Scavengers is a new PvEvP game that combines elements from battle royale, loot shooters, and strategy. The developers invited MeinMMO author Benedict Grothaus for a preview of the game, which thrilled him – although, or perhaps precisely because it is a game for the “older folks” in the genre.
What is Scavengers? Behind Scavengers lies a game model that is still relatively unexplored: PvEvP. Up to 60 players compete in teams of three against each other and together in rounds lasting about 30 minutes.
The story deals with a quasi-post-apocalyptic scenario. After the moon was destroyed, the Earth is hardly habitable, and the humans have retreated into orbit, where “Mother,” an AI, watches over them. Mother collects important resources and data from Earth and sends clones to the surface – us.
So we play the image of one of the surviving humans and try to assert ourselves against the adverse conditions, aliens, and mutants on Earth that now populate it, to escape with the collected data.
What makes it so special: Instead of being the last one standing, teams need to gather points. Points are awarded for various activities on the map. They must be brought to an evacuation point at the end of the round. The team with the most points wins.
In Scavengers, we are not just playing against other players, but also with them. Some bosses on the map cannot be completed alone or are difficult to handle without a team, and until a certain amount of resources is gathered, we cannot escape the planet.
Scavengers combines the classic feel of a battle royale with an interesting crafting system both in the rounds and in the meta game. Additionally, it offers PvE content and story. Moreover, Scavengers provides players a selection of heroes with unique abilities and roles.
- Fortnite or Warzone – the battle royale aspect
- Warframe or Destiny – crafting and loot in the shooter
- Rainbow Six – team play and various characters
It plays quite similarly to The Cycle, which I found very exciting, which is still relatively unknown. It is also about points rather than kills, and there is plenty to do in PvE with tasks and materials.
It gives me as much fun as a battle royale without the frustration of biting the dust in the first few seconds and having to restart. Scavengers is slower and more strategic – that’s exactly what I like.
Note: I played an early version of Scavengers and derived my impression from this experience. Much can change by the release.
Scavengers – The “Fortnite for old people”
What does Scavengers have from Fortnite? The battle royale title. More or less, since PvP is not even at the forefront. But before you complain about the comparison: The thought behind it is different.
Fortnite is labeled by many older (or more mature?) gamers as a game for children. And indeed, it is colorful and playful with its comic graphics and many references to current pop culture.
Nevertheless, Fortnite is fun for tens of thousands of players and is one of the most popular games currently on Twitch (via sullygnome). The visuals, mechanics, and content continually excite Fortnite fans.
Scavengers also has this potential, only for an “older” clientele. It requires more planning, teamwork, and offers more opportunities to win a round.
It is battle royale, but it is not battle royale
How much battle royale is in it? In Scavengers, only one team can win. The one with the most points reaches first place and earns the crown for that round.
Additionally, a storm closes in around the map, which grows larger and thus leaves less playable area – just like in a classic battle royale. Scavengers also features the search for weapons and equipment. We start with nothing and first have to find weapons, consumables, grenades, and more.
If desired, one can also go on the hunt for other players and fully experience the PvP. However, the chances of success are relatively low, since Scavengers is still not a “real battle royale.”
What is different? A certain amount of resources needs to be collected. Only when a team possesses a specific amount alone or all teams collectively reach a certain value is evacuation possible.
Points are obtained by collecting data that is spread across the map, mostly guarded by NPC enemies. A tip: bears are REALLY deadly. Often, various materials can also be found at these special locations.
These materials can be used to craft items directly in the game, like the special weapon of your respective character, grenades, and more – provided the corresponding level in the round has been reached. Others can be taken from the round to unlock new items in a further crafting menu.
Additionally, Scavengers impresses with a survival aspect. We have stamina that is consumed while running and attacking in close combat, which must be replenished with food. On Earth, it is freezing cold, and we need fire or warmth gadgets to stay warm. Storms come into play – not just the big one but also smaller ones. If a smaller storm front sweeps over us during the round, we must seek shelter in ruins; otherwise, it will get very cold very quickly.
