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Nexuiz Hands-on Impressions
JudoChinX
September 19, 2010
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exuiz has gained quite a bit of attention and admiration during its life. Being praised as one of the best examples of an open source FPS, and having seen quite a few major updates over the years, Nexuiz has always been a game that was fun and accessible to anyone interested. This winter we'll again see the franchise re-invigorated as Illfonic game studios has taken the reins, and plans to release Nexuiz, now built on the CryEngine 3, on both the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network.
For those of you just joining us, Nexuiz is an arena-based shooter
much like Unreal Tournament. With a focus placed on close and frantic combat, Nexuiz is bound to scratch your nostalgic itch, while at the same time providing a graphically superior experience at a pauper's price. Illfonic promises to deliver a unique twist on the familiar arena shooter formula by including a new mutator system in which players can change each match's rules while the match is in progress. As the player continues to improve their leaderboard rankings, they'll also gain access to new mutators to further customize their experience, so not only do you keep track of the manically-paced action, but you'll also be constantly adapting to new rules. The game launches with two game modes: team deathmatch and capture the flag; but the fun doesn't stop there. Illfonic will continue to support Nexuiz after its launch with downloadable content featuring new game modes and arenas.
The build of Nexuiz I had a chance to play at PAX Prime had only been in development for two and a half months, but already, the game was looking and playing well. In a shooter where twitch reflexes are key to survival, it's absolutely imperative that controls are responsive. I jumped, dodged and fragged my way through the competition, and it felt great. Though Nexuiz may have started its life on the PC, it's been tailored to console controls to great effect. Between now and its release, we should see some fine tuning to the game's auto aiming, which was the one thing I found an issue with while playing. At times, it was difficult to hit an opponent, but in such an early build of a game, there are bound to be issues, and I don't expect them to stick around for its final release.
Being the first downloadable game to be built on the CryEngine 3, Nexuiz has a unique opportunity to show the world just how flexible the CryEngine 3 can be, and it stands tall and proud with the best looking titles currently available on the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. Even better, the game runs smoothly; a must have in this type of game. Add these things to the diverse collection of environments, and you have yourself a fine-looking game.
Nexuiz hits virtual shelves within a few short months, so be sure to keep an eye out for it. It's been a long time (too long in this writer's opinion) since we've seen a competitive arena FPS like this and I can't wait.
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