Battleborn (video game)

Battleborn
Developer(s) Gearbox Software
Publisher(s) 2K Games
Distributor(s) Take-Two Interactive
Director(s) Randy Varnell
Designer(s) John Mulkey
Writer(s) Aaron Linde
Composer(s) Cris Velasco
Kevin Riepl
Engine Unreal Engine 3
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Release date(s)
  • WW May 3, 2016
Genre(s) First-person shooter
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Battleborn is an online first-person shooter video game developed by Gearbox Software, and published by 2K Games for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The game was released worldwide on May 3, 2016. Labelled as a "hero shooter", the game features multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) elements.

Gameplay

Battleborn is a first-person shooter with multiplayer online battle arena elements, in which players engage in combat through a first-person perspective. Unlike other first-person shooters, the quests and game modes of the game were designed to feature a format and structure similar to a multiplayer online battle arena game.[1] The game will also feature a leveling system, which resets when a match begins. Players start with the same basic level, and they can unlock new skills and abilities during a match. When players gain enough skill points and are allowed to level up, they can select one of up to three choices to pick per level through each characters' unique Helix Tree.[2]

The game will feature 25 playable characters upon release, with each having different abilities and weapons.[3] For example, Rath is a melee-based character who is equipped with a katana,[4] while Thorn is a long-ranged character, whose primary weapon is a bow.[5] Characters of supporting role, such as Miko, who specializes in healing other characters of the same team, will also be playable.[6] Each character also has their own "ultimate ability". In addition to melee and ranged combat, characters can also cast magic and area-of-effect attacks.[7] Characters controlled by artificial intelligence in multiplayer will also be featured in the game.[8] Players can also switch to third-person perspective to activate special abilities.[2]

A campaign mode, which can be played solo or co-operatively with four other players, will also be included in the game.[9] The game will feature an interconnected world and an objective-driven narrative.[7] Three modes also playable upon launch include: Meltdown, an Arena mode; Incursion, which tasks players to destroy enemies' base; and Devastation, which tasks players to capture bases.[10]

It was confirmed that the game requires a persistent Internet connection to play due to the game's progression and saving systems.[11]

Setting

The game is set in a space fantasy setting, in which every species fled to a star known as Solus after a disastrous event destroyed most other planets and stars in the universe. These species are divided into different factions upon their arrivals, and eventually they united and cooperate with each other by sending out the best fighters, who are labelled as battleborn, to fight against Varelsi, the origin of the catastrophe.[9]

Development

Battleborn was announced by Gearbox Software and 2K Games and revealed by Game Informer on July 8, 2014. It will be the first original game developed by Gearbox Software since the release of Borderlands in 2009, and is also claimed to be "the most ambitious video game that Gearbox has ever created." and a "genre-fused" video game by Gearbox Software's president, Randy Pitchford.[12][13] Several gameplay elements from Furious 4, another project from Gearbox which was cancelled in July 2015, were transferred to the game.[14] A closed technical test for this game, which allows Gearbox to test the multiplayer servers and alter the balance between characters, was held on October 29, 2015.[15] A beta for the game was released on April 8, 2016. It came to the PS4 first before other platforms.[16] Battleborn's PC open beta began on April 13, 2016 and lasted until April 18, 2016. Players were able to participate in both story mode and two competitive multiplayer modes: Incursion and Meltdown.[17] More than 2 million players participated in the beta.[18] The game was set to be released worldwide for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One on February 9, 2016,[19] but was later delayed to May 3, 2016.[20]

The game's graphics are inspired by computer-generated imagery like the movies produced by Pixar, as well as Anime, the animations developed in Japan. When creating the game's 2D graphics, the team hired Michel Gagné, a Canadian cartoonist, to work on the 2D effects of the game's maps and characters' abilities. The team also drew inspirations from a variety of fighting games, multiplayer online battle arena games, role-playing games and toys from the 1980s.[21]

In addition to the standard version, players can purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition, which includes the game's Season Pass and cosmetic items. Five additional characters are set to be released for the game upon release for free, and 5 different paid packs, which includes additional story content, are also scheduled to be released after the game's launch.[22]