Furthermore, Scavengers offers more strategy than I have seen in any battle royale before. As a team of three, one must always weigh:
- which target makes sense next
- whether and where to risk a fight with other players
- which other team to help or whether to betray them and stab them in the back
All this gives Scavengers a dynamic that I miss in Fortnite, Warzone, and other representatives of the genre. It is more tactical, more strategic, and … slower. More pleasant for someone whose 360 no-scope may still work, but who is getting more cumbersome.
Scavengers played – My first sessions were grand
My first steps: For the playable test on December 1, there were three of us: GameStar editor Christian Fritz Schneider, myself, and our team captain assigned by the developers, who was playing as “CAP Tilman”.
After a brief small talk in English, we found out that our captain actually comes from near the Lüneburg Heath and decided that we could play in German as well. With the ice broken like that, communication was much more relaxed.
Overall, we played for three rounds, one warm-up round and two that were recorded. Tilman introduced us to the basic mechanics and guided us through the game with a win, a second place, and a defeat, which I actually enjoyed the most.
How does it play now? As already mentioned, Scavengers is slower. The initial phase lasts about 10-15 minutes, during which weapons and materials are searched, equipment is crafted, and goals are set.
Afterward, it is about either continuing to gather points or hunting opponents. As a relatively aggressive team, we often sought conflict and took points from our defeated enemies.
However, I quickly realized that one should choose battles wisely. In one case, we managed to clean up two teams that were fighting each other and thus gained a huge lead in points.
The second time, we defeated several teams but attracted a third. The intense PvP fight was what I enjoyed most about the game. We literally danced around the opponents in the ruins, trying to hit each other and always had to weigh whether we could risk a glimpse or whether we needed to fully take out an opponent or whether we would then get hit by an enemy sniper’s arrow. The fight demanded all my skills with my character that had been rather limited until then.
We narrowly lost – much to my chagrin, because the last headshot did not hit …
In the last round, we barely made it to the ship, only to enter into a firefight with all remaining teams. We managed to gather enough points for a second place and barely escaped. Fortunately, it is enough if one of the team members is on the ship when it takes off.
However, this illustrated to me quite well that planning and teamwork are extremely important. If Tilman hadn’t guided us so well and we hadn’t played so well together, it probably wouldn’t have gone as smoothly and wouldn’t have been as fun.
It’s a blast, but it won’t be a blockbuster
Scavengers is a refreshing break from the other shooters I usually play: Warzone, Modern Warfare, Rainbow Six, and Cold War. It combines the thrill of a battle royale with the tactical demands of a tactics shooter and the action-packed fights of a hero shooter like Overwatch.
This makes Scavengers an interesting mix that I personally find incredibly fun. I already enjoyed The Cycle very much, and especially with friends, I would prefer to play Scavengers over Warzone.
With this praise in mind, I must also say: I don’t believe it will be a blockbuster. The mechanics are extremely cool, but too specific to appeal to a broad masses. Too few players will want exactly this combination of content, and Scavengers is simply too complex for that.
Nevertheless, it will not flop. I am sure that a lot of fans will find themselves who will play Scavengers faithfully and thoroughly. The genre is, similar to point-and-click adventures, something that only exactly the people play who want it, but then all the more extensively.
Scavengers will likely be a cult hit, and there are far too few of those, in my opinion. More studios should have the courage to make fewer players much happier. I’m looking forward to it!
Benedict Grothaus
Freelance writer at Mein-MMO
Release and Beta – When can I play it myself?
How can I play it myself? At the conclusion of the playtest event, we could still ask the developers some questions. They revealed to us that a closed beta will be released in the near future, for which you can sign up at playscavengers.com. The beta runs from now until December 22.
Participation is limited, and those who want to test should be quick. Those who had access before will be automatically re-enabled for this test. How long the tests and the subsequent early access will last depends on player feedback and development.
When and where will Scavengers be released? The developers did not have a release date yet. However, it is certain that Scavengers will be released for PC, PS4, and Xbox One and will offer crossplay. Once Scavengers is released, it will be a free-to-play title with a season model. It will receive constant new updates.
