The Finals (Steam) will soon open for the first time with a closed beta for the public. MeinMMO editor Maik Schneider had the opportunity to test the beta build, showcasing matches, his first impressions, and why less is sometimes more.
What a strong preview event that was for The Finals! I give it a clear “wow”!
It all started normally: The developers explained in the presentation that their new shooter “could change the FPS genre.” I’ve heard that before. But I’ve never wanted people to be right as much as I do now.
The Finals is a new first-person shooter, free to play on Steam, launching a closed beta on March 7, where normal users will also be able to participate for the first time.
Behind the project is Embark Studios, a software studio with several former DICE developers who previously worked on Battlefield.
They combine the destruction power of Battlefield with the fluid movement and hero aspects of Apex Legends to create a new shooter that delivers goosebumps and excitement from the very first minute.
I will explain what makes The Finals special and share my first impressions. If you want to see a match right away, then start our video:
In my team was colleague Philipp Elsner from GameStar (here for the preview report from GS).
Arena Maps, Class Gameplay, Destruction – Everything in 8 Minutes
How do the matches work? The Finals is played in teams of three. You have to unlock cash canisters and bring them to cashout boxes. The boxes must be defended until the cash is in your account. However, canisters and boxes can be taken over at any time by enemy teams.
A round in quick play lasts only 8 minutes and 4 teams participate in a match. Ranked matches run in tournament format – a total of 16 teams compete, and the matches are played seamlessly one after another. If you don’t have enough points, you get eliminated. Only the best advance to the final.
To complement each team, class gameplay is added. Classes define themselves through their own selection of weapons and gadgets – some equipment is available for multiple classes. Specializations are limited to their respective classes.
- Light
- Faster weapons and mobile gadgets like a grappling hook or dodge dash
- Medium
- Medium weight weapons like assault rifles and support gadgets – auto turret / healing beam
- Heavy
- The big device: MG, hammer, flamethrower – along with a shove attack that destroys walls
Each class has 3 specializations and unique gadgets that only that class can use. Therefore, coordination in team composition is advantageous.
The Finals aims to finance itself through cosmetic items and offers a Battle Pass as well as an in-game shop. Signs of a pay-to-win system were not detected during the preview event.
Destroy everything else!
What is special about The Finals? The game principle is quite simple and familiar to all of us. That’s exactly what makes The Finals so interesting because it is immediately clear to all of us:
- Get the cash, defend the cash, destroy everything else!
The emphasis is unequivocally on “destroy everything else.” With a well-placed explosive, you can bring down entire buildings. The remnants of the explosions remain in the match and are the same for every player. This allows for completely new tactics and feels good and dynamic from minute one.
If an enemy team wants to fill their cashout box on floor three, a few explosions ensure that I can take over on floor one. The box tumbles through the new, sensibly placed holes in the floor and lands right in front of me.
The Finals doesn’t try to completely revolutionize the shooter genre in the process. The feature of map destruction has been well combined with fast movement, a capture-the-flag mode, and class gameplay. There’s no complicated extra twist.
For even more variety, smaller gameplay events start in each match. For a few minutes, for example, gravity is reduced or damage is increased.
Personal conclusion: I’m excited
Even the first trailer of The Finals caught our attention back in the editorial office. We then decided on a very flowery headline: New shooter on Steam shows a bombastic trailer – Anyone who doesn’t feel a pulse is dead.
I thought, “If the game is only half as intense as the trailer, then we have something here.” And indeed, The Finals manages to create a hectic experience that allows for unique tactics and a lot of fun.
My highlight was the shove attack of the heavy class. With the push of a button, all doors are forgotten, the right path is straightforward. And suddenly you stand on the other side of the house. A powerful attack, a great feeling, a little hype that rises.
I also really like that The Finals doesn’t want too much at once. You can tell that veteran developers are behind it, who didn’t want to create an indie hit that stands out with its crazy ideas. The people wanted to build a shooter that finally puts the destruction of the map in the foreground.
And if you ask me, they have really succeeded excellently. Less is sometimes more here.
If you want to test it yourself, sign up now for the closed beta on Steam (via Steam). However, there is no guarantee for participation. The beta runs from March 7 to 21.
Let me know your opinion on The Finals. How do you like the gameplay, do you have any questions about the title? Write in the comments.
If you’d rather get to know another new game, then check this out: Coreborn wants to be the WoW of survival MMOs – We have played it
