The year is 2024, and fans have now seen a whopping 21 ‘different’ Call of Duty titles, with many numerical variations attached to the duty section of the FPS. FPS fans have also lived to see a second Counter-Strike title release. But, the core combat of both franchises has not innovated enough to be called anything but “a sequel” in both cases, with a number attached (looking specifically at the Modern Warfare series).
This is where Mountaintop Studios comes out with their newly revealed title, Spectre Divide . Spectre Divide combines the breakneck speed of Counter-Strike matches with fast and frenetic 3v3 PvP gameplay and melds it all together with the novel “Spectre” system to craft a fluid PvP experience quite unlike anything else.
Spectre Divide is a 3v3 (but 6v6 bodies are on the stage) FPS domination shooter, where one team attacks with the explosive device — the ZEUS — and one team defends. At the halftime point (after four rounds), teams switch from offence to defence and vice versa. The first team to eight wins wins the match. As that seems straight forward, there are a lot of other mechanics that separate Mountaintop’s new game from the rest of the FPS catalogue.
The first thing readily apparent in Spectre Divide is the stunning sci-fi comic book art style that appears to have been torn straight from urban Japanese street comics from the 90s. The stylish artwork gives Jet Set Radio mixed with XIII vibes, and it’s hungry for the player’s eyes. Landing a headshot provides a splash of red as feedback, and it stains the entire area with a mist exactly how one would appear in a retro comic panel. Spectre Divide bleeds style.
“The first thing readily apparent in Spectre Divide is the stunning sci-fi comic book art style that appears to have been torn straight from urban Japanese street comics from the 90s.”
But aside from style points, what else does Spectre Divide offer? I’m glad to report the title deploys the new duality “Spectre” system for combatants to utilize in battle. Before each round, combatants are given funds to spend on outfitting their characters with weaponry, armour, or extras (more on that later). You can also place both your body and your Spectre. You don’t need to worry if you made a mistake, though; by throwing what the devs refer to as a ‘puck’ (due to its shape and the frisbee-like way combatants toss it), combatants can move where their Spectre is.
This mechanic alone changes the entire paradigm of gameplay. When arming the ZEUS with your Spectre, combatants can defend that body with their other body. This sole instance can change the dynamic of an entire game and provides extra sweaty endings to rounds. When gearing up to play, I was joined by devs SeeSee and Eric, and within moments, we became comrades in arms. Spectre Divide is at its best when all three players communicate. It might be a shortcoming at launch, but teams almost NEED to communicate. Those without mics might feel lost on this one.
While loading myself up for an incoming round, I was able to requisition my comrades to purchase weaponry for me. I was always on the receiving end of headshots, and SeeSee and I had relegated Eric to carrying us like backpacks. When you survive a round in Spectre Divide , you keep the weapons you had purchased the round before. This survival can give your team a mighty boon for the incoming round, especially when your team has extra funds to spare.
“Spectre Divide bleeds style.”
Players can adjust both their Spectre and their own equipment to have completely different loadouts. This expands the strategy even further (which further boosts the requirement for teamwork and comms); my Spectre was able to have an auto shotgun, while I could hide up high with a sniper rifle. Further, when your second body is in danger, an annoying Mega Man X boss CAUTION sign flares up on the screen, demanding you to switch to defend yourself. I said it’s annoying, but it’s sure effective.
There’s a sponsor system at play in Spectre Divide. Picking a sponsor before events will outfit your character with different abilities, and I was able to choose from four during my period with the game. I snagged the Bee-looking sponsor, it gives the ability to throw grenades that produce bee swarms. Score one for the good guys!
During gameplay, SeeSee, Eric and I (just Eric and SeeSee) were a force to be reckoned with. We devised a strategy to double stack one detonation zone to throw opponents off our scent, and then we swapped to our other bodies to defend the detonation zone. Each time this lead to hilarity (I may or may not have accidentally fragged my teammates), and our excellent teamwork of letting Eric get multi-kills was supremely effective.
Overall, my time with Spectre Divide was incredibly promising. The development team smartly chose to remove all extra mobility functionality added to FPS over the years (wall running, sliding, even sprinting is not in Spectre Divide ) and that makes the title leagues stronger, focusing on the core duality mechanic is a good choice.
While there were some hiccups during gameplay (I had an issue figuring out whether bodies were my teammates or enemies at times), none of them took away my wanting to say, “Another round?” Spectre Divide is definitely a PvP experience to keep on the avid FPS fan’s radar as it inches closer to release.
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