Breach | Xbox LIVE Arcade | First-Person Shooter

[PAX East] Breach Preview

By Jereme Puik April 4th, 2010

 

Breach is a new first-person shooter coming from Atomic Games, the North Carolina based studio that will be bringing you the controversial title; Six Days in Fallujah. Breach is a download-only-multiplayer only title for Xbox Live Arcade and PC. The game will be using the same technology that powers Six Days in Fallujah. The game will be able to hold together a group of 16 players in 8 vs. 8 team matches.

 

You will be able to choose between several different classes (as well as pick between different weapons within). You can switch between classes during respawns as well. For example the gunner is equipped with a powerful but inaccurate M60 machine gun while the sniper would be equipped with a more precise weapon to get that one headset from 100 meters away. The same destructible engine that is powering Six Days in Fallujah will be powering Breach as well and that means everything is destructible in what they call “Precise Destruction”. Unlike the madness destruction of Battlefield Bad Company, Breach allows players to make cover anywhere and blow holes in walls or rocks to get a better shot or angle. With that same engine you’ll also be able to collapse buildings on top of other players if timed right for maximum kills. If you’re in the middle of a firefight you can also eat away at your enemies cover while he tries to do the same to get a quick kill. Players are not afraid to take advantage of a destructible environment.

Developers at Atomic Games realized the importance of player’s destructible abilities and therefore made certain spots on the map impervious to destruction. For example you won’t be able to destroy that staircase leading to the second floor while you’re on the rooftop trying to snipe off the opposing team. The tactical options in the game are endless as you can shoot out individual bricks in almost any surface of the game to gain a cover advantage or you can use that rocket launcher to blow through walls altogether. While Breach is a first person shooter, there is what developers call an Active Cover System which you’ll find many similarities too from Gears of War. In order to get into cover you have to get against a wall or obstacle and click on the right thumbstick (using the Xbox 360 controller). The camera then pulls back into third-person view and your character will take position in cover depending on what kind of object your hiding behind including the state of degradation it’s in. From your cover position you can blind fire, peek around corners and use precise aim to fight off enemies so long as your cover lasts before it’s blown away.

 

With cover systems and destructible engines aside, the most stand-out feature for Breach is its gadgetry. You’re playing as operatives from the CIA so your gadgets are going to be expensive and high tech. Developers told me that the gadgetry within Breach will be based on real-life equipment such as the sniper locator and the bionic ear. With Breach getting 8 vs. 8 multiplayer supports; there should be enough for everyone to enjoy. Atomic Games is anticipating the price tag on the game to be around $15.00 but that’s for Microsoft to decide as the game will be going through certification soon. It’s certainly an aggressive price range considering there’s not much content to behold of the game right out of the gate. We’ll be keeping track of the game as the release date nears this summer.