The alpha of the hardcore shooter Escape from Tarkov is running. Early reports indicate that there is a lot of potential in the game. But it’s rough, really rough.
The shooter hope of 2017 lies for realism fans off the mainstream. Escape from Tarkov will not be a polished blockbuster action game tailored for consoles. No, in Russia, a hardcore shooter is being developed for PC with significant influences from survival MMOs.
Praised for graphics and sound from Germany, but a tough entry
This has been going on for quite some time now. Meanwhile, Escape from Tarkov has reached an “Extended Alpha”. Initial reports are slowly leaking through. Two of the biggest gaming sites worldwide, the German GameStar and the US site Gamespot, have now released playtest reports from the alpha.
At GameStar, it seems that Tarkov has a hell of a lot of potential but is also a merciless slaughter:
- Audio design and graphics are praised, although performance is lacking
- However, the player needs to have a high frustration tolerance – the game is merciless, without any tutorials or grace period. It is hard to navigate the world – the journalist was assigned an experienced player as a “guide” so he wouldn’t wander around completely like a hobbit outside of the Shire
- The constant thrill of hunting and being hunted raises the adrenaline and creates a unique excitement
Game Depth and an Eye for Detail
At Gamespot, a video about Escape from Tarkov has been created featuring four things to know before the alpha. Gamespot praises the gunplay and the tactical depth of the shooter.
Loot is rare and important in the game. While you can stash a bit in a “safe box,” the items disappear upon death, leading to a “loot spiral” downwards. With the risk that in the end everyone is running around naked.
Because you lose a lot upon death, you have to consider whether you really want to roam around with the best items. Tarkov constantly forces the player to weigh gain against risk.
Gamespot praises the eye for detail in Escape from Tarkov. Regularly checking a weapon reduces the chance that it fails in combat.
The survival strategies possible in Tarkov are ruthless: You can follow groups of players in the hope that they will clear the way to the exit and strike when you discover a weakness in them.
Escape from Tarkov is currently still in extended alpha but is expected to transition to beta soon.
More info about Escape from Tarkov:
Escape from Tarkov: Realistic hardcore shooter is about to enter beta