Reception

It has a score of 72% on Metacritic.[23] Destructoid awarded it a score of 6 out of 10, saying that the game is "Slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy this game, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled."[24]PlayStation Lifestyle awarded it a score of 8.0 out of 10, saying "If Borderlands and the MOBA genre could have a baby, I imagine it would look something like Battleborn. Gearbox Software’s signature style shines here, even if the humor falls flat most of the time"[25] Hardcore Gamer awarded it a score of 4.5 out of 5, saying "Battleborn has done what I would have previously thought was impossible: it has kept me interested in its multiplayer. I typically grow bored with adversarial multiplayer after about an hour or two, yet I have spent so much time with this title already and want to keep going."[26]

References

  1. ↑ Marchiafava, Jeff (July 23, 2013). "Dissecting The Elements And Influences Of Battleborn - Page 2". Game Informer. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Maiberg, Emanuel (September 17, 2014). "Battleborn preview: a first-person MOBA with a side of Borderlands". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  3. ↑ Nunneley, Stephany (June 4, 2015). "Battleborn E3 trailer shows the hero shooter’s characters in action". VG247. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  4. ↑ Marchiafava, Jeff (July 18, 2014). "Meet Battleborn's Rath, Marquis, & Caldarius". Game Informer. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  5. ↑ Marchiafava, Jeff (July 16, 2014). "Meet Battleborn's Thorn, Montana, & Reyna". Game Informer. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  6. ↑ Marchiafava, Jeff (July 14, 2014). "Meet Battleborn's Oscar Mike, Miko, & Phoebe". Game Informer. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  7. 1 2 Mc Shea, Tom (September 17, 2014). "Gearbox Puts A Happy Spin On The End of The Universe In Battleborn". IGN. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  8. ↑ Marchiafava, Jeff (July 23, 2013). "Dissecting The Elements And Influences Of Battleborn - Page 2". Game Informer. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  9. 1 2 Sarker, Samit (September 17, 2015). "With Battleborn, Gearbox looks to set a new standard for co-op shooters". Polygon. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  10. ↑ Carter, Chris (June 4, 2015). "2K announces more info for Battleborn, campaign supports co-op". Destructoid. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ Scammell, David (March 23, 2016). "Battleborn is online-only". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  12. ↑ Matulef, Jeffery (July 14, 2015). "Gearbox announces new multiplayer FPS Battleborn". Eurogamer. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  13. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (July 8, 2014). "Borderlands Dev Reveals "Battleborn," A First-Person Battle Arena Game for Xbox One, PS4, and PC". GameSpot. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  14. ↑ Prell, Sam (July 16, 2015). "Brothers in Arms: Furious 4 is dead, Battleborn killed it and gained its power". GamesRadar. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  15. ↑ Turi, Tim (October 15, 2015). "[Update] Battleborn Closed Technical Tests Start On October 29". Game Informer. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  16. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (October 27, 2015). "PS4 Gets Battleborn Beta First". GameSpot. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Battleborn Game Review". MMOs.com. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  18. ↑ Carpenter, Nicole (April 22, 2016). "Over Two Million People Played Battleborn Beta". IGN. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  19. ↑ Albert, Brian (August 5, 2015). "Gamescom 2015: Battleborn Release Date Revealed". IGN. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  20. ↑ Pereira, Chris (November 5, 2015). "Borderlands Studio's Battleborn Delayed". GameSpot. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  21. ↑ "How to make Battleborn pretty". Official Xbox Magazine. GamesRadar. July 26, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  22. ↑ Nunneley, Stephany (March 16, 2016). "Battleborn’s post-launch plans include five free heroes and paid content packs". VG 247. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Battleborn Metacritic Listing" (http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/battleborn) Metacritic. Accessed 5 May 2016.
  24. ↑ Carter, Chris, 05.05.2016 "Review: Battleborn" (http://www.destructoid.com/review-battleborn-359125.phtml) Destructoid. Accessed 5 May 2016.
  25. ↑ Contreras, Paul Michael, May 5, 2016 "Battleborn review" (http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2016/05/05/battleborn-review-keep-krazy-ps4/#/slide/1). PlayStation Lifestyle. Accessed 5 May 2016.
  26. ↑ Bohn, Jason, May 5, 2016, "Review: Battleborn" (http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/05/05/review-battleborn/205508/) Hardcore Gamer. Accessed 5 May 2016.

External links

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