Initially available for a short window during Steam Next Fest, the unconventional space FPS Border is now available as a Steam Early Access title. The game is currently in progress Steam for $22.49 until April 20 ($24.99 normally).
The story of Border is virtually non-existent, but essentially you have a bunch of armed to the teeth astronauts shooting each other in low Earth orbit. If you like the second season of For all mankind, you immediately understand the essence.
The UI and overall gunplay will feel familiar to anyone who’s played a Call of Duty title black ops 2However, Border forces you to master unique mechanisms to secure success. If you forget you’re in space for a moment, the game quickly reminds you that your standard engagement rules don’t apply here.
Border‘s differences are immediately apparent, as you can move in any direction, and there is no up or down space, giving you and your opponents many more movement options. Because floating around wouldn’t get you anywhere fast, moving around Border is achieved via giant jetpacks similar to the MMU (Manned Maneuvering Unit) used by NASA in the 1980s, except these are more like power armor, with additional armaments and gadgets attached.
Image: Surgical scalpel games
While you can always land on solid ground to eliminate the inertia associated with bumping through space, moving on solid ground severely limits your tactical options and makes you easier to spot.
The maps all take place around some kind of orbital installation with a mess to provide cover. Hovering in space and popping up to quickly fire at the opponent is standard, but nifty gadgets like a grappling hook and EMP devices add a few tactical wrinkles.
Enter the armory Border feels much more realistic than anything you’d find in your usual sci-fi shooter. The weapons lean more towards practicality, eschewing lasers and directed energy weapons for recognizable weapons modified to operate in zero gravity.
Despite the alien setting, the world of Border still feels grounded thanks to the many small details that define the setting. For example, many of the weapons are painted white because a matte black weapon would essentially melt in direct sunlight. These details aren’t just aesthetic, either; the way sound travels (or doesn’t travel) in space forces you to remain vigilant of your surroundings, and makes it much easier to sneak up on opponents.
Image: Surgical scalpel games
Developer Surgical Scalpels has not released a roadmap outlining when we can expect new features and other content Borderbut it is certainly worth a look in its current state.