MeinMMO shooter expert Dariusz took a look at the latest update of ARC Raiders and was immediately reminded of what makes this game so unique.
Today, Shrouded Sky, the latest update for ARC Raiders, was released. Shortly after the release of the new content, I played a few rounds and was quickly reminded why the game is so successful.
Embark released a small, free update – as they have every month since release – significantly altering the game to keep it interesting without changing the core of the game. And what they delivered is simply good. Exactly what we gamers want.
A success on all fronts
ARC Raiders has truly found a recipe for success with the changing weather conditions to maintain the flow of the game. The new hurricane is no exception. Atmospherically, it’s once again a blast.
The wind howls. The map is gloomy, visibility is poor, and my shield is sizzling in the storm. I really felt like I was in a severe weather event – with everything that comes with it.
The hurricane is a success on all levels. And not just because it is atmospherically a truly great experience.
- PvE players can enjoy the hurricane because the limited visibility offers a degree of safety. An aggressive raider trying to steal your loot cannot see you from far away and ambush you.
- PvP players get a new component in combat that shows, regardless of aim, who a good raider is: You must keep an eye on your shield in the storm and bring the right gear, or you have no chance.
- Free loadouts are at a disadvantage because you only have very limited gear with you and perhaps not enough shield regenerators.
In addition, the entire difficulty of the game has been slightly increased with the update, as new, non-negligible ARCs have arrived that, in combination with the hurricane, do not allow for daydreaming. Even players who only play PvE must remain alert in the midst of the hurricane.
A stranger led me to a treasure
In my first two rounds in the hurricane, I not only saw the new content of Shrouded Sky, but also the full repertoire of what makes ARC Raiders so special.
In my first round, I encountered a player relatively early who apparently did not notice me. I don’t know if the soundscape of the storm concealed my presence or if he was simply careless and inattentive, but I shot him sneakily in the back after he took down a leaper and looted it. I waited briefly for the storm to nibble a little at his shield. The unfair fight was, of course, over quickly. A look into the player’s inventory revealed to me that he had also taken out other raiders. I didn’t feel bad about it, of course. That’s just how it is in the buried city.
In my second round on “Blue Gate,” I met a raider named Clay, and since one bad deed per day is enough for me, I kept my inner rat in the cage this time – and that turned out to be the right decision, as it later became clear.
Clay showed me and another stranger we randomly met new loot crates. He raved about how awesome they are, and said they can spawn in random places on the map. Each of us three opened such a crate during the round, and lo and behold:
I found a blueprint for the Volcano that I was still missing.
From rat to rescued
With the blueprint in my safety pouch, our trio made our way to the exit. Along the way, we encountered a pack of comets, which are the new ARCs that explode with a loud bang. The first encounter was definitely a “WTF moment,” even though we easily took down the robots.
Assuming that rats were waiting at the exit, I briefly stowed my shield in my backpack during the walk so I wouldn’t use up my limited shield regenerators before reaching the exit. Unfortunately, a rocket launcher decided that I was an easy target with no shield and blew me up. But while I was saying goodbye to my companions and thanking them for the round, Clay pulled out a defibrillator and saved me from certain death. A true hero!
We continued on, took down another leaper together, and eventually arrived at the extraction point. Suddenly, shots rang out. A raider was hiding in a small shed, opened fire on Clay, and tried to ambush our guide’s loot. I threw a grenade – the trajectory of which, by the way, is influenced by the hurricane – to scare the rat back into its shed, while Clay took cover. Then we stormed the shed and sent the attacker to the afterlife.
All three returned unscathed and with full pockets to Speranza. So, after going the way of the rat in my first round, I was rescued by a stranger in my second round and led to a blueprint.
No game writes such stories like ARC Raiders. It’s unique.
Christmas for style-conscious fashion raiders
Back in Speranza, I took a look at the new raider deck, and once again, Embark delivers exactly what I wanted: A full beard for my raider – after all, I can’t grow one in real life.
Although you only get the full beard at the end of the free battle pass, as a fashion raider, that’s reason enough for me to play more ARC Raiders soon.
I confess: ARC Raiders has been somewhat neglected by me lately. I’ve played way too much Overwatch in recent months and rarely fired up the extraction shooter. That might change again now. If you’re wondering why I’m currently playing so much Overwatch, here’s the answer: Overwatch is better than ever because Blizzard made three decisions
