FBC: Firebreak is a funny kind of game, especially from Remedy Entertainment. In an odd first, Remedy — the team behind single player games like Alan Wake 2 — has pivoted to multiplayer with its latest project.
FBC: Firebreak is a first-person co-op shooter set within the Remedy Verse. And while there’s plenty to like about this big swing from the developer, it really should have just stuck to what it knows.
The title's set just weeks after the events of Control, where The Oldest House is run rampant with the Hiss. Keeping things from collapsing are team Firebreak, an initiative of FBC agents who must carry out maintenance repairs.
That’s about as much lore as you’re going to get, as the game haphazardly tosses you into a menu and sends you packing for your first "job”. We wouldn’t expect full-on cutscenes from a multiplayer-first co-op shooter like this, but a wee wink or a nod to the series that made this world so appealing in the first place wouldn't have gone amiss.
That being said, FBC has a serious leg up aesthetically due to that link, with the twisted melding of mundane offices, brutalist structures, and a sticky note or two. Even the white font title cards crop up at the beginning of each run. It’s all pretty stunning to look at.
But what exactly are you doing in The Oldest House? Agents are tasked with playing out various menial jobs such as repairing ventilation systems, storing radiated spheres, or clearing out rooms of sticky note infestations.
To carry out the jobs, players have a choice of three kit classes. The Fix Kit is an engineers class, where you can fix things with a couple of swings of a big old wrench. The Jump Kit is an electrical charge which can power up various stations, and doubles as a way to jump up to higher ledges or evade enemies. Then there's the Splash Kit, a water-spouting cannon used to put out fires and douse teammates to clean off infections.
A player with a Fix Kit can still put out fires, just as a Splash Kit user can still repair lighting systems. However, to do so you’ll have to work through a series of L1 and R1 inputs, sort of like calling in stratagems in Helldivers 2. Sounds simple, but these things take longer, and can put you at risk as hordes of Hiss rain down upon you. Really, you want a player with the right kit doing the right job.
Those are the fundamentals, and sadly those alone leave Firebreak feeling quite dull. The beginning levels and loadouts lack any form of spice, with missions playing out without much fanfare — even more so if you play the game in solo.
Everything is technically sound, at least. In fact, it all runs brilliantly on both PS5 and PS5 Pro. The frame rate is a stable 60 frames-per-second most of the time, and haptic feedback on the DualSense controller is first-party levels of good. It actually feels surprisingly great from a studio that primarily works on third-person games.
But despite this, those opening levels, which every player must grind through, feel lifeless, and it honestly takes a while before the semblance of a spark is found in Firebreak.
The five missions within the game have three clearance levels, each adding a new room to the run and a boss or boss-like challenge. There are also difficulty tiers to add to the carnage, and then corruptions which are basically modifiers that can make your life hell.
As you come back from each run, you’ll earn XP and Lost Aspects, which are used to unlock new weapons, gear, and perks. Harder runs can earn unique currencies used to upgrade perks even further. With plenty of perks and up to just nine slots per kit, loadouts can really start to evolve.
Once all of these things are thrown into the mix, FBC’s systems and gameplay start to click a lot more. The roles brought on by your kit become key components to success, team coordination is more necessary, and keeping an eye on ammunition, health, and most importantly status effects like fire, frost, or radiation become paramount.
And as you would expect, there’s that Remedy quirkiness in there. Each kit eventually unlocks an ultimate weapon like the lava-spewing teapot gun, or the piggy bank coin storm. What's more, each level also has some kind of mechanic like a bubblegum-pink gunk that expands and blocks corridors, or sticky-note men that sprint towards you. And all of this is with fairly impressive Hiss numbers on screen, with hordes sprinting towards you with manic speed.
While this is where performance is at its choppiest, that perfect storm of mechanics, enemies, kits, and loadouts brings a bit of the spark that we were hoping for when the developer first announced this game. It has a zany and manic energy about it that we suspect a lot of people will really like.
However, for us, those moments of mania and Remedy seasoning are too few and far between, and honestly, the game doesn’t have enough of a hook to keep us coming back for more.
The team's been upfront in saying it doesn’t want to go the live service route of demanding your time and continual dedication to the game — although post launch content is coming. It’s a refreshing stance that was also taken with FromSoftware’s Elden Ring Nightreign.
However, where Nightreign is fun from the start and only got better as you got closer to the end of its journey, Firebreak is just okay for the most part, finally starting to get good as you reach the later stuff — and then it just fizzles out. It doesn’t have that one more round energy, and successful extractions always feel like a bit of an anticlimax.
