Squad Review

Squad is a tactical first-person shooter game developed by Offworld Industries that offers players a unique and immersive military simulation experience. The game has been praised for its stunning graphics and attention to detail, as well as its focus on teamwork and communication. In this review, I will provide a comprehensive overview of The Squad, comparing it to other military simulation games on the market and highlighting its strengths and weaknesses in detail.

AT A GLANCE
GENRE: Action, Massively Multiplayer
DEVELOPER: Offworld Industries
PUBLISHER: Offworld Industries
FINAL RELEASE DATE: 23 Sep, 2020
EARLY ACCESS RELEASE DATE: 15 Dec, 2015
FINAL SCORE: 9/10

One of the most impressive aspects of The Squad is its graphics. The game’s environments, weapons, and vehicles are all designed with a high level of detail and realism, making the gameplay experience truly immersive. From the textures on the weapons to the way the sun rises and sets in the game world, the attention to detail in The Squad is truly remarkable. Players will find themselves getting lost in the game world as they complete missions and engage in battles. The game’s engine provides an incredibly rich and immersive gaming experience, where players can feel like they are truly a part of the action. The graphics are not just about making the game look good, but also about providing players with a sense of place and atmosphere, which is key to making the game feel immersive.

The Squad offers a wide variety of environments, from barren deserts to dense forests, each with its own unique challenges and opportunities for players to take advantage of.

Squad’s graphics are impressive and provide a high level of realism and immersion. The environments are large and detailed, with a good balance between open spaces and densely packed urban areas. The character models are well-designed, and the weapons and vehicles are highly detailed. The lighting is excellent, providing a good balance between visibility and mood. Overall, the graphics provide a good sense of scale, adding to the excitement and tension of each match.

One of the key features of Squad is its building system, which allows players to construct fortifications and emplacements. This adds an extra layer of strategy and depth to the game, as players must adapt to the ever-changing needs of the battlefield. Whether it’s placing heavy machine guns and anti-tank guns or fortifying a position with sandbags, HESCOs, and razor wire, players can make a significant impact on the outcome of each match.

Another key feature of The Squad is its focus on teamwork and communication. The game is designed to be played in a squad, and players must work together and communicate effectively in order to succeed. Whether it’s coordinating an attack on an enemy position or evacuating wounded teammates, players must rely on each other to achieve their objectives. The game’s squad-based gameplay is a major selling point, and it sets The Squad apart from other military simulation games on the market. This focus on teamwork is essential to the game’s realism and authenticity, as it mimics the way real-life military units operate. Teams must work together to achieve their objectives, and players who don’t communicate effectively with their squad mates are likely to fail.

Communication is a critical aspect of Squad, and the game provides a world-class in-game Voice Over IP (VoIP) system to help players navigate the complexities of combat. Players can talk to other soldiers locally, within their squad, between squad leaders, or with the team Commander. Map tools and in-world markers aid fire team leaders and squad leaders in informing their squads and teams of engagement tactics, making coordination and teamwork essential to success.

The Squad also offers a variety of missions and game modes, including both PvP and PvE options. Players can choose to participate in quick, action-packed battles or longer, more complex missions, and the game’s large community of players means that there is always someone to play with. Additionally, the game offers a large selection of weapons and vehicles, including tanks, helicopters, and more, which adds to the realism and immersion of the game world. With so many different game modes and options to choose from, players are never in danger of getting bored. Whether you prefer to engage in fast-paced PvP battles or take part in longer, more complex missions, there’s something for everyone in The Squad.

While The Squad has many strengths, it is not without its weaknesses. One issue with the game is its steep learning curve. The Squad requires players to have a good understanding of military tactics and strategy, and new players may find the game challenging at first. Additionally, the game’s focus on teamwork and communication means that playing solo can be difficult, as players may find themselves struggling to complete missions without the help of their squad. For new players, the game’s steep learning curve can be a bit of a hindrance, as it takes time to get to grips with the various mechanics and tactics. This can be frustrating for some players, especially if they are used to playing more straightforward shooter games.

Another issue with The Squad is its limited customization options. While the game offers a large selection of weapons and vehicles, players are limited in terms of customization options, and some players may find this limiting.

Despite these limitations, The Squad is a fantastic military simulation game that offers a unique and immersive experience. Its focus on teamwork and communication sets it apart from other games in the genre, and its stunning graphics and attention to detail make it a truly enjoyable experience. The game’s variety of environments, weapons, and vehicles, as well as its PvP mode, add an additional level of depth and excitement to the gameplay experience.

Offworld Industries is committed to ensuring that their popular squad video game remains a top choice for players by regularly updating it with new content and fixing any bugs that may arise. The company values player feedback and strives to make the gaming experience as enjoyable and smooth as possible. To that end, they actively listen to the Squad community, gathering suggestions and opinions to help guide their development decisions. Offworld Industries is dedicated to delivering the best possible experience for their players, and their commitment to continuous improvement is a testament to that dedication. They understand the importance of keeping their game up-to-date and relevant, and work tirelessly to make that a reality.

The update 4.0 for Squad brings the introduction of a new faction, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), including seven new vehicles, fifteen unique weapons & deployables, and a JH7A rocket strike Commander ability. The new faction also features various kit roles such as Rifleman, Medic, Pilot, etc. The update also includes improvements to the ATGM system, sprinting, and anti-cheat software, as well as various bug fixes. Additionally, the update brings new map layers and system & gameplay updates.

The game is also receiving an engine upgrade as part of its 4.2 update. This is a technical back-end improvement aimed at enhancing the longevity of the game and supporting its future content plans. The engine upgrade includes the integration of DirectX 12 as the default graphics API, which has the potential to improve performance, especially for scenes with many objects. The game will also have the option to switch back to DirectX 11 if necessary. The update also integrates AMD FSR 2, which is a temporal upsampler that can increase image detail. The Squad developers are closely monitoring the impact of the engine upgrade on performance and will have a dedicated forum thread for reporting any issues.