[h3]Whether new or old to FPS games, Aftercharge delivers strategic, skirmish-based play that is relatively unique to the genre. Be part of an invisible assault team, or invincible defenders, making constant split second decisions how best to use or counter character abilities. Sadly, the game is slated for removal at the end of June 2021, so if you haven't tried it, do so now.[/h3]
[h3]Pros[/h3]
✅ 12 unique character classes, 6 per faction
✅ Everything unlocked at start. Leveling is purely cosmetics
✅ Supports custom matches with friends
✅ "Orbital strike" system prevents keeping games hostage
✅ Cartoon aesthetic
✅ All ages friendly
✅ Multiplatform / Crossplay (?)
[h3]Cons[/h3]
❌ Low population. Hence the impending closure
❌ Online only. Unplayable after shutdown. Why wasn't offline/local mode included?
❌ Only 4 maps. The game is two years old...
❌ Very basic tutorial did not train character abilities, synergies, and counters. Likewise, in-game text doesn't explain important nuances
❌ If you play with bots, very rarely, the pathing gets stuck. Twice i had to restart a match because I was downed as attackers, and the remaining wouldn't come to revive. To the devs' credit, the game was not built for A.I. play.
❌ Repetitive. Your enjoyment depends heavily on other players' skill and willingness to play different classes, and even then, it's something that's likely to only be played in short sessions.
❌ Skill-based focus may alienate casual gamers. Besides that, it's easy to encounter matchmaking imbalances as there's no way to judge mastery in game--no ranking system exists. Level is only an indication of cumulative time.
In the crowded FPS genre, [i]Aftercharge[/i] courageously takes the leap to add a new contender, and one that's incredibly tough to pull off: Stealth. Picture your typical team-based defense mission, except only one side has guns, and the other is invisible. As the offensive robots, you want to evade detection as long as possible to destroy all the generators, and as the defensive agents, you want to down every robot long enough to put the entire team out of commission. Stealth can be potentially frustrating-- after all, how do you chase what you can't see? Rest assured, the stealth here isn't as potent as it sounds.
As a robot, every action you take can give away your location. Cloaked, your footsteps are indiscernible, but every time you try to attack, it becomes disengaged. You can also siphon a portion of your energy and give it to teammates to charge abilities, but in doing so, it creates a visible and audible lightning bolt that gives away the general proximity of both locations. Furthermore, to prevent players from hiding and possibly prolonging the match unnecessarily, orbital strikes begin around seven minutes, which create static shocks that become increasingly visible with time. All of this is independent of the enemy's innate ability to cancel your cloaking if they are a few feet away and facing you directly.
So you might be thinking, okay, if players can track these robots by so many methods, then defenders must have it easy, right? No, not exactly. Defenders have an energy tank that depletes with gunfire and ability use. The only way to charge it is to stand by an active generator. Thus, their ability to chase is continually dictated by remaining ammo and generator proximity. Placing traps, throwing grenades, erecting force fields, and so on, all siphon considerable energy and directly limit their use. Defenders only get the upper hand if and when they can down and wall off enemy robots, luring the remaining survivor near to try to revive them. And let's not forget one other powerful advantage robots have: Revival. Not only can robots revive each other (with a period of invulnerability), they are instantly energized to the max, enabling some very aggressive plays.
We didn't even get to character abilities, which add quite a bit of complexity to the game. To illustrate, one robot can create a bubble shield which prevents damage. But there's more to it... if you're cornered by defenders, drop that bubble and slip right out, leaving enemies trapped inside-- a potentially game winning strategy if you manage to do this while they're out of energy. On the defenders' side, one of their members carries a tracker which allows, once stuck to enemy, to reveal their position with a homing shot. But it can do more: When the homing shot connects, it refracts in the direction of the two other teammates. Provided no terrain in the way, you can smoke out the stragglers and potentially seal the match. With mastery of each character's unique powers, you can create some devastating combos with your teammates, and this is where the magic of [i]Aftercharge[/i] lies.
So what about the shutdown? Well, the game didn't get the traction it needed to survive. It's a very specific niche in category with no shortage of titles to choose from. The average FPS player might have been frustrated by invisible targets, forced instead devise tactical plays to flush out the enemy team. It isn't a game of reflexes so much as one of wits, which further narrows the potential interest. Then there's the matter of content: A limited number of maps lead to player fatigue, as did the lack of competitive rewards, a battle pass, or some sort of alternate modes to encourage continuous dedication.
If you have the game, give it a chance (even against bots) before it's gone for good. Collectors will want to grab it before it's delisted. Whatever you do, do it soon: You have until 6/30.
[u]Achievement Hunters[/u]: Get to level 30, 50 wins, and character-specific tasks. All of it is possible with bot matches, and the game is in permanent 2x EXP mode for the remainder of its life. First win a day grants 2000 XP bonus, and this will cut some of the grind. That said, do not wait to last minute, because the server seems to have sporadic connection issues, creating unusual lag at random.
The task achievements should be easy to understand once you've tried each character. The setup is the hardest part. Likely, you'll earn most during your leveling grind, but if you're truly stuck, search for the Aftercharge discord, or that of its developer, Chainsawesome Games. There are still active players organizing matches, and there's probably going to be a little tournament right around the final weekend.
~15 hrs to 100% with double XP and winning every match