Conclusion
FBC: Firebreak stings a little, because it has so much of what we’re looking for in a co-op shooter. It’s got the killer world and aesthetic, it’s got quirky powers and role based kits, it’s got tight first-person gameplay, and doesn’t require you to grind things out for dozens of hours. However, despite all of that, Firebreak's just fine, and ironically lacks the fire that we expect from Remedy's output. It’s a fun, casual time, but you’ll play it, you’ll finish it, and before long you’ll forget about it and wish you had been playing Control 2 instead.
Comments 56
A hard pass, I secretly wish for the failures of GaS! I'm sorry I hate them, these games are money grabs, there's no creativity and the lack of story is lazy.
I think it's a lazy way to develop a game.
I wish them instant death!
@Propaperpusher whilst I generally agree, I don't want this to tank as Remedy make some of my favourite single player games, and struggle to make big profits on those as it is!
@Dimey I agree they make some of my favorite games. I love Control! I'm not too sure about Alan Wake tho. Still trying to figure out if I like it or not.
But these GaS always feel like a money grabs.
Imagine if they stop writing books with stories?
Imagine if movies stop having stories.
No thanks stick to single player gmaes please remedy alan wake 2 and control were amazing this looks tripe gaas games are garbage I really hope all gaas games disappear I despise them I bought alan wake 2 and control because them games need to sell
I played the last closed test and wasnt impressed, was hoping it was a lot better when all the systems are included and more weapons/missions but it still seems like there just isn't a lot of content at all. I will play it a bit since it's on both subs but I'm not sure it's going to do well at all.
I thought this looked fun in the presentations and I'll be willing to give it a shot on PS+.
Just need to get a team cause I don't think I wanna play it with random people
A couple of us are/were considering playing this… maybe not now.
@Propaperpusher They specifically made this without the usual GaS nonsense, there's no daily's, no timed battle passes and no FOMO elements. This was literally made for people who don't have the time to keep up with all that. They just tried to make a fun multiplayer game set in the control universe that you can jump in with your friends at your own convenience.
Even if it was good this never had a prayer.
@Propaperpusher
Not comparable at all. At a push a movie can be a visual spectacle with an awful/non-existent story. Storytelling is pretty much the entire hook of the written word. This is a videogame, and the hook (well the main one at least) there is the gameplay - I don't think anyone who was enamored by Super Mario Bros. on the NES was in it for the storytelling.
I mean, the writing is generally so bad in gaming to begin with as all it does is act as a vehicle to justify the gameplay. Control's story is little more than a poor episode of The X-Files.
Not unless you think "our princess is in another castle" is in fact some sort of cerebral artform.
Saw a preview for this a while back... the general conceit of it just didn't sound very fun to me. Seems like it isn't very fun to play, either!
Ok Remedy you had your fun, now lock in and finish up on Control 2 and Max Panye remake, respectfully of course.
Wow this month sucks for PS Plus. Back to gacha games…
@Propaperpusher I think there is a major difference between not liking multiplayer / live service games and thinking they are lazy. Nothing about this game screams laziness from the devs.
I personally like single player games and have no interest in these games but I can understand that for many others this is the opposite. We all like different things, but I don't expect everything to be made for my tastes alone.
Yeah - I had feared as much. Can't see myself trying this game out even when free. I love the quirky nature of Control, but all I see in Firebreak is a boring MP.
Very subjective. But that's me.
I’ll still try it, but it was on GP and PS+ for a reason, I suppose. Love you, Remedy, but it doesn’t sound like this is going to increase your fanbase with casuals like you hoped. There’s those of us that have bought everything since Max Payne and will be patiently waiting for your next project regardless.
I just wonder if this one will overheat my console like Splitgate 2 does. In the last week of my PS+ sub, it’s sort of weird that all of a sudden I’m now having issues with my console like this
Pretty much exactly what I suspected.
They done well to secure ps+/gamepass day 1 funding otherwise this would have been a disaster. I suspect with those deals alone theyve more than covered the cost of developing and maintaining this game for the forseeable so it shouldn't harm remedy as a company.
There's probably enough Remedy love to keep it going for a little longer than the usual DoA fate this type of game would have but not much more.
Oh noooo! Will definitely still try it out on PS+ but I’m sad for the team.
@Propaperpusher Words like lazy and cashgrab really don't feel justified here. It's a lower priced title with pretty good production values, performance and gameplay, without any of the usual live service trappings and only minor cosmetic monetization.
I'm not interested in these types of games any more than you are, but that doesn't mean we should just throw baseless accusations around. It's not exactly a mobile gacha.
@Ainu20 Ironically, someone dismissing this as "lazy" is using a wholly lazy narrative.
@Propaperpusher companies can make single players games and live service games I don't get the hate they are not for u no one is forcing u buy it but at the same time their are billions of single players games u make it seem no one makes them.
