Relictus: Blackout

[url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/38888018-United-Critics/] Please follow [b]United Critics[/b] for quality reviews[/url] Relictus: Blackout (Previously known as BloodZone: Vanguard Company) Review [h1]When Mom Says We Have Battlefield At Home[/h1] BloodZone: Vanguard Company promises to be a high-octane, futuristic shooter where players dive into a war-torn dystopia to fight for survival. With a variety of game modes and intense multiplayer action, the game aims to deliver Call-of-Duty-style/Battlefield-style chaos in a world on the brink. But, as of now, it feels more like a game in development purgatory, where ambitious ideas are held back by a slew of bugs and missing players. If you’re looking to battle your way to glory, you might be better off looking elsewhere… for now. [h1]About This Game [/h1] [h2]Storyline [/h2] Set in 2095, BloodZone unfolds in a world still recovering from the catastrophic Huaxia War. The remnants of the Huaxia Federation have become R.E.A.P.E.R., a shady organisation with questionable motives, while the Vanguard Company represents humanity's last line of defence. There are hints of cool sci-fi elements, like moon-shattering weapons and mysterious figures like the Hex Queen. But honestly, the game doesn’t do much to draw you into its story during actual gameplay. Most of the lore feels like background reading instead of an integrated experience. [h2]Gameplay Mechanics [/h2] Right off the bat, it's clear that multiplayer is supposed to be the heart of BloodZone, yet the game is practically devoid of players. With just one person online (yours truly), I had no choice but to fight bots. Now, bot-filled Free-for-All matches can still be fun, but not when you’re dropped into maps darker than a blackout. Like, how am I supposed to see my opponents when my vision has been taken away from me? The bots don’t rely on vision so they could easily kill me. Note that this is the Free-for-All mode, not even the blackout mode. The other game modes didn’t fare much better. Team Deathmatch seemed allergic to starting; it kept kicking me back to the lobby. As for the rest, some modes don’t even support bots, making them totally unplayable without human players. When you can’t even get a proper match going, it doesn’t matter how many game modes you’ve got listed. The movement and shooting feel a bit off too. There’s no vaulting over small obstacles, which makes traversing the map awkward. Meanwhile, shot registration feedback is weak, with lacklustre audio cues that barely let you know if you hit anything. Add to that the wonky animations, like glossy sleeves and misaligned first-person hands, and the whole thing starts to feel less like a polished shooter and more like a work-in-progress tech demo. [h2]Visuals & Audio[/h2] The visuals are a mixed bag. The game uses Synthy assets, which wouldn’t be a big deal except they’re so recognizable that it gives the game a “stock” feel. The maps are generally uninspired, and visual bugs are everywhere—from tanks letting you see through the ground to bot enemies casually walking through walls. Audio-wise, the experience is just as problematic. The sound effects don’t pack a punch, especially the hit detection cues, which make landing a shot feel less satisfying than opening a bag of chips. The background music and environmental sounds are nothing to write home about either, lacking the intensity that a game about futuristic warfare should have. [h1]Pros[/h1] [list][*][b]Variety of Modes:[/b] The game has a lot of different multiplayer modes… if you can actually play them. [*][b]Customizations Galore:[/b] There’s a decent range of operator skins and weapon choices to personalise your character. [*][b]Ambitious Sci-Fi Setting:[/b] The backstory and lore are interesting, with moon-shattering weapons and post-apocalyptic vibes.[/list] [h1]Cons[/h1] [list][*][b]Non-Existent Player Base:[/b] You’re basically alone out there, and with no players, multiplayer modes are just menu decorations. [*][b]Game-Breaking Bugs:[/b] From bots walking through walls to broken maps, the bugs are everywhere. [*][b]Terrible UI Design & 3rd Party Accoun:[/b] The third-party account registration is a pain, and server selection is manual (why?). [*][b]Unplayable Dark Maps:[/b] Some maps can be way too dark, making it impossible to see anything. [*][b]Weak Core Mechanics:[/b] No vaulting, poor audio feedback, and floaty movement make the game feel incomplete. [*][b]Glitchy Visuals:[/b] Synthy assets are easy to spot, and some visual glitches are just ridiculous (like seeing under the map when driving tanks).[/list] [h1]Conclusion[/h1] BloodZone: Vanguard Company has a promising foundation for a sci-fi shooter with plenty of ambitious elements. But right now, it’s like a car that rolled off the assembly line without any wheels—it’s not going anywhere. With no players, broken game modes, and enough bugs to start a pest control business, the game feels more like a chaotic sandbox than a refined multiplayer shooter. It’s still in alpha territory, despite being branded as early access, and desperately needs more development time. Unless you’re looking to volunteer as a bug tester, it’s best to steer clear of BloodZone for now. Hopefully, with some major updates, it might eventually become the shooter it was meant to be. But for now, it’s a dead zone… literally. [h1]Updates As Per 25/08/2025[/h1] I appreciate that the devs were actively working and trying their best to improve their game. And yes, the game has significantly improved gameplay-wise and the visuals are way better. I can actually see the enemies now in some maps. Guns feel a lot better but they are still not up to mark. The Sniper Rifle is pathetic, I don't even know if I hit the enemy or not. Its accuracy feels so bad. Sniper Rifles are supposed to be satisfying guns to use, but it's the quiet opposite here. They also did not implement the automatic server selection I mentioned before. You still have to manually select the server with the lowest ping for you. Despite these changes, the game is still dead. It's a multiplayer game but there's no point in playing it if there are no people to play with. You can obviously play it with your friends but there are a lot of better options out there. They are trying to compete in a very competitive and over-populated market. The only way they can succeed in this market is if they add a unique twist to their game that people actually enjoy. But for now, all you can do is either play with friends (If you do have any) or play against bots (Which are actually pretty decent). Rating: 5/10 (Previous rating was 4/10) (It’s hard for such games to compete in an over competitive and overpopulated genre) Casually sliding out of the game