Loadout is a strictly online multiplayer experience, so players won't find a storyline in the game. Instead, they can team up in matches with characters that are fully customizable and can be modeled after a variety of different pop culture characters, soldiers ready for battle or some other person that probably shouldn't be allowed out in public. Players will have access to a variety of different outfits in the game to make their muscle bound character look exactly as they like, and characters can be male or female in the game as well. Once a look has been chosen for the character, they can be further customized with many different taunts to be used in game from Gangnam Style to twerking and everything in-between.
The customization options in Loadout also extends to weapons and allows nearly every match to be completely different from another as players continue experimenting with different parts and equipment. Traditional weapons are available in the game including close range shotguns, all around machine guns, explosive rocket launchers and long distance sniper rifles, but typically, matches will feature players running around on fire, being electrocuted or with lasers firing through their torsos. There are plenty of elemental weapons that change the way combat evolves during matches and how players will want to approach each scenario with their custom weapons.
More weapon customization options allows players to turn ordinary weapons into bizarre mutations of what they were originally intended. For example, a rocket launcher could have a sniper scope attached for long distance, explosive shots or a machine gun could have automatic laser fire that is powerful but overheats quickly. Experimenting with the different types of weapons and parts in Loadout is a lot of fun and one of the biggest reasons players will enjoy the game.
Nearly each part of a gun is customizable, so players will also be able to apply more subtle changes to their guns such as improved rate of fire, larger magazines and more. Leveling up can earn additional unlocks to get better gun parts, equipment and other items to use in the game. There are tiers in the game that unlocks better items with progress, so it's important to keep playing and unlocking new and better gear.
Each character loadout in Loadout also is allowed one piece of equipment that is similar to the perks offered in other shooter games. These are unlocked by leveling up through the game and have a variety of effects on characters including healing, jumping higher and carrying additional weapons into a match. Though these are unlockable by spending time in the game, there is good equipment available to players at low levels to help keep the battlefield balanced and all players happy with the abilities of their character in matches.
There are four different match types currently available in Loadout, and some of them are pretty unique to the game. Death Snatch is similar to other games' death match modes but forces players to pick up Bluetonium vials off dead players to score points rather than just settling for a kill and moving on. Blitz mode is similar to King of the Hill and forces players to capture waypoints around the map by standing near a flag located in the center of the objective. Jack Hammer is one of the more unique objective modes that is somewhat similar to capture the flag game modes, only with the flag being a very powerful melee attack weapon that is actually useful in combat. Extraction is the most hectic mode that tasks two teams with collecting valuable Bluetonium resources and getting it back to their own base while preventing the enemy team from doing the same. The mode is sort of similar to MOBA games and forces players to stick together in order to survive and prosper. Each mode is a lot of fun and offers different objectives for players to do while avoiding too much repetitiveness.
CLOSING COMMENTS
Loadout has been in development for quite a while, but this allows the game to run smooth online with a dedicated community already supporting the game. The game looks good and features unique animations as well as fully destructible characters that may be seen running around with missing body parts including their heads or with large holes blasted into their bodies. Loadout is a ridiculous game that shooter fans looking for a fun new release will enjoy immensely.
About the only drawback with Loadout is the in-game purchases that tend to really grind some gamers' gears. Purchases in Loadout are made with the Spacebux in-game currency that can be earned from playing or with real life money to purchase select items such as new costume pieces, taunts, and more. Having to buy Spacebux to get that must-have item can sometimes be annoying, but there is still a lot of fun to be had in Loadout. Loadout may not ever attain the same following as Team Fortress 2, but it's likely more fun that it or any other shooter that plays similar to it on the Steam market. Check out Loadout today only on Steam!
Loadout is now available exclusively for PC via Steam and is free-to-play. For more information on the game, check out the official Loadout website.
Game Features:
- Online Multiplayer 1-8
- 4 Game Modes
- Endless Customization Options
- Hilarious Taunts
- Achievement Support
Game Information:
Developer & Publisher: Edge of Reality
Available exclusively for PC via Steam
Release Date: January 31, 2014
