There’s still several months to go before Ubisoft’s gritty melee combat simulator hits store shelves in February, but as with many recent multiplayer games, playable test versions are being released for limited times prior to launch. Last weekend saw the For Honor Closed Alpha: a 4-day period for players to try out portions of the game, while also testing for bugs and providing game balance feedback. I had the opportunity to put some significant time in over the weekend, and can safely say that For Honor is an impressive, exciting game, and one of my most anticipated for the next year.
The gates are opened warriors! We wish everyone a good Closed Alpha! pic.twitter.com/WbQwlsvFU2
— For Honor (@ForHonorGame) September 15, 2016
The Closed Alpha featured three game modes: 1v1 duels, 2v2 brawls, and the 4v4 Dominion game mode, where players fight over control of capture points across a battlefield where hordes of AI-controlled soldiers smash into each other and fight for dominance. There were 3 maps available, one in each of the game’s three themes: Knights, Samurai, and Vikings.
The one-on-one combat between players in For Honor is extremely satisfying, and surprisingly deep. You aim your blows and blocks directionally, chain moves together, counter opponents, and need to always keep the environment in mind. It’s a constant mind game, trying to read the opponent. Knowledge of the game’s many heroes (6 for the Closed Alpha, 12 for the full release) is essential, as it helps you figure out what your enemy’s plan of attack will be. Duels in For Honor are incredibly tense and rewarding, and the presentation of the game is phenomenal, especially with its visuals, and deep customization options for your chosen hero.
There were definite drawbacks, however, which Ubisoft has undoubtedly heard loud and clear following the Closed Alpha. The game uses P2P (peer-to-peer) connections for its multiplayer rather than dedicated servers. This is a cheaper option for the developer, but can cause unfair balances in latency between players, as well as frustrating interruptions in gameplay when a connection is poor, or a player quits the game. If For Honor intends to be a successful multiplayer game at launch, dedicated servers are an absolute must.
The map design is also somewhat frustrating in places. Some areas seem overly interested in environmental hazards, such as pits of spikes or long falls, or even wall-mounted spikes, all of which will immediately end a player’s life if they stumble into them. These provide interesting options for players to take advantage of, but there’s far too many of them, and many of the 1v1 duel levels are surrounded by them, making it actually rare that the round ends normally without an environmental kill. These are typically unsatisfying even for the winner, with the somewhat cheesy animations and alarmed shouts from the victim, and they are definitely infuriating for the defeated.
The other issues were largely related to the game’s state, being in Closed Alpha. The menus were slow and loading times were often painful (I played on PS4). The sound design could use a little more variety and depth, especially among the voice acting (after playing something like Battlefield 1, with its phenomenal sound design, For Honor’s Closed Alpha fell a bit short). Frame rates were sometimes unsteady, and the game occasionally crashed or ended matches due to unknown errors. All of these issues should be ironed out for the full release.
But overall the For Honor Closed Alpha impressed, and left me eagerly awaiting more. The combat mechanics truly shined in 1v1 battles, and produced thrilling moments with regularity.
For Honor releases on February 14, 2017 (yes, it’s going to be a bloody Valentine’s Day). The Closed Alpha is now concluded, but there will undoubtedly be another test (a beta) sometime before launch. You can sign up for the beta on the official website.