Remedy games always sound better on paper than they do in the hands. They lack the ability to bring together all the various influences they were inspired by, into something that feels coherent and necessary. The combat feels off and the stories aspire to current prestige TV shows, but are really just CW drama tier.
Clearly talented developers on board these projects though, especially on the technical side.
@MrPeanutbutterz Having watched every episode of The X-FIles -calling Control 'a poor episode of' is'definitely, definitely too far but I agree with the rest of what you're saying generally.
Writing in gaming is definitely still evolving.
They should have probably remembered cross fire x - while not multiplayer for them, generally tanked as an FPS game. As you say, stick to what you know.
6 seems a tad rough after reading your summary at the end. Thought you were heading towards a 7. All subjective I suppose.
I’d been looking forward to playing this but this review mirrors my thoughts on the game after spending some time with it in the Beta test. Ultimately not enough there to hook me and keep me coming back.
@Propaperpusher "The team's been upfront in saying it doesn’t want to go the live service route of demanding your time and continual dedication to the game"
It's not GaaS, nor live service, it's just an online multiplayer game.
I do not like those 'horde-shooter-coop' games, but i love Control so much that i want to give it a try.
im going to do this revolutionary thing and play it myself and make my own mind up
nobody seems to do that nowadays just internet says its trash so i hate it to
Gee thanks for giving us this one on day 1. Really dripping with quality, plus is.
I loved Control. Favourite game on the PS4, but seeing this GAAS coming over the horizon felt like a waste of development time on something that wouldn't fit the narrative based approach to that universe.
"wish you had been playing Control 2 instead".
This. I was always going to pass on this, because I knew this would be my reaction no matter what.
I will be there with bells on for Control 2 though.
“Stay in your lane”
What a terrible take. Where do you think great ideas come from? People that try new things or people that are too afraid to take risks.
Looks good but i have zero interest with multiplayer shooter.
BTW Im damn excited for Control 2 and Max Payne Remake. Adored Remedy works 😚
People on here make there mind up before even playing it just because it's a multiplayer game
I just played it for roughly an hour. I think all in all the review synopsis fits, that there is just a certain hook missing. The mission goals are just repetitive and they become dull ruther quickly. Matching was super smooth and the gun gameplay is really damn good.
Is this a fun game for a few rounds or an hour with your pals? I'd say yes! Is it fun alone? Absolutely not. I am glad this game excists and I hope it finds a good and caring audience / community.
@Propaperpusher I love multiplayer GaS like Destiny. They CAN be done well so please do not try to abolish the whole idea.
I don't play single player games almost at all but I'd never want to take them away from you.
@Hi569 Yeah. Most vocal are those single players hating on games simply because they aren't for them. Thy ar nt even the target yet they feel like every game should be done to their liking. It's just pathetic.
I like Remedy and their whole universe they've created so I'll give this a shot with some friends even if it does sound about average.
i would like the game if it was third person over the shoulder...
@N0CYmr0k exactly they get angry at sony because they decide do multiplayer instead and then they have this narrative that every multiplayer post they instantly slam it i saw it happening with arc raiders even tho its very popular it will sell a lot of copies.
There shouldn't be remedy verse, even marvel can't get it to work.
I think this is a no frills coop multiplayer game. Nothing special, but still entertaining. Like it so far except for the expectable server issues (and some other bugs) at launch.
It lends basically the "service" systems of Helldivers 2 in providing extra cosmetics passes, judging from the deluxe edition content. Fine by me
40 bucks is too much though. Wouldn't have got it, if it wasn't for PS Extra.
@MrPeanutbutterz you call video game writing "bad" when it's not, it has a style, just like comic books have a style. Different mediums tell stories different ways & in different styles & that's what makes them interesting as a vehicle. But yeah video game writing is no worse than say TV, film, animation, comics, etc. There's sh*t writing & hacks in every medium
@GalacticBreakdown I'll hard disagree there, the majority of videogame writing is absolute trash.
As if we didn't forget how they handled Crossfire X, let alone this game. I already guessed and was right.
Can they expand out sure but the way they have done so just showcases they haven't approached it very well twice at this point or what their 3rd person story telling horror or otherwise games offer that other genres they haven't as much. They need more time to think and see how others approach things and if they do why did they end up with this?
Off topic:
I don't like video game writing so I go for gameplay, thing is gameplay is dead and they want to write/show visuals so much it's so easy to avoid a lot of games these days and seek out the better ones, of the few Indies in some genres that are decent at story telling or other mechanics and the real mechanical focused are usually pretty poor and are too nostalgic or need more to complement them for how empty feeling modern era they are.
They can use their skills but they really don't showcase around that at all just safe environments/writing. As bad as AAA priorities.
To the AA being lower budget AAA game design makes me just not want to play any of them and Indies in the puzzle/adventure genres are great, others are just bland and boring.
