game modes and events that you can participate in, and these are just some examples.

💵In-Game Purchases

Brawl Stars does feature in-game purchases, which can provide advantages in certain situations. Players can also spend money to gain Gems, Star Points, Coins, or progress the Premium Battle Pass called Brawl Pass. At first, it was confusing with all the currencies in place, thankfully one single tooltip feature is all it needed to explain everything.

Honestly, it’s a bit pay-to-win with regards to acquiring better Brawlers or upgrading their power, but ultimately, remains a skill-based game. I also love that there is no energy system so you can play all day without restrictions.

📊Performance

Although the graphical settings were a bit lacking and basic, the game ran absolutely smooth and I think it was locked to 60fps at all times on my Snapdragon 888 device. I had no slowdowns whatsoever nor any crashes. The menu navigation is also snappy and the clear user interface with the big fonts and buttons really helps a lot. The developers really nailed it in the technical department.

⚖️Conclusion

Brawl Stars is a very engaging and fast-paced mobile game that offers a diverse set of gameplay modes, characters, and events. Despite some pay-to-win elements, its core remains skill-based, and the overall game itself is fun, and perfect for both casual and competitive gamers.

Mentioned games

Brawl Stars

8.1

ActionCasualMultiplayerArcadeShooter

Get

Brawl Stars: An Action-Packed Multiplayer Game You Can't Miss

Master your skills – follow for expert advice! Developed by Supercell, Brawl Stars is a vibrant and fast-paced multiplayer mobile game that offers an engaging and dynamic gaming experience. Since its global release in December 2018, Brawl Stars has captivated players around the world with its unique blend of action, strategy, and fun. One of the game's standout features is its variety of modes, each offering different objectives and gameplay styles. Whether it's the Gem Grab mode where teams fight to collect and hold gems, the adrenaline-pumping Heist mode aimed at cracking the opponent's safe, or the solo showdown, a battle royale style fight for survival, Brawl Stars keeps the game exciting and fresh. Characters, or Brawlers, are central to the game's appeal. Each brawler has unique abilities, attack styles, and super moves, allowing players to find a character that suits their play style. From sharpshooters like Colt and Brock to heavy hitters like El Primo and Bull, there’s a brawler for everyone. The game periodically introduces new brawlers, keeping the roster fresh and the gameplay intriguing. Team play is another critical aspect of Brawl Stars. Playing with friends or joining a club makes the game more enjoyable and opens up opportunities for developing complex strategies and teamwork. The social element of sharing victories and teaming up to achieve objectives adds a rewarding layer to the gameplay. Supercell continuously updates the game, adding new content, balancing brawlers, and hosting special events and challenges. These updates keep the community engaged and the gameplay balanced, ensuring both newbies and veterans can have a satisfying experience. Visually, Brawl Stars features colorful and appealing graphics with a cartoonish style that is suitable for all ages. The playful visuals, combined with upbeat music and sound effects, create a lively and immersive game environment. Brawl XNUMX is not only easy to learn but also richly rewarding to master. Whether you're in for a quick game or hours of strategic team play, Brawl Stars offers a compelling reason to keep coming back. It's free to download on both iOS and Android platforms, making it accessible to a broad audience worldwide. Dive into Brawl Stars today and experience the thrill of brawling your way to victory!

Scott Sydne2K2024-06-06