• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Lawbreakers | Review Thread

AaronMT86

Member
I’ve been having fun with it. It fulfills my desire to play more game modes that Overwatch doesn’t offer. There’s no other polished arena shooters out there anymore and it’s nice to see something new (however I do admit that genre is niche these days). I admit I was a huge UT99 and Quake 2 multiplayer fan so I gravitate towards these games.
 

jimboton

Member
Don't know any of these outlets except for Destructoid.
I know right? Who ever heard of Trusted Reviews, Push Square or Hardcore Gamer. Plus they're obviously no tutorial connoisseurs, barely a mention of that very fundamental aspect of a game in their reviews..
 

ZeoVGM

Banned
Interested to see what the Metacritic looks like when more reviews come out, as there's only 4 currently.

I thought the beta was mediocre. The gameplay wasn't anything special and, most importantly for a game like this, the characters were bland/unmemorable and the art style was bad.
 

Weston

Member
Kinda surprised there hasn't been more reviews yet. Hope people are spending some time playing before reviewing and not just completely sleeping on it.
 

Rodelero

Member
Feels more class based than hero based to me.

I agree. It is, technically, a hero shooter, but it's not that much more of a hero shooter than Black Ops 3 was. That's definitely part of what rubbed me the wrong way to be honest, I was expecting a hero shooter more similar to TF2/OW, but in reality it feels closer to a riff on Call of Duty, much like Titanfall 2 does.
 

Budi

Member
I know right? Who ever heard of Trusted Reviews, Push Square or Hardcore Gamer. Plus they're obviously no tutorial connoisseurs, barely a mention of that very fundamental aspect of a game in their reviews..
Cheat Code Central and GameRevolution gives the game flack for poor tutorials!
 
I've heard others describe it as hero based and the marketing certainly sells it like that - fair enough if it's not the case.

It is and it isn't. Like, there are characters, but they have counterparts on the other team with the same set of abilities, so they function more like classes than heroes. I think marketing itself as a hero shooter may have been a bad move, as it draws inevitable comparisons to other games in the genre. It's very much its own thing.
 

r8er34

Member
It is and it isn't. Like, there are characters, but they have counterparts on the other team with the same set of abilities, so they function more like classes than heroes. I think marketing itself as a hero shooter may have been a bad move, as it draws inevitable comparisons to other games in the genre. It's very much its own thing.

Yes definitely a class shooter
 

Budi

Member
I seriously want this to take off.
You and me both! Love this from GameRevolution, finally someone has the gall to say what we all are thinking.
Rock-solid presentation. LawBreakers is one very attractive game. I'd go as far as to say that technically it's more impressive than any other shooter this year, and certainly a cut above Overwatch. Even with its beautiful graphics, it runs well. This is an optimized game with great code, which has been a nice change of pace from my past week playing PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.
 
I think the reason this game might not resonate as much as Overwatch or Paladins is the lack of distinct hero's that people can latch on to. I was listening to the DLC podcast this week and the guest they had on was mentioning something similar to this. He said the game has a steep learning curve but once you get the hang of it it becomes a ton of fun, but he also said that the lack of personality compared to the aforementioned games may limit its ceiling.

I wish they had stuck with the free to play model that they initially had. Like people have mentioned on this thread, Overwatch and other games are already taking up so much of their time, it's difficult to commit $30 to another game in the same genre. If it were free to play, it would've at least got more people to try it out and see how great of a game it is.
 

24hr

Member
I think the reason this game might not resonate as much as Overwatch or Paladins is the lack of distinct hero's that people can latch on to. I was listening to the DLC podcast this week and the guest they had on was mentioning something similar to this. He said the game has a steep learning curve but once you get the hang of it it becomes a ton of fun, but he also said that the lack of personality compared to the aforementioned games may limit its ceiling.

I wish they had stuck with the free to play model that they initially had. Like people have mentioned on this thread, Overwatch and other games are already taking up so much of their time, it's difficult to commit $30 to another game in the same genre. If it were free to play, it would've at least got more people to try it out and see how great of a game it is.

It may be classed as an a arena hero shooter but it really doesn't play like OW. Completely different ball game.
 

Budi

Member
Oh Plessas, I remember when I thought you were cool when interning at Gametrailers. But with this and XCOM 2 review, it seems we wouldn't get along.
 
Really fun game. Deserves better attention than it's getting.

