A Retro FPS That Aims to Make FPS Great Again?
In a recent Summer Game Fest showcase, the boss of SplitGate 2 was seen wearing a baseball cap that said “Make FPS Great Again”.
Obviously, many would see this as a bit of a laugh, a good riff on the Trump hat. But there is a feeling among gamers that the FPS world has gone a bit stale. People hark back to the classic games like Bioshock and Medal of Honor as heroes of that market.
Kvark is a game that looks like it could have been made in that era, what with its retro graphics and FPS action. But does it make the FPS genre great again? Let’s see.
Underground Secrets
I thoroughly enjoyed the setup of Kvark. There is a sort of corporate video that gives you a rundown of where you are and the history of the world you are exploring. It’s artfully done and sets the whole premise of the game up nicely.
To recap, you are in the Soviet run Czech Republic, in days gone by, waking up in an underground uranium mining facility. You won’t be shocked to hear that everything has gone pear-shaped. Can you escape the mine and work out its secrets? Kvark comes together nicely, equipped with a good simple narrative that gives a massive nod to Half-Life with its looks, weapons, and enemies at times. At the same time though, it still manages to go down its own path.
Old-School Challenge
Not long into my playthrough of Kvark and I soon realised that I have been mollycoddled in my most recent gaming experiences. Nice maps with way markers guiding me along, ensuring I would always go down the right path. Lots of health packs and ammo so as not to feel overwhelmed. Save points every two seconds. Kvark is at first a wake-up call to what it used to be like. Even on the easiest level, it’s far from a cakewalk.
As you may have guessed you play the game in the first person, initially armed with an old-fashioned crowbar. Combat is uneven and old-fashioned at times as the enemies you face need careful headshots, or they become bullet sponges for the very small amount of ammo you will find along the way. It’s hard to get used to this way of tackling foes, mostly as it feels very old hat; old school. But there is a charm to this as well and fondness crept back in as my time with Kvark progressed.
Puzzles and Progression
However, the AI of the enemies isn’t the cleverest. Many will just charge you down, with others occasionally strafing and shooting until they are stopped. Learn the pattern and things become pretty simple.
There are puzzles to solve as you explore the world of Kvark, but these aren’t too taxing at all; there’s one that has you align train tracks to progress. You also get to take in the odd upgrade to health and ammo for example. What is nice is that the level design found throughout is good; corridors and rooms feel confusing and at times are so dark that it all adds to the tension to what is lurking around the next corner.
Visually, the game employs a retro take that will instantly feel recognisable. The animations are good, especially in terms of gore and enemy death, whilst the lighting works extremely well. In fact, Kvark feels more modern in terms of looks than many other retro-inspired games, and the cut scene at the beginning is superb. The soundtrack is excellent as well, adding tension and pace to the action on show.
A Challenging Shooter with Nostalgic Charm
I’m not the greatest fan of a retro experience. I grew up with games in which dying meant starting from the beginning again and save points were something you could only dream about. I am all about the more modern side of gaming; easier, flashier games with a story.
But there is something about Kvark that will put a smile on your face, all as you remember those gaming experiences of yesteryear. The combat is good, the map designs are tight and the story unfolds well. Kvark is a fun, hard shooter. Perhaps it’s just about good enough to make the FPS world great once more.
Important Links
Steam Hit Kvark Brings Its “Very Positive” Dystopian Nightmare to Xbox Players – https://www.thexboxhub.com/steam-hit-kvark-brings-its-very-positive-dystopian-nightmare-to-xbox-players/
Buy Kvark on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/kvark/9N4GVP3WFLG6/0010
