SgtOkiDoki, Vilaskis, and TheLiquidHorse, the three developers of Battlebit Remastered began creating the game in 2016 with a steam greenlight campaign. They had the vision to produce a large-scale military sim multiplayer shooter with a pixel-art style.
The gameplay takes inspiration from tactical shooters like Squad. Still, it makes it a bit more approachable than “military sim” by tying in gameplay elements that will be reminiscent of the Battlefield series. In fact, Battlebit Remastered seems like a direct response to the lack of AAA developers’ ability to “read the room” regarding what players want out of their multiplayer shooters. Not just from gameplay, but from how games are monetized. In an interview with howtomarketagame.com, Developer SgtOkiDoki states:
“…there is a huge gap in the market. Massive multiplayer FPS games like Battlefield have become oversaturated with predatory monetization schemes and grindy metas. Players want a classic Battlefield experience without all the crap that AAA studios have been adding to them to fleece players.”
The result of this philosophy of game development and the hard work of a 3-man Dev team has produced a very successful first month of their early access launch with over 1.8 million copies sold.
I’ve been playing the game with a few other Magnetic writers and here’s what I think so far
Gameplay
As a huge fan of both Battlefield and Squad, I’m happy to say that in Battlebit Remastered you can expect a healthy mix of the approachability that you get from Battlefield while retaining some of the lighter tactical elements you find in Squad. This means that you can jump into a game and just have fun with your friends for an hour in the evening without having to take it too seriously (aka your squad leader reprimanding you on the mic for not following orders), yet you still find the squad leaders will naturally communicate a general goal such as “attack position alpha” and you can feel like you and your team are working together towards an end that transcends “get kills, don’t die.”
That being said, if you want to role-play or get on a more tactical server, they are definitely out there for you and it’s a lot of fun. Even if you aren’t “role playing” people still play their rolls. Medics tend to spend more time reviving and healing than shooting. Engineers will focus on vehicles, Support will tirelessly resupply etc.
Given that Battlebit Remastered supports up to 127 vs. 127 players, Battles get extremely intense. There are humvees and quads zipping past you, there are helicopters flying overhead as players repel out with ropes, and tanks rumbling around ready to unleash hell. All this combined with the sheer number of players and the fact that they worked a ton of destruction elements into the game means that battles feel desperate and visceral, yet the nature of the game’s art style and general demeanor of the player base adds a light-hearted and fun touch at the same time.
The gunplay feels tight if not a little floaty at first. Sometimes it feels like the weapons don’t have the “weight” you want them to, but the recoil of each weapon is unique and you can feel it when you get hits on target.
Traversal is equally floaty but fun once you get the hang of it. Your character moves through the environment at a surprisingly fast speed and can vault objects and into windows very smoothly. Sometimes a little too smooth, considering often when I attempt to step up onto a ledge, I end up flinging myself off the third story of the building I was on top of. Maybe that’s just me.
Game Modes in Battlebit Remastered
Battlefield veterans will be pretty familiar with the game modes here. There’s Rush, Conquest, Domination, Infantry Conquest, and their new experimental game mode called Frontline, where you capture positions just like Conquest. Still, each team has territory enemies aren’t allowed to be in without getting hurt. Every point you take moves the line up to just behind that point.
It’s a pretty interesting concept.
Graphics in Battlebit Remastered
The pixel art graphics are definitely going to be a turnoff for some and a draw for others. The major benefit of the art style is that the game is tirelessly optimized and should be able to run on a potato PC. This is good news since modern AAA titles pressured to push the boundaries of graphical capabilities tend to alienate PC gamers who don’t have the money for top-of-the-line machines.
I personally wouldn’t call the game beautiful, but I would call it charming and once the battle starts, you’d be surprised how little the graphics matter compared to the action and destruction happening around you.
Customization in Battlebit Remastered:
Customization is one of my favorite things about the game. There are loads of weapons available to suit almost any play style and as you rack up kills with a particular weapon, you will unlock attachments for the barrel, side rail, magazine, sights, canted sights, weapon skins, and more.
And the best part about it?
None of it is locked behind a paywall. It’s all available with the purchase of the game (albeit there is a dev support bundle you can buy to get a few extra weapon skins).
Audio Design in Battlebit Remastered:
This is the one area that I find lacking. While the audio of bullets whizzing past your head is pretty good, the game is generally pretty poor sounding.
Often in large battles, the sound of literally hundreds of rifles being fired around you just kinda sounds like you’re in a room with a bunch of typewriter enthusiasts clacking away. Explosions feel quiet and vehicle noises are lacking. While the audio is serviceable, I truly think that if they made it punchy and visceral, it would add a lot to the experience.
Conclusion:
Battlebit Remastered deserves all the praise it’s been receiving recently and I’m fully on board the hype train. The fact that 3 developers created a massive multiplayer shooter that scratches the itch we’ve all been collectively feeling is truly remarkable. It’s even more impressive that you can buy it for $15—no microtransactions (outside of optional support bundles).
Success stories like these remind me why I love this medium. All I can say is that if you’re a fan of Battlefield, Squad, or any other similar game, this is a no-brainer. Go pick this up and support these developers.
