At completexbox we are very much community driven, and welcome guest articles, opinion pieces and reviews. This Review of Spectre Divide, developed by Mountaintop Studios, is written by the very talented IM Dave Angel, played on Xbox Series S.
I write this piece with somewhat of a heavy heart. Spectre Divide, a tactical shooter that once promised to revolutionize the genre with its unique duality concept, is now facing an untimely demise. Despite its intriguing mechanics, the game has failed to capture the hearts of players and will soon be “sunsetted” and the servers closed for good. This review delves into the reasons behind its downfall and compares it to other free-to-play shooters that have outshined it in a difficult and full free-to-play shooter market.
At its core, Spectre Divide introduced the innovative Spectre mechanic, allowing players to control two bodies in real-time. This concept was meant to offer strategic depth, enabling players to defend multiple sites simultaneously or cover their own cross. However, while the idea was novel, its execution left much to be desired. The game was quickly criticised for its pacing, weapon designs and questionable microtransaction prices, making it stand out for all the wrong reasons.
One of the most glaring issues with Spectre Divide is its inability to stand out in a crowded market of free-to-play shooters. Games like Valorant, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty: Warzone have set lofty standards with their polished gameplay, engaging mechanics, and vibrant communities. Spectre Divide, on the other hand, struggled to keep players engaged. The movement felt awkward, the character designs were unappealing, and the maps lacked the life and detail that players have come to expect from top-tier shooters.
Adding to its woes, Spectre Divide’s microtransaction model was a major turn-off for many players. The high prices for skins and other in-game items made it difficult for players to justify spending money on a game that was already struggling to retain its player base. This, coupled with the game’s technical issues and lack of meaningful updates, sealed its fate as a failed experiment in the tactical shooter genre.
In conclusion, Spectre Divide’s failure can be attributed to its inability to compete with other free-to-play shooters that have mastered the art of engaging and retaining players. While its Spectre mechanic was a promising idea, the game’s overall execution fell short. As it prepares to be sunsetted, players will turn to other titles to get their tactical shooting fix such as Rainbow Six Siege X.
Summary
A potentially great game which had potential to be different, just couldn’t mix with the big boys in the free to play market. My heart hangs heaviest for the developers that will inevitably lose their jobs due to a failed passion project.
Overall
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CX Score - 40%40%
Summary
Pros
- A unique twin character mechanic allows you to switch between two characters on the fly.
- Bright aesthetic.
- Cross play opened up play with players on other platforms (quickly becoming the de facto standard in shooters)
Cons
- Trying to stand out in the free-to-play shooter market is incredibly difficult and Spectre Divide has become a casualty.
- The microtransactions model used was there to generate revenue rather than enrich the gaming experience.
- It was not interesting enough to be different, but not different enough to be interesting.