Frozen Cortex plays much like NFL and NCAA football but with five players on the field for each team. Teams take turns playing offense and defense until one team scores a touchdown. Points can also be scored by possessing the ball inside of special designated zones around the field, and additional rule changes include single downs per possession and up to three forward passes in a single possession with no ability to move the ball backwards. The rules can be tough to adapt to at first, but the game does have a helpful tutorial for breaking down all of the rules in the game.
One thing the tutorial featured in Frozen Cortex doesn't help prepare players for as well is actual game action. Players will understand the basic of games in Frozen Cortex by the tutorial's end, but a steep learning curve means that players will be blown out several times before ever playing well enough to win a match. One of the biggest determiners in the outcome of a match will be the player learning to utilize all of the tools available, especially the ones that allow players to test throws or runs before locking in commands. Frozen Cortex gives players a lot of tools to succeed, but it will be up to the player to use said tools effectively in games.
More advanced players will learn additional rules necessary to succeed in games. Passes can only travel over low lying terrain, meaning passes must travel through certain zones to be completed. Additionally, players that are in a pass window with their feet set will automatically pick off a pass. Having a robot with feet planted also allows that player to throw a block, while catching a ball carrier inside of a tackle zone will result in a successful stop. Players will eventually learn all of these rules and will begin having much more fun with Frozen Cortex as a result.
There are two ways to play Frozen Cortex; the game features an exhibition mode and season mode, where players can battle for a championship. Players can customize their team and name their robot players. Additionally, bets can be placed on any game to earn more cash and unlocks. Players can unlock better robots with improved speed, strength, tackling and other statistics and rotate their primary position on the field to increase the chances of winning. This feature is RPG like in execution and helps to add a lot of replay value to the game while grinding out a better team.
Frozen Cortex includes an additional Steam key at purchase to allow players to head online and play with friends. The base tier only includes two keys at $24.99, but additional tiers are available that include bonuses such as the game's soundtrack, additional animations, alternate helmets and outfits and other customization content. The game is available to play online and works seamlessly providing both players have a decent Internet connection. The game also includes special multiplayer features such as email notifications to remember to play out turns over time similar to the way social games notifies players on Facebook.
Frozen Cortex has a pretty solid presentation that helps create a fun atmosphere for games. The action is called live by a robotic announcer and what appears to be a John Madden clone. There is no spoken dialogue, which is a bummer, but the game does feature some pretty cool graphic designs and animations for the robotic players and tackles on the field. The game is easy enough to control, and the available tools will eventually have players strategically thinking out each move with all they need to pull off a successful play with nothing unforeseen messing up the action.
Frozen Cortex's unique gameplay and steep learning curve means the game won't be for everyone, but the game is developed very well and rarely suffers any performance issues or seems unfair to any one player. The title has deep customization options, and player friendly features that will allow most fans interested in the title playing like pros after a bit of trial and error for a few hours. Mode 7 could have done a bit more with the game's presentation to amp up the excitement as football fans would experience on game day, but the overall gameplay present in Frozen Cortex is more than enough to make the game worth a purchase for interested gamers. Look for Frozen Cortex on Steam new this month.
Frozen Cortex is now available exclusively on Steam and can be purchased for $24.99 on PC, Mac and Linux. For more information on the game, check out the official Frozen Cortex website.
Game Features:
- Online Multiplayer 1-2
- Season and Exhibition Mode
- Give a Free Copy to a Friend
- Tiered Bundles
- Achievement Support
Game Information:
Developer & Publisher: Mode 7
Platforms: PC (reviewed), Mac & Linux
Release Date: February 19, 2015