Fuse
Fuse belongs to the endangered category of class B games. About ten years ago, they came out in packs and affectionately called “strong middle peasants”: it seems that everything is in place, you can play, but there are not enough stars from the sky. Why are there fewer than every year?
The realities of the modern industry are such that making b-games is simply not profitable-they cost decent money in development, but barely pay off. Enty Assassin’s Creed, or an indie knee collected on the knee, is brought profitable; The middle path was blurred. Why was it chosen by Insomniac Games (authors of the Resistance and Ratchet & series Clank), it’s not clear to us to the end.
Identity Thief
It is noteworthy that earlier Fuse spoke in the name Overstrike And looked a little different. On E3 2011, we were shown a funny trailer in the original cartoon style (the video lies in the free access on YouTube), which reminds of something Team Fortress 2. Art Direzhen allocated the game against the backdrop of the fading of many developments, and since there were no normal cooperative shooters then (there are not enough of them now), everyone took the announcement with enthusiasm.
What was our surprise when, in a year, Insomniac announced the alteration of the game and showed new personnel on which the ordinary Generic Shuther flaunted: grayness, concrete blocks, fences-nets. Where, one wonders, the unique style has gone?
[[Bullet]] Snipers and small junk drones are the most annoying enemies in the game.
The authors claim that neither the script, nor the characters, nor the mechanic were subjected to changes, only the visual style has changed. Perhaps the way it is. But against the backdrop of dull laboratories and the same military bases, the already non -original concept of the game faded.
Why did Insomniac decide to abandon the original plan? There are two equally plausible versions. The first is management Electronic Arts convinced the developers that the game will be better off. The second-the authors were frightened of the volume (and high cost) of work: a unique art director is given by blood and then, drawing stylized levels is much harder. Of course, the third option is possible that Insomniac has just changed a creative vision and they really believed with all their souls that Fuse would only benefit from the grace – but it is difficult to believe in it.
Three one are waiting
A group of Overstrike 9 operatives is sent to the next task: after Senator Feible visited by Senator of the State Research Laboratory, there were no news suspiciously for a long time from its employees. Need to figure it out.
On the spot it turns out that the laboratory designed new types of weapons based on a supernatural energy source – Few. Here in the plot appears a certain Raven Corporation, which has its own views of magical matter. The mercenary of the bandits and part-time ex-head of the lover of the leader Overstrike, Mailin Mao, grabbing the senator, runs from the scene. After some time, it turns out that the senator himself let Raven into the laboratory and generally a traitor, and the dad of one of the participants in our detachment is one of the main people of the criminal organization, but is ready to improve.
[[Bullet]] Amendment. The most annoying – invisibles who crept from the back, grab the hero and use it as a lively shield.
If after reading the previous paragraph, you still do not understand that, damn it, here is not sad, do not grieve. Even by applying inhuman efforts, after an hour of playing the plot you stop paying attention, it is so boring and unprincipled – they didn’t forget to enter the bad Russian.
Insomniac clearly realized the secondaryness of their script, and therefore expected to revive the story of a bright four heroes. But along with the original appearance of them, it seems, all charisma has gone, which beat over the edge in a trailer. Dalton, charming and brutal, beyond the measure, the head of the detachment, appeared to be a stupid fool a la, there is no strength (“Why did you meet with this crazy maniac? She is sick all over her head!"-" Gee-gy, but beautiful … "). Jacob, a dark -skinned shooter with facial expressions and manners of the hero Chris Taker from the “Hour of the Peak”, pronounces three phrases from the power and does not show himself at all. Well, about the girls Izzi and Nayu and there is nothing to say, both merge with the scenery no worse than the chameleon, and the latter literally (it can become invisible and quietly turn their neck to the enemies).
[Bullet]] Battle of one of the first bosses, stolen by Fucus Ivan Solvenko, makes you recall a fight with a scarecrow from Arkham asylum.
At the same time, the specialization of each INSOMNIAC fighter really succeeded thanks. Dalton has a steep shield that absorbs bullets, which can then, just like in a “matrix”, run back into the enemy. Naia is good for quick stealth lifes: you can’t get a whole level in a quiet way, but the more mercenaries you remove before the start of the shooting, the better. In addition, the Sweety Win sister sites girl has a rifle that leaves black holes on the battlefield, sucking enemies. Jacob has the most effective weapon in the game – a crossbow with a sniper sight, the charges of which, after pumping, you can set fire to opponents. Finally, Izzi is armed with a machine gun, crystallizing enemies, and knows how to install a mobile medical station that lifts the wounded comrades (it looks just like a stone from which green waves go – what you want, the future!).
Repeat
Immediately warn you that playing one is not worth it in Fuse: artificial intelligence does not shine, and we have to constantly switch between the heroes to somehow coordinate the actions of the detachment. Suffice it to say that the death of one of the partners in Fuse means an instant gamer, but friends controlled by a computer always run first. Spit that the closest comrade will die in a second, and you still have a timer – a script is a script. Because of this misunderstanding, each fight with the boss (especially with the final) turns into real torture. By the way, when the character finds himself in the knockdown, something strange happens with animation: you can crawl strictly in one position. It is very ridiculous to watch how the hero, bending into three deaths and without tearing his right hand from the sides, climbs the stairs with his back forward.
If you find at least one partner (or better – three), play will play much more fun. Fuse has something to scold for, but with the basic rules of the gamemerac, INSOMNIAc are familiar: here is quite good ballistics and the human shelter system; Even there is an elementary, but spectacular hand -to -hand combat.
[[Bullet]] Decisive Naia. Ninety -nine percent of time heroes go with such serious faces. Well, at least the girls are beautiful.
A variety of enemies are trying to come from the flanks, throw grenades, run away from the box to the box, rush to you with fists. Snipers on jetpacks fly from the roof to the roof, choosing a better place. At the wrong time, turntables with on -board machine guns attack. Mini-bosses-soldiers in exoskeletons-chase heroes with flamethrowers, ice-flows and grenade launchers at the ready (then weapons can be chosen), trying not to substitute vulnerable places under the sights. In general, the FUSE structure is almost built according to the textbook "Fundamentals of the game design". Everything is competent, you won't.
One catch. Such good diligence deprived the game of her face. Pumping abilities – like everyone else, a system of shelters – like everyone else, shootouts – like everyone else, acrobatics – it is not clear why it is needed, but like everyone else.
Due to the overall secondaryness, you constantly ask yourself the question: why am I playing it? There are good implementation of shooting and competent levels in many games, but what is the FUSE that should attract the player? Alas, the answer is disappointing.
Even St. Petersburg from Saber Interactive understand that you need to stand out somehow. Inversion And Timeshift , In general, more than mediocre games, but it is not difficult to identify them-one about gravity, the second about focuses over time. Fuse is not amenable to such a definition. This is not a shooter with some funny chip. It's just a shooter. And all.
Reigracy:
Cool plot:
Originality:
Easy to master:
Gameplay:
6
Graphics:
7
Sound and music:
6
Interface and management:
8
Waited?
If INSOMNIAC had not abandoned the original idea, a stylish cooperative shooter could come out of Fuse. And so we got another good game, which is acutely lacking individuality.
Mania rating: 6.5
"Medium"