EDIT: I say "better" rather than "more" because a lot of the attention it's getting is just stupid "overwatch is better" nonsense, like come the fuck on
I mean a lot of positives are "it does x better than Overwatch" lol
 

amdb00mer

Member
The competitive shooter market, hero or otherwise, is crowded. I think they should go F2P. I know to some that may be a dirty phrase, but I think it may be the only option. I don't see them bouncing back like R6S and The Division did, but F2P should actually help. Also, most reviews I read had the same negative. The characters and weapons are overly generic. They need to up the ante on the skins/character designs as well.
 

Budi

Member
Where the all PC reviews at, I want to see some nines people!

Edit: Well there it is, reviewed on PS4 though. But I'm fine with that!
 
PC Gamer - 84

Nimble, graceful, and original, LawBreakers' movement sets it apart from other FPSes despite a few aesthetic weaknesses.

Game Informer - 7.75

LawBreakers delivers in terms of neat weapons, lightning-fast kills, and aspirational skills. You’ll look back in awe at performing feats like landing a triple kill while blasting yourself backwards into a zero-g environment. Despite the adrenaline-fueled highs, the title falls back to earth due to uninteresting environments, generic characters, and a lack of variety. Even with an admirable effort to capture the spirit of the core arena-shooter and offer players a chance to show off their skills, the hero-shooter space is inundated with choices, and LawBreakers doesn’t offer much to stand out amongst the rest of the pack.
 

Budi

Member
Thanks, already in the OP! But please keep em coming, I surely will miss some. I think I should post about the new reviews in this thread too whenever I update the op. It's just been a slow thread and don't want to clutter it with my own posts. Adding another review now https://www.nerdmuch.com/games/147904/lawbreakers-review-ps4/ 8.5 Love their optimism.
Most importantly, LawBreakers is fun at its core. It feels like the darker, more serious tone that the genre was previously lacking. All of the gripes about similar characters and maps go out the window when you're hovering around in rocket boots and shooting beams out of your chest in superhero fashion. It's more of a physical fight than other hero shooters, yet it contains the same type of learning curve that will see those who frequently play fare better than those who don't. LawBreakers is the brute of the genre, and we're expecting it to mean mug its way to a bigger fan base with ease.
 

Budi

Member
Two more added in the OP, got one from the big sites.
Gamespot: 8
One sign of any worthwhile team-based shooter is a level of accessibility where everyone feels they can contribute no matter their play style, and Lawbreakers succeeds in this manner. And while the lack of Deathmatch is a lost opportunity, its sufficient playlist of modes offers a viable outlet to flaunt your kill/death ratio, even if it's at the expense of team success. What counts is that its fresh anti-gravity mechanics transcends its first-glance novel appeal and creates limitless combat situations that will be new and inviting to many shooter fans.


Gaming Bolt: 7
For some fast-paced fun without too many hang-ups about compositions and teamwork, LawBreakers could be good for a few games but you might want to stick with the latest hits for the long run. As it stands there’s something special in the bones of Bleszinski’s latest epic – it just needs more meat and personality to fully take shape.
 
I think after this launch and these positive reviews, their next move to be to A) have an accolades trailer in a week or so with some of the praise and then B) follow it up with a free weekend.

Gotta reel in those players.
 
D

Deleted member 10571

Unconfirmed Member
That's great and all, but I feel it's already pretty much a given this is a bomb. Which is a shame, probably, but still.

Maybe an eventual free-to-play twist on it will help it somewhat, but I doubt even that. I mean, for a "character shooter" I can't even visualize any character on this, except for the Rick & Morty Sphere.
 

Budi

Member
Booo, we got our lowest score yet. It comes from Germany.
PC Games: 68
For a few fast-paced games Lawbreakers is always good, but interested parties are better advised to wait for the more promising Quake Champions. Until that appears, the current mini-player base of lawbreakers should already have moved forward.
Luckily Italy balances it out. Buono!
IGN Italy : 8.5
A great competitive FPS with a fair and tempting price-tag.
 

Flcl

Neo Member
Scores are way higher than I expected. Might give it a shot, l just can't get into the artstyle though.
I was the same. Hate the art style. There are some nice skins though. But the gameplay is sooooo good. I love Overwatch but this game is just as good and will take up a lot of my time, perhaps more than OW depending on how things evolve.
 
Overwatch Overwatch Overwatch
Overwatch Overwatch Overwatch
Overwatch Overwatch Overwatch
Overwatch Overwatch Overwatch


sorry, i just felt that it wasn't mentioned as much as it should be.
 
My god the game used to be slow. Checking out streams the game looks to have more Unreal DNA than Overwatch now and it has me interested.

Earlier betas looked really dull, then closer to release the game started to actually look good. I ended up buying it mainly because Blizzard's handling of Overwatch's balance has been awful, but it's by far one of the best multiplayer shooters in a while.
 

