Kodoani.com – In a world of third-person arena shooters, “SplatoonNintendo’s ” revolutionized the genre by making it an area control experience instead of eliminating opponents. Instead of eliminating opponents, players need to control as much territory on the map as possible to win. It was a new way to approach the third-person arena shooter genre, making it kid-friendly and creating a unique experience. Nintendo laid the foundations for ” Splatoon” and created a game that has few rivals in the genre.
However, at Tokyo Game Show 2023, Square Enix introduced their new third-person arena shooter gane, “Foamstars” and introduced new and interesting elements into this genre.
About “Foamstars”
Espy, “Foamstars” looks like a typical third-person area control shooting game. In the demo, two teams, each made up of four people, face off on a map and try to control territory by spraying Colored foam everywhere Unlike “Splatoon” where players cannot be eliminated from the match, “Foamstars” has two basic phases.
Phase 1: Elimination
In the first phase, players attempt to eliminate opponents using foam shooting weapons and become the “star player” of the team. The important point here is not only to eliminate opponents but also to control territory by spraying colored foam of your team on the map. This is like “Splatoon,” but with two important differences.
Difference No. 1: Simplified Map
The map in the demo of “Foamstars” is much simpler than that of “Splatoon.” Instead of having many complex landmarks, the game only has one central structure, two protrusions on opposite sides of the map, and some small hills. This makes the way players hide even more important and creates unique tactical opportunities.
Difference 2: Using Foam for Terrain
In “Foamstars,” you create locations by shooting too much foam at a specific spot on the map. This creates hills and barriers, and opponents can remove them by shooting at the same area. This causes each match to be created and developed separately throughout the gameplay.
Phase 2: Protecting “Teammates”
While eliminating opponents is an important part of the game, “Foamstars” doesn’t just rely on covering opponents from head to toe in foam. Instead, players need to tap the L2 shoulder button on the controller to take down their opponents. This creates a fun and unique experience, with clear visual cues that show when someone can be eliminated and teammates can help.
Final Stage: The Race to See Who Is the “Star Player”
After determining each team’s “star player”, the match becomes a race to eliminate the opponent’s “star player”. The notable point here is that the gameplay is uninterrupted. Instead, there is a small announcement identifying the opponent’s “star” player, and teams must quickly plan and communicate to win or lose the match.
Strategy and Gameplay
“One great thing about ‘Foamstars’ is that it’s not all about fighting and eliminating opponents. There are many tactical aspects throughout the match. You can shoot foam at opponents to slow and eliminate , but elimination doesn’t just rely on covering someone from head to toe in foam, but also by tapping the L2 shoulder button on the controller to take it down. This makes for a satisfying experience because there are signs being clear about when someone can be eliminated and a teammate can bail out is a welcome feature for the genre and allows players of all skill levels to have fun.
“Star Player” and Ultimate Strategy
While eliminating opponents is important, the number of eliminations does not determine the outcome of the match. Instead, in the demo of “Foamstars,” the match eliminates the opponent’s “star player.” When a team reaches its cumulative number of eliminations, it adds a new level to the game. The special thing is that the “star player” is not necessarily the one who gets eliminated the most, but the best player on the team but not necessarily the one who gets eliminated the most. This creates an opportunity for support players to get rid and play well. For example, in the third round when kodoani played, I was considered the “star player” of my team despite not being eliminated. I didn’t do any filming and I wasn’t eliminated. However, I created cover and opportunities for other teammates to be eliminated.
Tactics and Cooperation
Once the “star player” is determined, the match becomes a frantic race to see which team can eliminate the opponent’s “star player.” The great thing here is that the gameplay is uninterrupted. Instead, there is a small announcement identifying the opponent’s “star” player, and teams must quickly plan and communicate to win or lose the match. This style of play forces the team to create strategies, communicate, and execute effective attacks and defenses. This creates a unique tactical experience in the third-person arena shooter genre.
Diversity in Gameplay
In “Foamstars” each team uses the same character, creating a degree of variety in gameplay. Although this reduces the roles between characters, each character has different special abilities. There are close-range, medium-range and long-range weapons, all with their own special abilities. So it will be interesting to see how players adjust their strategies when the game launches.
Conclude
If there’s one third-person arena shooter game that kodoani has wanted to play in the past decade, it’s “Foamstars.” It takes elements from various shooting games, especially “Splatoo,” and creates a novel and exciting game. Although the game won’t launch for a while, the open beta will run from September 30 to October 1, 2023 on PlayStation 5. It’s a great opportunity to try out the game and see whether it can beat “Splatoon” in the hearts of third-person arena shooter fans remains to be seen.
