First Impressions - "Blacklight: Retribution (PS4)"

PC owners were the first to get their hands on this futuristic FPS multiplayer experience known as, "Blacklight: Retribution, and will no doubt have already turned away from the PC version seeing as it is old news. For all of us PS4 owners, and dedicated console players though this Scifi inspired shooter is a new thing, and one that should definitely not be overlooked. The fact that it's free-to-play gives you no reason to skip it, even though you may not be inclined to spend actual money on DLC content. From a personal point of view I can tell you that the game definitely has it's pros, and cons. The gameplay which can be described as run & gun friendly is a welcome addition to the FPS genre due to the fact that you can actually run & gun. The standard issue offerings that require no money to use also make for a welcome addition to gameplay. If you are a gamer that is looking to impress though, and wish to show your online prowess with your weapons loadouts, and perks then Zombie Studios does offer a payment plan for such things. You merely have to exchange your PSN credit for some Zcoins, and you are ready to shop.

When it comes to the actual in-game gameplay you'll find that "BlackLight: Retribution" is a mixture of CoD, Halo, and Killzone. Like these famous franchises you'll find features very similar to the ones that they have. You have weapons with swappable parts (Scopes, Magazine, Stock ...), perks, and boost items that will help you inflict more damage upon your enemies. There are even mech suits than can give the player wearing them a definitive advantage over other gamers. If you are a gamer who frowns upon spending real world currency on obtaining such high end bobbles though then there is a renting system which will allow you to use such a weapon attachment, or suit add-on for 1-7 days. This method of purchase only requires the use of the fictional currency that you earn for completing a match. Keep in mind that it does take more time to earn the fictional currency needed to rent an item. If you go ahead, and pony up the dough though you can unlock things permanently. It's the trade off of playing a free-to-play shooter.


Speaking of matches, you'll find the usual assortment of team based match types within "Blacklight: Retribution". There's TDM, Capture the Flag, Demolition, and a slew of other familiar FPS game mode types. If you are a former CoD, Killzone, or Halo player you will find yourself right at home with the gameplay mechanics, and controls. It's your basic FPS setup. While these in-game features are all of the normal everyday variety you'll find that the current Beta of "Blacklight: Retribution" definitely has that next-gen edge, and feel which last-gen shooters were lacking. The controls are super responsive for the most part, and allow the button inputs, and onscreen actions/reactions to happen in sync with one another. The visuals are definitely up to par with the PC version as well, and offer the player an exquisite visual display worthy of the next-gen.

The current downsides to the "Blacklight Retribution" experience include the fact that it is still in the Beta state, and that there are definitely some lag issues going on. I've noticed that in many of the online lobbies I've ended up in there are players with a wide variety of different internet speed connections. This in itself proves to be an issue more often than not. As such not every player is on an equal playing field in regards to connection status. Some of these random lag conditions often times cost me multiple kills leaving me in the negative k/d at the end of a match. While it didn't work out for me it definitely worked out well for the guy/gal that was shooting in my direction at the time. My hopes in regards to the lag issues is that Zombie Studios is able to balance things out properly when the final version is released to the public. Hopefully by then the game will be a smooth online experience, and one that gamers will return to frequently to escape the CoD shenanigans. For now I'm enjoying the game as is. I hope that if you are a PS4 owner that you too give this game a try. I found the run & gun friendly gameplay to be quite the inviting experience, and believe you will as well.