Tactical combat returns with the release of Showgunners for consoles. Can this previously PC exclusive make waves with modern generations? Or is this another disappointing port?
Reality With A Deadly Twist
It’s been three years since developers Artificer released turn based tactical shooter Showgunners on PC. When I first laid my eyes on this dystopian futuristic game, I had hoped it would eventually make its way onto consoles and now, finally it has. Unfortunately, it’s not all positive; whilst I enjoyed my time with this game, it’s not without some issues.
Set in the latter part of the 21st century, Showgunners tells the story of Scarlett Martillo, a character who decides to sign up for the game show Homicidal All-Stars. This show format reminded me vividly of The Running Man with its twisted game show format and deadly consequences. With every new season, contestants fight to the death for glory, fame and money. Scarlett has a simple quest: win the game show and become a legend. This is the main crux of narrative storytelling in Showgunners and it doesn’t hide away from that; it is old school video game story telling.
Each level is a game show episode, where Scarlett is desperately fighting for her life and survival. It’s not a complex tale; it’s a simple tale of revenge and fighting for your life. The characters are not complex or layered and they don’t need to be. If you are looking for a lore rich tale, with a deep meaning, you will be sorely disappointed. It’s a serviceable, if not predictable tale, of around 12-15 hours, which did not wow me but kept my attention enough for me to see it through. The blend of satire and seriousness does create an interesting balance, but sadly, The Running Man did it better.
Tactical Chess Match
When it comes to gameplay in Showgunners, the developers have chosen to streamline the traditional turn-based approach, with mostly great results. If you are familiar with turn based combat games like XCOM, then you will feel right at home with the grid-based movement. The problem with exploration is that it becomes far too tedious and formulaic. Interestingly, the developers have done away with current tactical game tropes and removed gameplay structures, such as base building, which makes it feel much more fast paced and edge of your seat.
Where this game attempts to be different is in its approach to combat. In each level, gameplay is broken into two distinct modes: exploration and turn based encounters. In exploration, you are tasked with traversing the environment from the isometric view, whilst dodging traps and completing environmental puzzles. When the game turns into turn-based combat, it becomes a tightly woven tactical chess match, where positioning and abilities can win you the fight. The only real downside to combat lies in how, by game’s end, mission structures tend to be vastly similar and predictable.
Who Runs The Show?!
Where Showgunners begins to break the mould is with the use of its Show Director; this is an AI system that responds to how you play the game. Depending on how well you play, the director can reward or punish you for your performance. The developers have taken the narrative aspect of the game show, and have woven it impressively into gameplay. This Director adds tension and excitement for players and is a brilliant and unique addition to the game.
The final aspect of the gameplay is the RPG element the game deploys. As Scarlett, your currency is Fame and you can earn Fame by completing stylish executions or environmental kills, alongside survival; these can be spent on upgrades or more powerful gear. It’s clear the game wants you to be quick and confident in your approach to combat and less methodical. For some lovers of turn-based combat, this may off-putting, but personally, I loved the quicker approach. It’s also worth mentioning how seamless the transition to controller has been, thanks to the excellent optimisation by the development team!
Along with upgrades, Scarlett can also recruit up to three allies at a time to be in your combat team for each level/episode. Each character has unique abilities and upgradeable skill trees. They all feel different from one another, with my personal favourite being Phantom, who, like the name suggests, has stealth based abilities. Whilst the roster is fairly small, hopefully the developers can add more through DLC. Still, gameplay in Showgunners is the selling point and is by far its strongest aspect. Speed kills!
Dystopian Delight
When it comes to visual presentation, Showgunners delivers and then some. The visuals are a beautiful mix of cyberpunk, meshed with a 80/90s retro style that just absolutely nails the tone the game sets out to achieve. It’s bold, over the top colours, burst onto the screen like a game show; everything has this grandiose spectacle to it. Blood bursts out of enemies violently and delightfully. Characters and enemies look bold and detailed and stand out beautifully, with the isometric camera view. As previously mentioned, you can really see the inspiration The Running Man has had on the developers; this is a bold and brutal visual style that knocks it out of the park.
Similarly, audio design and soundtrack feel perfectly placed. The roar of the crowds in the game show atmosphere really makes you feel part of a big event. Gun shots violently pierce your eardrums as they are fired, and abilities activated sound wicked in their power. Finally, the soundtrack exudes a futuristic synth atmosphere that will have you head nodding, whilst you plan your next move. Whilst the narrative may not reach the heights of The Running Man, the aesthetics and sounds certainly do.
Verdict
When Showgunners clicks, it’s a fast paced, violent, turn based tactical shooter that will entice new and old players of the genre. Stunning visuals, unique setting and a wicked soundtrack make this game stand out in a sea of PC games coming over to console. Sadly, a middling narrative and some poor exploration and level design can sour the taste slightly. Still, there is a vast amount of fun to be had with this game. On with the show! Check out the page for the game here- Showgunners Platinum Edition