Budi

Member
I watched TB's video and the tutorial alone is laughable.

Youtube videos to demonstrate mechanics??
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffWjNUpcWTs&list=PLc5w-faTLuKVQhRHXfYwOEHy8KyuljQIx This is decent videoseries by the devs that introduces all the characters and their abilities. For more in-depth there's dev tutorials https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx3Fx-iKAPk&list=PLc5w-faTLuKUyoIJS2NXS9_2FggHgdb8k

Edit: Another 9! http://cogconnected.com/review/lawbreakers-review/
 
IGN - 7.9

In its best game modes, LawBreakers manages to make simply moving around feel amazing. Learning how to fall with style in the most deadly way possible is a thrilling challenge. Getting stuck playing a weak mode and map thanks to the grab-bag matchmaking can be frustrating, but it doesn’t ruin an otherwise fast and tense shooter that lets you gleefully propel yourself through low-gravity with rocket boots and miniguns.
 
Don't really get the silhouette complaints. The classes don't make that much of a difference. Shooting skill is the key component, not the abilities
 

Budi

Member
New reviews added to the OP.
Easy Allies: 3½/5
Although LawBreakers suffers from a sparse number of maps and shallow characters, its fast and fluid movement, gravity-defying combat, and emphasis on skill blend together to make for a solid multiplayer experience. There’s a decent core to build on, but it needs to do a lot more to stand out in the long run.
Digital Trends: 4/5
"LawBreakers" is a speedy, chaotic addition to the shooter market, but might struggle to break through.
GamesRadar: 4½/5
Mixing eclectic elements from throughout the genre's history, but making them all entirely its own, LawBreakers is an immediate, energised shot of FPS purity, with intelligence, depth, and exhilarating strategy to spare.
LeaderGamer: 9
It was the time we put Overwatch aside.
New Game Network: 76
Despite some superficial similarities to other recent multiplayer focused games, LawBreakers is ultimately its own beast with challenging, deep gameplay that succeeds thanks to the unique movement system, low-gravity combat and fun, varied classes.
IGN: 79
In its best game modes, LawBreakers manages to make simply moving around feel amazing. Learning how to fall with style in the most deadly way possible is a thrilling challenge. Getting stuck playing a weak mode and map thanks to the grab-bag matchmaking can be frustrating, but it doesn't ruin an otherwise fast and tense shooter that lets you gleefully propel yourself through low-gravity with rocket boots and miniguns
Gaming Trend: 85
LawBreakers feels like combat occurring inside a snowglobe while a five-year-old shakes it really, really quickly. It's a shooter, like so many others out there, but it doesn't camouflage an axis-locked multiplayer formula with a new historical setting or gimmicky abilities — its low-gravity environments and lightning-fast traversal make it like no shooter you've ever played.
Slant Magazine: 2/5
The game's propensity for indulging counterintuitive elements feels like a willful act of self-sabotage.
 
Read that Slant review for some reason. Here's what I take issue with:

"regardless of how unique their abilities may be, it's all for naught given that the game does little to help you master said abilities."

This is the same shit we go through with fighting games every other week. People expect the game to make them good. They don't want to practice, they don't want to have to learn. They want the game to contain some secret formula that will teach them how to be pro-level within 5 minutes, and if they aren't, then that's somehow the game's fault and not their own.

Didnt expect this games review thread to do less than one page. It has no hype does it.

Not very much promotion. Being a non-f2p hero shooter and having Cliffy B's name attached to it, people expected it to be some kind of AAA game, but it's really closer to another indie arena shooter.
 

Budi

Member
Read that Slant review for some reason. Here's what I take issue with:

"regardless of how unique their abilities may be, it's all for naught given that the game does little to help you master said abilities."

This is the same shit we go through with fighting games every other week. People expect the game to make them good. They don't want to practice, they don't want to have to learn. They want the game to contain some secret formula that will teach them how to be pro-level within 5 minutes, and if they aren't, then that's somehow the game's fault and not their own.
Yeah I don't believe I've ever seen so much critique about bad tutorials and game having too steep learning curve. If I remember correctly, Overwatch has tutorial for one hero only? How does that help you to master other heros than Soldier, or even Soldier tbh. Don't remember it getting hit as hard about it. When I started playing Dota 2, it had no tutorials at all. It's very complex game with really wide bunch of different heroes. Learning the game and the abilities is on me. This being said, the game should absolutely have an option to play with bots.
Checked Steam Charts last night, it had 978 players. For a high profile game this kind of numbers are awful.
Not sure if calling this a "high profile" game is entirely accurate. Cliffy B has some recognition but that's about it. But it's true that player count is really low.
 
Top Bottom