XDefiant Review in Progress: Improving Gameplay Brings Shooter Closer to Greatness

Ubisoft’s XDefiant offers an exhilarating, high-speed FPS experience that, with some potential enhancements in future updates, has the potential to become one of the top games in its genre.

Despite generating a lot of buzz among FPS players with its announcement and initial beta tests, XDefiant failed to live up to expectations as a potential free-to-play alternative to Call of Duty due to several significant delays and a troubled pre-launch test session.

After a long wait, the game has finally been released and it’s already proving to be a thrilling and enjoyable way to play through Ubisoft’s top games. However, there are still improvements to be made in order for it to reach its full potential.

Our review of XDefiant is currently in progress and is based on the Preseason version of the game.

Perfectly balanced

XDefiant has a diverse roster of weapons.

Despite a week of continuously playing through its launch maps and modes, XDefiant proves to excel in its most crucial aspect – its gameplay in the present moment.

Despite experiencing inconsistent hit registration since launch, resulting in some unexpected deaths even when I believed I had reached cover, the majority of matches are still enjoyable and exciting to play.

The initial selection of weapons offers a diverse range of options, catering to various playstyles. For those who enjoy close combat, the MP7 SMG is a reliable choice, while the TAC-50 allows for long-range precision. It is also reassuring to note that, based on my experience, there is no one dominant weapon in the early stages. While certain guns may have an advantage, each one has its own strengths and can be effective in the right circumstances.

A few tweaks needed

Each Faction comes with a choice of two abilities.

The five unique Factions available during Preseason continue to feel viable in their own way, much like the previous seasons. However, some abilities may already seem less effective compared to the other offerings.

For instance, while Echelon’s Intel Suit and Low Profile passive effectively expose enemy positions, the Digital Ghillie Suit’s limited invisibility does not make it a desirable alternative. On the other hand, DedSec falls short compared to its competitors, as the universal advantage of hacking pales in comparison to the abilities of shielding or causing fire damage.

Despite everything mentioned, a major advantage of XDefiant is that, unlike Overwatch, the abilities are designed to enhance the gunplay rather than replace it. While those who can skillfully utilize a Faction’s abilities and coordinate with their team will likely achieve more victories, quick reflexes and precise shooting remain crucial in the game.

Despite the generally well-designed and diverse maps, the game’s variety can also work against it. Not all modes are equally enjoyable, with the standard arena shooter playlists such as Domination and Occupy faring well while Escort stands out as a weaker option in comparison.

With a clear influence from the Overwatch game mode of the same name, the quick time-to-kill (TTK) often results in one team dominating the match. This is due to the ease of taking out multiple opponents at once and the lack of regulations requiring both teams to have a healer. As a result, attackers can swiftly gain ground while defenders can easily halt the robot’s progress, removing the back-and-forth struggle that makes this mode so exciting.

Stress to progress

Weapon XP can be hard to come by in XDefiant.

Despite my overall enjoyment of XDefiant, there remains a handful of initial issues that must be addressed in order to ensure its lasting success. Among these issues, one of the most prominent, both in my own experience and within the community, is the slow and unrewarding feeling of progression.

It can be incredibly frustrating to level up weapons, as it takes a considerable amount of time. This is particularly annoying because the most desirable attachments are often only accessible at high level caps, some of which can reach into the 40s. Despite spending a full week experimenting with various combinations, I have only been able to achieve a modest increase in rank for one gun. It is clear that reaching maximum level for a single weapon will require hours upon hours of grinding.

The limited range of weapons available at launch is likely the reason for this. It was probably done to prevent players from getting bored too quickly. However, spending a lot of time and effort to earn XP for just one gun can be tiresome, causing me to hesitate when considering switching classes between matches.

The pace of Battle Pass progression is also plagued by a slow grind, with rewards being distributed at a sluggish rate if you do not have any Boosters activated. Currently, the only level that seems to have a fair balance is your player level, although it does not currently offer any tangible rewards aside from bragging rights.

Verdict

XDefiant is a highly entertaining first-person shooter with adrenaline-pumping gun battles and intense confrontations. While it is yet to be determined if it will live up to its potential as the “CoD killer,”the current experience is a well-crafted and enjoyable one that has already captivated me.

Despite some minor balancing issues and a slow progression, occasional frustration may occur while playing due to these factors. Additionally, the limited selection of weapons could also be improved in the numerous post-launch updates that have been assured.

With a solid foundation in place, XDefiant has the potential to compete against not only MW3 and Black Ops 6, but also the entire CoD franchise for many years to come.