Squad

More than 10 years ago, a group of ambitious modders banded together to create a Battlefield 2 conversion that made the combat more realistic and increased the focus on teamwork. Dubbed Project Reality, this fresh approach to firefights became so popular it eventually became a standalone game. With a dearth of realistic shooters on the current market, many of those same developers are getting the band back together for a new Kickstarter-funded project called Squad.

This spiritual successor to Project Reality is trying to find a sweet spot between the hardcore simulation-focused Arma series and more entertainment-oriented shooters like Battlefield. Squad’s firefights don’t take place at 800 meters or in close quarters combat where an enemy is around every corner. Instead, your squad sets out on a large map (typically four square kilometers) and must move strategically through the valleys, mountains, and forests en route to the objective.

“The backbone of the entire game is the pacing of combat,” says lead map designer Chris Greig. “Those periods where you just walk with the squad and shoot the s--- before you get into an engagement are very intentional. They are an integral part of the Squad experience. Everything gets calm, you relax, and then the first bullet goes off and the grenade comes in and then it’s 10 minutes of hell. And if you survive it you regroup and heal everybody up and resume your conversation.”

Whether this is fun or not ultimately comes down to if you enjoy the company you are keeping.

When you finally reach a hotzone, it can be disorienting. Most of the firefights I experienced in Squad were medium to long range, which means you don’t always know where the fire is coming from. This adds a nice bit of tension while moving through open expanses and makes it essential that you watch for tracer fire. It takes a while to get used to the weapon ballistics — don’t expect to immediately start sniping enemies at range — so you have to be patient while learning the ropes.

Given this hot-and-cold rhythm to combat, soldiers have other jobs to complete while moving toward the objective as well. Squad leaders control the placement of respawn points, and base building tools allow teams to establish forward operating bases (FOBs), complete with offensive and defensive fortifications. These supply hubs are key to keeping your soldiers well equipped and healthy. If the enemy overruns your FOB, your supply line will be cut. Using the built-in VOIP is critical to coordinating these efforts.

Squad is currently in early access, and developer Offworld still has a long list of tasks to complete before the game is fully featured. Planned additions include introducing weapon customization, integrating stat tracking, and adding vehicles ranging from tanks and APCs to an array of choppers.

When the game is feature complete, Greig says it should have five game modes and at least nine maps. The studio plans to release the SDK soon so the community can start making its own maps as well.

Offworld hopes to have Squad ready for retail deployment in 18 months. If you don’t want to wait that long, you can check it out now on Steam early access.

There's no more definitive first-person shooter multiplayer game than the word Squad. That's showcasing that you'll gather your best mates and dive into some intensive team-based warfare. However, it more than meets the eye in this generic-sounding FPS game. It had a following before it even got released.

Squad derives from a modification of another game. It gained so much popularity that there was a strong demand to make this a standalone version. In the rare cases where mods become their games, we usually see a high degree of success. Can the same be said about Squad? We best play to find out.

A Century of Warfare

You've probably figured that Squad is a squad-based first-person shooter set in a modern environment from the title. Yes, there are generic features such as the standard visuals of an urban conflict. However, some unique features piqued interest upon arrival, even in its mod format.

The fact that you can jump into battles with over 100 real player soldiers brings a level of intensity not often seen in games of this genre. You'll use your wit, tactical prowess, and strategy, choosing classes and planning how to engage the enemy effectively. It's an FPS game for those not who like to go gung-ho but those who want to emulate warfare's realities.

Maps are big, armies are real, and the arsenal of weapons and vehicles to use replicates actual models. It's pretty intriguing getting involved in something that resembles an existing military plan rather than just shooting and hoping for the best. There's a high degree of satisfaction in managing to pull off an operation and subdue your enemies.

The downside is trying to manage that many people with differing play styles. If you are paired up with someone whose used to playing solo, you may find a lot of frustrations given how the mechanics can be punishing. Otherwise, if you can get the right team together, Squad can be quite the piece of fun.

Battle of the Brains

The standout feature of Squad is that the mechanics are not friendly. That can be an excellent thing or a terrible thing, depending on how you look. It's beneficial in the sense that you have a game that takes skill to succeed, but wrong in that it limits your play style and doesn't leave room for creativity.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• It brings more realism into the FPS genre
• The strategy required to succeed channels some exciting gameplay
• A large number of classes and armies to play as

Cons:

• Organizing your team is challenging
• Mechanics are not geared towards solo play
• Battle systems are a bit rigid