Review: Earthfall: Alien Horde (Nintendo Switch)
Earthfall is a co-operative shooter for up to four players. Using team-based tactics to fortify holdouts and complete objectives, players must work together to survive.
Pros:
- Nice graphics.
- 9gb download size.
- Touchscreen support.
- Local wireless Co-op mode.
- Fov slider.
- Gamma slider and correction.
- Settings-toggle crouch/ads/sensitivity.
- Six controllers preset with invert axis, sensitivity sliders, aim assist, auto center, and vibration.
- Four difficulties- Easy, Regular, Intense and overwhelming.
- Can set AI bot skill in solo mode.
- Four default characters- Maya, Roy, Danny, and Jonas.
- FPS survival gameplay that is a love letter to the Left for Dead series.
- Many alien enemy types like ones that grab you, Pounce on you or attract more aliens.
- Can heal yourself and others.
- Weapons- Handguns, Akimbo, a Fire ax, Grenades, Shotguns, Assault rifle, and sniper. Guns are very modern looking and have attachments like sights.
- Portable barricades- Drop them in doorways or anywhere else actually. They are cool as the stop enemies but also open and close for your team.
- Events in the game like alarms that trigger when you are doing something where swarms appear.
- Ok gunplay, Has ADS and a cool feature where the crosshair adds a cross when looking at an enemy.
- Same missions set up as Left for Dead. Pick an overall campaign than one of the handful of missions within them. You can play them in any order.
- End of level performance rank and breakdown with medals doled out for excellence.
- Clear on-screen icons and markers.
- Online game- Quickplay, Host with private options and a host search.
- Set pieces add tension and teamwork.
- Quick to get into.
- A lot of fun to play.
- Just as fun in solo as it is in mp.
- Drop-in/out co-op.
- Deep building mechanic with trap placements. You can have them work in tandem or to herd enemies.
- Levels are big and have multiple routes and secrets.
- Very simple controls.
- In-game players both AI and human call out supplies and enemy locations.
- Refreshing sci-fi spin on the genre.
- Can print weapons at terminals.
- Missions are varied.
- Tons of replay values.
Cons:
- Loading times.
- Slowdown.
- Few weird looking textures.
- Feedback on damage is limited.
- Some poor level design with many dead ends and endless loops.
- A few guns feel useless.
- AI can be dumb and leave you alone or not do key objectives.
- Difficulty spikes out of nowhere.
- Lore is an unlock as opposed to being part of the story.
- Characters are all just generic characters with defining characteristics or abilities or even a decent story.
- No tutorial.
- No way to really deal with AFK and griefers online.
- Online was having a few lag issues.
- Graphics - 8/108/10
- Sound - 8/108/10
- Accessibility - 8/108/10
- Length - 8/108/10
- Fun Factor - 9/109/10
Summary
Yes, it is like Left for dead in so many ways, But seriously deep down who cares? I mean at least here its not Zombies again and has a more sci-fi feel to it. Guns are modern and have sights and scopes for better control, The levels are much bigger and varied. It does, however, lack the tension L4D has, I mean it has tension but it is in no way the same level as L4D and for that its a shame. Difficulty spikes are the true enemy with it popping up at any place against any enemy. That said the game is a lot of fun to play. To say its completely playable in solo is a fine achievement but yes co-op with friends is the definitive way I am just saying even solo you still get the experience. So if you want a solid survival FPS game with aliens then you are sorted and even left for dead fans should at least give it a try, It may surprise you. Overall they did a good job of bringing it to the Nintendo Switch, It plays well and whilst it looks good most of the time, It does have the occasionally washed outlook. Local co-op support is a godsend and works well. What I am saying is the Switch port is a totally viable option without any sacrifice.