ARC Raiders is putting me in a bit of a gaming predicament, and I don’t know what to do. You see, I’ve always had a soft spot for third-person shooters, and while I haven’t played an abundance of extraction games over the years, there’s just something about Embark Studios’ latest release that makes me want to dive in.
That’s not the problem, however. Where it gets tricky is simply finding the time for it. As someone who has become fixated on Battlefield 6 since its release last month, I feel like I’m in one of those cheesy romantic films where I have to choose between two lovers.
Okay, slight exaggeration, but still, it’s a real problem that I think every gamer can relate to. Sure, the simple answer would be to play both, but that’s easier said than done, as Battlefield 6 and ARC Raiders are titles that require grind and commitment.
The first of three phases for Season 1 has just gone live in BF6, providing a bunch of new content to unlock over the next two months. Meanwhile, because ARC Raiders is extraction-based with PvP encounters, it’s important to level up and strengthen your inventory as much as possible, especially as there’s a skill-tree feature that makes your character perform better in various areas.
It’s not just that, but hopping between a first-person and third-person shooter with contrasting controls and mechanics isn’t exactly ideal either, nor is it a seamless transition. They are two very different games with very different objectives, environments, and features. If it were a case of going from one FPS to another, then this issue would be a non-starter, but unfortunately, that’s not the reality.
Our regular viewers over on the Gfinity Twitch channel will probably be quite surprised that I’ve even written this article in the first place. For those unaware, myself and the Editor-in-Chief, Alister Kennedy, jumped into the ARC Raiders Server Slam test on PS5 a couple of weeks back, and well, it was a mixed bag.
It took a good few matches to actually come across fellow players, and when we finally did, it was overshadowed by those annoying AI robots that roam the land. We both encountered a hostile three-man team, and somehow, we came out on top after an intense gunfight. However, shortly after I’d killed the final enemy, a robot came out of nowhere and blew me up. Because Alister had been downed during the exchange, there was no way he could help me. It was game over.
What should have felt like a rewarding moment ended up feeling like the complete opposite. We’d just taken down three players, and the feel-good factor lasted for about five seconds before it was abruptly taken away by the game. No chance to loot, no satisfaction, no fun.
However, I’ve got to be honest, that one moment wasn’t enough to turn off my interest completely. While Alister was largely unimpressed with ARC Raiders, citing underwhelming graphics and a rather lacklustre experience, the hook that initially reeled me in was, and still is, attached.
I’m a big fan of the concept, and from my own personal point of view, I thought the game looked quite good overall. Gameplay and performance-wise, it felt smooth and responsive, too. Despite that one bad experience following the PvP encounter, the gunfights themselves were also quite enjoyable and strategic, which I liked. Certain mechanics, like moving loot and using items such as bandages, did feel a bit clunky and complex on console, but with time and future updates, I feel as if it’s an area that will become easier to navigate the more you play.
Did I come away with some doubts? Yes. Did I also have a fun time? Yes. So, that’s another reason as to why I’m in this predicament. Not only is Battlefield 6 already providing me with hours of entertainment, but how do I know I’m going to get even more out of ARC Raiders? I don’t, and that’s a risk. Yet even still, I feel as if it has so much more to offer following my brief time with it the other week, and I’m struggling to shift that right now. It’s receiving worldwide praise, and the more I watch others playing it, the more I want to jump back in and give it another chance.
That’s the beauty of gaming, I suppose. Just when you think you’ve found something you’ll be playing for months on end, another title emerges and starts to turn your head in a way you never thought it would.
Honestly, I don’t know what I’ll end up doing at this point. Perhaps Battlefield 6 deserves more of my time and attention at the moment, as ultimately, it’s earned that. I’m a sucker for giving in eventually, though!
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