The Price of Spilling Blood

Playing For Honor’s open beta reaffirmed what I loved about the closed beta and brought to light some serious issues. There’s undoubtedly much to love: war-crying over your enemy’s decapitated corpse, a sweet loot system, and the Brawl game mode. The game offers heart-racing victories and infuriating defeats, but is the price of spilling blood worth it? Is For Honor a $60, $80, or $100 experience?

What was different from the closed beta? It featured two new game modes: Elimination and Skirmish (which I did not play). The game fully released will feature the last three of the twelve characters: a Lawbringer (Knights) a Shugoki (Samurai) and a Valkyrie (Viking). There will also be a campaign.

I played primarily as a Viking Raider. I experimented with Viking Warlord, the Knight Warden and Samurai Orochi. Playing the Warden felt good. I believed I was tough and quick; that I could hold my own and go on the run if I needed to. The Raider is at a disadvantage here, which is why I spend so much time working equipment to increase stamina and slow reduction. When it came to Orochi, I was surprised to find myself disconnected. Something I mentioned in my previous article was that Ubisoft was successful in helping me find my inner warrior, the Viking. I really believe that to be true. Not only did I enjoy playing as the Raider, I excelled at it. I can’t say the same for the other factions.

This time around, I spent more time practicing with AI. Attacking, blocking, and the delicate timing of the two became natural. I started understanding my character on a fundamental level and this was rewarded with outstanding victories. These victories, however, were not always guaranteed. On occasion, I would battle a more skilled opponent. Other times it boiled down to the equipment we carried. Most of the time it was failed matchmaking.

Minor matchmaking issues ranged from fellow squad members not loading in lobby to being dropped in game and replaced with an AI (not always destined to be the best). Major matchmaking issues involved disrupting game mechanics. When I go against an AI, I know which moves are blockable and unblockable. I know that if I go to block, I will succeed. This is not the case when it’s PvP. I’m familiar enough with the mechanics to know which moves I can stop and which moves I need to dodge, and if the block doesn’t register, then something is rotten in the state of For Honor. Sure, my timing can be off! I am not an expert For Honor fighter, but there are clear cases where connectivity issues undermine my efforts to succeed (which is a reoccurring issue with Ubisoft e.g. every Rainbow Six: Siege match ever).

These issues will break the experience to the point where your defeat becomes meaningless. You were slain because of poor server connections, not your opponent’s skill – and as a Viking, I cannot have this. Vikings believe that if it is their time to die, then it is their time and they will make it a glorious death. Ping issues should not be involved.

Something my friend addressed was that For Honor may not have enough substance. It’s why he was on the fence with purchasing it. I get it. There’s a lot we don’t know about For Honor. What’s involved in the campaign? How will we use our skills and battle wits in the narrative? Will it be a replica of multiplayer with cutscenes between matches? Are there other game modes? Will there be server browsing?

Ubisoft released a DLC trailer declaring that six additional heroes and six new maps will be added. It also mentions tournaments, ranked gameplay, and new loot. It explains that the faction war plays heavily in regards to DLC release dates (every three months). Each season will have two new heroes and two new maps. The narrator of the trailer specifies that the maps will be free, which leads to me believe that heroes can only be unlocked via season pass (extra dollars) or hopefully they’ll take an R6: Siege route and I can spend Steel (in-game currency) to unlock future death bringers.

Assuming these are unlockable via effort and skill progression, I have no problem spending $60. To me, that particular experience is worth the investment. The downside is that if the experience isn’t worth the investment (as it might be for some who experience major matchmaking issues) then it might be wise to wait.

Personally, I may wait the first week. I was hoping the open beta would sell me on a day one release but that wasn’t the case. I’m looking forward to game reviews regarding the campaign and upcoming heroes, because that is what will determine my immediate or delayed purchase. I really enjoyed both betas, but the sluggish server connections and squad dropping was agitating enough for me to say, “I’ll wait until they patch it.”

I must say, there is nothing like winning in For Honor. I want to note that my friends who played the open beta with me are on the fence and leaning to not purchasing the game. Knowing this, I paid special attention to them through the beta. I knew when they laughed and felt accomplished or when they were struggling and felt defeated. I bring this up because, even though winning in For Honor is super sweet, it’s not a victory I enjoy having alone. I think that what makes the For Honor experience is teaming up with buddies and killing some fools. I believe that the game can be enjoyed solo (again I’m waiting for further reviews regarding this) but you really need to have your mates. That’s where I stand.

Here’s to hoping for positive reviews! Maybe I’ll see you the battlefield! Until then, what are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments!