Preview: Killsquad (Steam Early Access)
Unleash hell on a coop A-RPG where bounty hunters raid planets for glory. Choose your quest on the Online Contract System. Unlock skills mid-mission to adapt. Wreak havoc with unique weapons. Scavenge materials to boost them. And, if you survive, spend your bounty on gear to live another day.
Pros:
- Decent graphics.
- 4520mb download size.
- ARPG gameplay.
- Controller support.
- 2-4 player online Co op.
- Easy to learn controls.
- Four characters-Troy (gunslinger), Kosmo (revenant), Cass (warrior nun), Zero (sawbones).
- Graphics-resolution, v-sync, quality preset, screen scale, AA, AO, motion blur and volumetric lighting.
- Codex-bestiary of encountered enemies showcasing a 3D model and info on them.
- Private match settings.
- Contracts-these are your missions that are on an ever Rotating cycle. Each one has a description and difficulty rating.
- Loot chests in level and can drop from enemies.
- Valor-your overall player rank.
- Isometric camera angle.
- Gear has a score rating and rarity.
- Big open levels.
- End of the level breakdown of performance.
- Gameplay-you start at level one each contract run and as you level up you pick new abilities.
- DNA is collected in the game and is the currency used at terminals within the level where you can buy health or upgrades, with any leftover DNA being converted into credits.
- Credits-your currency that is used to buy new weapons and gear from the main shop.
- Big boss battles.
- Range of different enemy types.
- Slight Diablo feel to it.
- Hud is easy enough to understand.
- A lot of bright colors and explosions.
- Detailed worlds.
- Decent loading times.
Cons:
- No tutorial at all.
- Nothing is explained like credits, gear, DNA, contracts.
- No matter the objective it all feels the same.
- Underwhelming loot chest reveals, just an icon on the right-hand bar.
- No camera control.
- Random shop purchases. As in items in the shop give a random stated piece of gear each time.
- No Steam achievements yet.
- No keyboard or controller rebind.
- Not sure what really determines your valor rank maybe gear?
- At the mercy of contract RNG.
- No respawn in solo games.
- The world can feel empty or claustrophobic.
Summary
We got to sit down and try out the new online Co op game Killsquad. What is Killsquad? Well it’s a combat game both melee and ranged set within a sci-fi setting. You get 4 wildly different characters each with unique weapons and abilities, you can easily invite other players into your 4 player group and jump in. Contracts is a word you will hear a lot for these are on an ever Rotating cycle and are your missions for the game. You have a selection of types usually a kill this boss scenario or defend an area, either way the contracts do get mixed up and show off there difficulty and rewards. Earn credits in game to but new gear for your characters with each purchase being a random roll for the stats and buffs and manage your inventory. Gameplay wise it’s a bit like Diablo in that you take on enemies, elites and bosses in a wide open level and earn loot chests. You start each contract at level one and earn exp as you slay and get upgrade choices as you level. You eventually unlock a special move that can be charged up and it’s all very viscous and fun. Moving and shooting is really good with a roll button being dab handy, the boss encounters are hard and it runs at a fast pace. Earn DNA from enemies which you use to buy buffs and health within the level at terminals with all unused DNA being turned into credits. I do wish however that even at this early stage that we could have a tutorial or a decent run down of what everything is and does and basically welcome the player in instead of the cold menu driven opening. The World’s can feel empty or claustrophobic as it never makes up its mind for enemy placement or encounters, solo play is harder due to no respawn but with minimal health drops it’s just stress you don’t need and is not the best way to play the game, enemies take longer to kill, bosses are just a huge time drain and it all gets very cold. The loot needs a lot of work however as there is no decent reveal on loot, you never really know what you get because, icons and it just feels dead. This is all things honestly that will be fixed updated and included as time goes on I’m sure, this is how early access works after all. For now it is still worthy of your time but maybe go on with friends or the ability to jump in with randoms as solo play is a right slog. I look forward to checking back in with Killsquad later in the early access period.
