Remedy Entertainment’s newly released spin-off of 2019’sControl,FBC: Firebreak, has not been received well initially by players. The three-player, co-op, first-person shooter is Remedy’s first foray into live-service gaming, and also marks the studio’s debut in self-publishing.
FBC: Firebreakhas debuted to “Mostly Negative” reviews onSteam, however – an ill omen for a game that already has plans to be supported post-launch.Many negative user reviews cite a lack of content variety, claiming the missions are short with very few enemy types to fight. The price of the game, $39.99, is also a prominent sticking point among those who are unsatisfied withFBC: Firebreak, warning others that they might not feel that they’ve gotten enough content for their money. It should be noted, however, that at the time of writing, there are fewer than 300 user reviews, and many have been submitted with relatively little playtime.
FBC: Firebreak’s Negative Reviews Are Unusual For Remedy
Control & Alan Wake Are Beloved
FBC: Firebreak’s poor reviews upon launch is unexpected from a Remedy Entertainment game;the studio has become seen a creatively reliable after the successes ofControlandAlan Wake 2.Screen Rant’s ownFBC: Firebreakreviewmentions similar struggles, pointing out that the game’s novelty wears off quickly, but never really had the creativity of Remedy’s single-player games to begin with.
ControlandAlan Wakeshare a universe, butFirebreaktakes place in the same setting as the former, the Federal Bureau of Control’s Oldest House. It’s a setting ripe for quirky missions and enemies, but most reviews seem to agree that the initial intrigue doesn’t last. This is in sharp contrast to bothControland theexcellentAlan Wake 2, which both keep exceptionally compelling mysteries lingering throughout their runtime.
FBC: Firebreak May Not Play To Control’s Strengths
The Hiss Were Never That Exciting
The concept ofFBC: Firebreakis compelling mostly because of its setting, which also happens to giveControlthe majority of its intrigue. Even the entertainment ofControl’s powers didn’t make its combat especially exciting, which resulted in similar criticisms revolving around a lack of enemy variety.Controlexcels in its narrative and the vignettes surrounding the various Altered Items stored in the Oldest House.The story and setting are both bizarre enough to keep players engaged, which can be difficult to recreate in short-form co-op missions.
WhileFBC: Firebreak’s price remains a concern on PC, being aday-one Game Pass and PlayStation Plus releasemay help its prospects. There will surely be an influx of players who give it a shot at no extra charge. It’s also just the beginning forFBC: Firebreak, as Remedy has promised new content through the end of the year in the game’spost-launch roadmap.FBC: Firebreakmay be struggling out of the gate, but the live-service market is finicky, so there’s always a chance things could turn around.
Source:Steam
FBC: Firebreak
Set six years afterControl,FBC: Firebreakthrusts players into the role of elite agents combating the Hiss within the ever-shifting corridors of the Oldest House. In this three-player cooperative shooter, teams undertake dynamic missions utilizing customizable “Crisis Kits” and paranatural tools to restore order amidst chaos.