@EquiinoxGII Was the first thing I thought of weeks back and let alone it rings true. They learnt nothing in that time and doubled down on both halves then the campaign half they worked on with that game that also wasn't well implemented as they may have thought and want to try other things after Alan Wake 2 sales and they need to wait more to figure things out. I don't know how they published this one and expected this to be a good a product but if Remedy can't read the market and also not have a better publisher or someone else able to convince them of details, then well that's on them of the details to make the product/project work I guess.
They learnt nothing, they had all the chances and they deserve to be laughed at for not taking the advice or better understanding the market, what games are like, what audiences are going to jump to it let alone reviews seem fair to me of judging it, and what their strengths are.
Even many vets that split off from publishers to form new studios let alone make dramatic new genre steps not just the same ones they enjoyed making and new IP with different budget ones that are hit and miss depending on their approach. Many devs may continue the same design or learn something or do it right and others go oh no we are losing money doing what we do best what do we do, and they scramble.
Some pull it off magically, like Hogwarts Legacy that Avalanche had never made a game like it before compared to their Disney games prior and revive. Others like Redfall or others with publisher expectations or 'think' they can pull it off to save themselves but can't.
They need a different angle to appeal to audiences and devs seem to be missing that detail/expectation audiences have, whether a live service joke like this one or something else.
@Lami people just lump in most multiplayer games as live service immediately now sadly
So this game is predominantly aimed at the fans of the Alan wake/controlled universe so the lack of back ground story is a moot point really as the gamers that have played through them will be familiar with what's transpiring in front of them. Granted it would be nice for gamers new to this franchise but they would probably start with controll first. So a 6/10 then and after reading the review I think I'll give this a go as I'm not reading about anything that's particularly bad and seeing as the first berzerker got awarded a 6/10 and that game was awesome and was nothing like the review suggested I think I'll use this review as a guide of what not to expect. I hope all the fans of controll etc really enjoy this.
I don't think this game is aimed at anyone except people that enjoy MP games. I played a little yesterday and will play some more, up to now I agree with the 6/10, it doesn't fell to great/good yet. Being a fan of MP I will persevere though, not many good MP games out there.
Thank you for the review. Hard pass for me. With all these semi-extraction-survival coop games there's one big question that arises: why play it after one or two hours? What's the long goal?
Unlocking things doesn't sound too exciting: look, now you can do the same things but now with this gun!
Looks like only Helldivers 2 thought about that: mind-numbing "fun" is not enough, there has to be some metaprogression or story development. Doesn't seem that Firebreak does any of these.
Tried it out yesterday... Could not matchmake on the first job (which is the only one unlocked until you beat it at certain level) at all (waited several minutes, cross play enabled, and could not convince any friends to try it together)... Eventually tried quick play. The tutorial system (or lack of it) is terrible, so me and a the poor soul that we played together with ran around aimlessly trying to figure out what the hell were we supposed to do. It also has bugs from the Control era (had the "press R1 to throw grenade" tooltip stuck on my screen even after I threw the damn thing several times)... Ended up closing the game after less than an hour, and felt my time was utterly wasted... Might come back to it at some point to see if more players are in for the damn matchmaking to actually work.
As a HUGE fan of Remedy, I am equally hugely disappointed.
@Northern_munkey I am a really big fan of the entire Remedyverse (everything is a verse now), played all the Wake's, QB and Control and I am not sure this is "aimed" at such fans... Even if you are aware of all the lore and story (I basically was obsessing over Control and AW2's world and story telling) what is here is very shallow, and definitely fails at environmental story telling (something which Control effing nailed) or pushing the narrative an inch further. The game throws some winks and uses the same lingo as Control, but overall in my opinion this is an absolute let down of what one would expect with Remedy.
Of note - I was actually excited about this game, and purposely tried it before reading any reviews. This one is spot on - gunplay is good, runs well, overall - not much meat on the bones from both gameplay variety and lore/story prespective(on average the game seems to be reviewing mid to low 60's). But of course, do not mean to rain on your parade - if you end up liking it, go for it! But it feels way more tailored for the MP "flavor of the month" crowd rather than Control/AW fans...
@NitrousX I'm quite enjoying it to be honest. It's not perfect and if I bought it I'd probably be a bit irked but I didn't,its free and I like it.
@NitrousX also matchmaking works fine for me..have you checked your Nat settings? Assign a manual ip to your ps5 and put that in your routers dmz.
@Northern_munkey Thank you for the tip buddy, will try! I am also puzzled what is happening as quick play finds a game instantaneously, but matchmaking for a mission simply looks for party and does not find anything (I waited literally 10mins). Glad you're enjoying it, hope they put some extra work in it so I can also get there!
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