opinion: Although there is still almost nothing to see from the shooter, The Finals raises high hopes in shooter expert and Battlefield fan Daniel.
The Finals means nothing to you? No wonder, the short teaser clip up here from gamescom 2022 could also be safely relegated to a distant memory. But even though the Free2Play shooter was mercilessly lost in the trailer and reveal lightning storm of the show, I have high hopes for The Finals. Because it might finally deliver to me, as a Battlefield fan, what I miss so much about Battlefield 2042!
The Finals is a multiplayer shooter and stages itself as a virtual sports competition in destructible arenas – playtest invites are already running. Developer Embark promotes the game as follows:
“Play your way: The Finals leaves you free to choose – whether you sneak up on an enemy squad with a katana in your hands or blow the entire building out from under them! You”ll be given the tools to create your own playstyle in the form of skills depending on your body type and a huge selection of weapons and gadgets “
The Great Battlefield Promise
Well, if that doesn”t sound like the best Battlefield qualities, I don”t know what does! Using destructible environments to your tactical advantage is something I still miss the most in Battlefield 2042 – with destruction physics actually being part of the identity of the BF series!
Even today I go into raptures when I think back to Bad Company 2: Levelling a house full of enemy soldiers with C4 and then entrenching yourself in the rubble, that was just a very special feeling!
It”s a shame that Dice and EA no longer offer precisely these possibilities in Battlefield 2042, where the maps remain largely static and unchanged. Where the chaos moments are missing, where my friends and I suddenly yell: Did you see that?!
The makers of The Finals write: “A skilled competitor rushes into battle with his weapon drawn, but that”s only a small part of the arsenal when you consider the destructible environment! All our arenas can be altered, used or reduced to rubble – by you and your enemies.”
Embark is celebrating 3 years! So what have we accomplished? We”ve grown to more than 250 game makers, we”ve got big plans for the future, and a few projects we are just itching to share. To celebrate, we thought we”d share a glimpse of *another* unannounced game in the works. 🎂 pic.twitter.com/TdeZQcuvDs
– Embark Studios (@EmbarkStudios) November 9, 2021
The Battlefield fan in me just exclaims: Yes! That”s exactly what I want! A sandbox where I have more than just my rifle at the ready! I want to change the game, catch enemies off guard from an unexpected angle and pull off daring assault manoeuvres with my squad mates! That”s what a big part of the fascination of Battlefield or even Rainbow Six: Siege is for me.
But can they?
Developers can promise a lot and yes, of course I can”t judge how The Finals will play in the end. However, the shooter already has one big bonus up its sleeve: developer Embark is made up of numerous (Ex-Dice developers) who have said goodbye to the Battlefield series.
Founders include Carl-Magnus Nordin, technical director of Battlefield Hardline and the BF4 DLCs. Rob Runesson played a leading role in Battlefield 3 and Battlefront 2. And Patrick Söderlund served as general manager for Bad Company 2, Battlefield 4 and Battlefield 1.
And the list goes on endlessly. What I want to say is: Embark are no beginners, no small indie studio that overestimates itself beyond measure here. So the necessary knowledge and tools for a sandbox shooter with destruction are definitely there.
Yes, The Finals can still be a total flop. But I am convinced: our chances have rarely been better to experience the sandbox feeling again that we so strongly associate with Battlefield.
