Rekoil: Liberator thrusts players into online matches from the get go. The game doesn't contain any storyline to give players a reason to fight, nor does it offer a tutorial to ease players in to game mechanics before facing off with online players. There are 14 different characters to choose from in any match, and some of the characters featured in the game take noticeable inspiration from other games in the genre including Call of Duty and Army of Two among others. Players can begin a private match by themselves or with friends to learn the button layout and adjust sensitivity, and there is only a slight learning curve associated with the game, so the lack of any tutorial or bot matches is pretty easily forgiven.
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Rekoil: Liberator features seven different game modes for players to enjoy online. Of course, there are the typical Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Domination modes. The game also includes slight variants of other classic modes with Capture the Briefcase, which is similar to capture the flag in other games, and Hold the Briefcase, which is easily compared with Oddball from the Halo series. The most unique game mode featured in Rekoil: Liberator is undoubtedly Rekondite, which creates a manhunt where players must hunt down and kill an invisible player armed with only a knife and flash grenades while only earning points while being this special type of player. The game mode isn't a completely original concept, but it's a fun game mode that Rekoil: Liberator owners will enjoy spending some time in.
The maps featured in Rekoil: Liberator are varied, even if they don't have the best looking designs and lighting. Some of our favorites included The Village, that gives players many different paths and buildings to make their way to a destination, and The Bridge, that features plenty of staircases and alleys for interesting gunfights and a large bridge that is good for long distance encounters. There are ten maps included in the game in total, so players have a good variety of options to choose from when deciding on a match.
Rekoil: Liberator includes a nice feature pre-match that allows players to choose the upcoming game type and map while waiting in the lobby. The votes are seperate, so players can choose their favorite map without being stuck with a game type they don't enjoy or vice-versa. Waiting times aren't very long in Rekoil: Liberator, and loading screens are very quick as well. One really disappointing feature is the game's matchmaking that tends to throw players into lobbies by themselves or with one other player more often than placing them into a full lobby or a match in progress. A large problem with the matchmaking could be the small amount of support the community has given the game after its release, and unforetunately, the problem is likely to persist until the game manages to get some good press.
Once in a match, players can choose their team, in team based game modes, avatar skin, classes and weapons. Most weapons are class specific, but there is a recognizable assortment of weapons for any first-person shooter fan. The classes include Assault, Recon, Shotgunner, Heavy Gunner, Sniper and Rocketeer, though most players seem to stick to Assault or Sniper for the matches we encountered during testing. Players then choose a main weapon based on their class, secondary weapon, melee weapon and grenade. There are a large variety of options available in the game, so players should be able to easily find guns and grenades that match their playstyle.
Other problems persist in Rekoil: Liberator. The game includes plenty of different weapons and character customization options, but there is no way to save a loadout. Players are therefore forced to cycle through their favorite loadout with each new match, and this problem never ceases to be annoying. There is no progression or unlocks included in the game either, just winners and losers for each match. Some players will enjoy this straightforward approach, while many other gamers will see no purpose in continuing to play the game for long hours at a time. One other problem with online play is common in most any game, but unsporting players can easily ruin a game with friendly fire available early in matches to add a real buzzkill to some matches.
Rekoil: Liberator doesn't have the best presentation value either. The game looks decent from distance, but when players come in close contact with character models or trees, buildings and other objects in the environment, it's easy to see game doesn't have the world's best graphics. Mediocre sound design also plagues the game with gunfire that cannot be pinpointed and a couple of generic themes making up the soundtrack. The controls aren't the best either, and aiming is sticky and snaps in place rather than being looser as players would find in most other games.
Rekoil: Liberator isn't the best downloadable shooter around, but it's fun enough for its price and packs some features that make it a unique experience. Players won't find the high quality presentation of a Call of Duty or Battlefield, but there is a lot of content packed into the game that many of the big budget releases can't muster. With 40 different weapons and a good variety of maps and character customization options available, first-person shooter fans can easily find things to enjoy about the game. Check out Rekoil: Liberator only on Xbox LIVE Arcade today!
Rekoil: Liberator is now available exclusively for Xbox LIVE Arcade and can be purchased for $14.99. Rekoil: Liberator is rated M by the ESRB for Blood, Language & Violence. For more information on Rekoil: Liberator, check out the official Rekoil website.
Game Features:
- Online Multiplayer 2-10
- 7 Game Modes on 10 Maps
- 40 Unique Weapons
- Online Leaderboards
- Achievement Support
Game Information:
Developer: Plastic Piranha
Publisher: 505 Games
Available exclusively for Xbox LIVE Arcade
Release Date: January 29, 2014
Score: 6.5 out of 10