Things Highguard Does Better Than Other Hero Shooters

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After a month of anticipation, Highguard has launched, and players worldwide are eager to try it out. Despite some criticisms, the game offers unique and engaging features that set it apart in the hero shooter genre. The developers are aiming for something new – a “raid shooter” – and while you can see inspirations from other games, Highguard still has a unique style and feel all its own.

It’s natural to compare new shooting games to established hits, but building a successful multiplayer experience is particularly challenging. Developers need to attract players and keep them engaged for the long term. Currently, Highguard is looking promising – it’s taking risks and trying innovative ideas that could really shake things up and become the next popular game.

Shooter Focus

No More Relying On Spells

Image via Wildlight Entertainment

Details:

  • Abilities supplement combat
  • Raw aim will always win the fight

Most hero shooters focus on promoting their characters and their unique abilities to attract players. But in Highguard, skillful shooting is more important than character powers. Players will need to depend on their aiming and reflexes to succeed.

Character abilities are still valuable – someone like Mara can really help her team win a match. However, winning generally depends on accurate shooting and quickly eliminating opponents, both during fights and when defending your base.

Mounts

Riding Into Battle

Details:

  • Seamless transition between running and mounting
  • Faster open area movement

Players immediately loved the mounts shown in the Highguard trailer. Now that the game is available, it’s clear that riding is a core mechanic, significantly impacting both exploration and combat encounters.

Players can quickly get on and off their mounts due to the short cooldown, letting them easily switch between fast travel and getting ready for combat. Being able to shoot while mounted adds another skillful element to the game, creating opportunities for clever plays and enhancing the already challenging shooting mechanics.

Game Phases

More Than Just A Single Objective

Details:

  • Different sections to break up the gameplay
  • Strategic options at all stages

Many shooting games rely on a repetitive cycle, either sticking to a familiar formula or being non-stop action. This game breaks that mold. Instead of rushing towards one goal, players can achieve smaller, diverse victories throughout the experience.

The game doesn’t jump right into action. First, players need to build up their defenses and decide on their starting gear. After a short period of gathering supplies, the main gameplay begins. All that preparation then pays off, as players who planned their paths and work well as a team are best positioned to control the map and eliminate opponents.

Weapons Across Characters

Letting Everyone Shoot As Much As They Like

Image via Wildlight Entertainment

Details:

  • Universal loadout for all players
  • Tiered system to add match progression

Great shooter games rely on guns, but often players can’t use all of them right away – they might be locked by their character class or become available later in the game. Highguard changes that by letting players immediately access any weapon from the beginning.

While better weapons appear as the game progresses, being able to choose from a variety of fighting styles right away makes the experience much more fun. Players aren’t forced to wait to find a specific weapon like a sniper rifle or shotgun – they can jump into the action with whatever they prefer, without feeling like they’re at a disadvantage.

Maps Vs Bases

Choosing Where To Defend Each Time

Details:

  • Base choice is independent of the map
  • Varied layouts

The way a game map is designed greatly impacts how matches unfold and how players interact. For a game to truly succeed, this design needs to work well in various environments. Highguard does a great job of making each match feel unique, going beyond simply changing the location.

When the game starts, players appear on a new map and can choose from several different base designs. This lets teams develop unique defensive strategies tailored to their chosen base, which could lead to exciting gameplay at competitive levels.

Distinctive Characters

A Use Case For Everyone

Image via Wildlight Entertainment

Details:

  • Some utility, others full damage
  • Very little crossover

Highguard currently has a small but growing list of characters, which is normal for a new game. They offer eight different wardens, and each one feels unique in how you play, rather than simply duplicating roles like having multiple healers or damage-focused characters. This provides a good amount of variety right away.

Scarlet excels at sneaky plays and can help control walls, while Una is better at locking down areas and is strongest when defending. The characters are all quite different, so players don’t need to worry about picking too many of the same type – like too many healers, blockers, or players who create smoke – and can choose whoever best fits the situation.

Escalating Loot

Constantly Getting Stronger

Details:

  • Going from low level to high naturally over time
  • Incentive to actively hunt for drops

As a fan of shooter games, I’ve noticed that getting better gear is a huge part of what makes them fun and helps you win. The developers of this game actually used to work on Apex Legends, and that game is notorious for how random the loot is. Honestly, sometimes it feels like luck plays way too big a role in whether you succeed or not!

Highguard makes collecting loot much easier. Gathering items is simple, and almost any player can quickly get good equipment. Plus, everyone gets stronger as the game continues, but without the problem of one player becoming overwhelmingly powerful and ruining the fun for others.

Offense/Defense

Rewarding On Both Sides

Details:

  • Balanced to give both teams a fair chance
  • Games can vary in length

I’ve played a lot of hero shooters, and honestly, there are so many different ways to play! Some games are just about getting kills, others make you focus on specific goals. But Highguard feels different – kills definitely matter, but it still feels like taking down those big, important targets is what you really need to focus on. It’s a nice balance, honestly.

The game keeps things balanced between attackers and defenders. While the first team to win an engagement gets to attack the enemy base, the defending team always has a real chance to fight back, even damaging their opponents if they can repel the attack. This creates a really satisfying back-and-forth flow, and neither team ever feels overwhelmingly dominant, leading to exciting comebacks fueled by teamwork and player skill.

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2026-01-29 04:21