Last June, just before E3, Laser League was announced, described by developer Roll7 and publisher 505 Games as a fun, fast-paced, arcade-style multiplayer action game. Even though there has since been a closed beta in mid-December and various load tests, it was only recently, during a closed test with the developers, that I was finally able to try a game.
First steps
The interface is nice and immediately puts in the futuristic tone, with mysterious music sticking perfectly to the theme. While the other members of the press join us, the developer gives me a tutorial video that explains the basics. Here is the same version, in spanish, made using the tutorial directly integrated into the game.
The year is 2150 and the Laser League is a popular sport with super simple rules: two teams of one to four players compete in arenas where you have to activate lasers while passing over its central node, small lines indicating the direction in which it will activate. His team's colored lasers are harmless, unlike enemy lasers which kill them instantly. To gain a point, you have to kill all enemy players, knowing that a player can always be brought back to life by one of his allies if he passes the place of his death identified by a marker. The game is played over three rounds, with three winning points. To spice up the game, teleporters allow you to move from one side of the room to the other and modifiers appear quickly, which can completely change the outcome:
- Ranimation : revives teammates.
- Back : reverses the direction of the lasers.
- Investment : inverts the color of active lasers.
- Division : separates the lasers into several pieces.
- Accelerate : accelerates the movement of lasers.
- Slow down : slows down the movement of lasers.
- Vol : Changes all active lasers to your team's color.
- reset : turn off all lasers.
- Alight : activates all nodes in your color.
- Pause : interrupts all lasers.
- Bouclier : makes the whole team invulnerable for a few moments.
- Emptying : Lowers the opposing team's ability recharge to zero.
- Loading : Instantly recharges all of your team's abilities.
There are 6 classes, each with a special ability with cooldown:
- Impact : Team Assault Class, it inflicts a non-lethal tackle that stuns and knocks back.
- Ombre : Team support class, he can pass through enemy rays and bring his allies back to life.
- Voleur : Inflicting group damage with his node steal, he appropriates nearby nodes.
- Shoot : dangerous, the shooter has a deadly teleport attack. He first places a marker and then, reactivating his ability, he teleports to that marker, killing anyone in the path.
- Choc : Support class also, it creates an effect zone around it that stuns all enemies in the zone.
- Lame : Assassin of the team, he rushes forward with a slash attack that eliminates opponents instantly.
At the end of the three rounds, the players are ranked according to their efficiency and win customizations for their characters (outfit), emoji or even banners.
gameplay
You understood everything ? So here is an excerpt from the best moments of our game:
Conclusion
Still in beta and scheduled for early access on Steam by April-May, Laser League now offers a very clean and efficient copy, both in terms of interface and graphics and gameplay. I was pleasantly surprised by these games, embarking on highly charged matches where every mistake can lead the team to losing the point. Sometimes short, sometimes long, no turn is like the previous one. Even if you get started immediately, knowing how to use your character's abilities and bonuses at the right time is much less obvious than it seems, all the more so if you try to use the full potential of your character. the arena by adding the dimension offered by teleportation from one side to the other. Very accessible, Laser League will undoubtedly offer the most experienced players a real challenge, for a game that will certainly affect the eSports side.
Feel free to follow the game on Steam now if the concept appeals to you, the open beta will start Friday at 18:00 p.m. and end Sunday at 7:00 a.m., accessible on PC via Steam.
