Spectre Divide is good enough to stick around where others have failed | Hands-on impressions

Spectre Divide is good enough to stick around where others have failed | Hands-on impressions

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen countless shooters come and go, each promising something new but ultimately falling short. However, Spectre Divide has managed to pique my interest with its unique Duality mechanic that sets it apart from the pack.


Initially, I assumed Spectre Divide would be just another commonplace shooter with little novelty compared to heavyweights like Overwatch. The gaming industry has seen numerous similar games fade away, barely leaving a trace behind. Given the current influx of games being released, I’m unsure if I’ll continue playing it. However, there is a significant player base yearning for diversity in multiplayer shooters who will appreciate this game due to its unique feature that sets it apart from others.

In a match, you have the ability to command two characters simultaneously, switching between them as needed. This feature not only offers strategic advantage, but allows you to effectively multiply your character’s tactical range – from doubling it to even quadrupling it. You also possess a puck that can be moved at your discretion, and by pressing a button, you can instantly assume control of your secondary character at the location where you last threw the puck.

Spectre Divide is good enough to stick around where others have failed | Hands-on impressions

This implies that you can shoot the puck through goals, onto raised areas, behind barriers, and so on. In intense situations where your adversaries are attacking heavily, switching to an alternate character instantly transports you to wherever the puck currently is. When you meet your demise, you respawn as your other character and get another opportunity to stay alive and defeat the enemy. The maps offer a mix of narrow passages, protective cover, higher ground, and open areas, providing numerous chances for success.

In your game, whenever an opponent comes close to your puck, you receive a warning signal, enabling you to swiftly switch control to it and attempt to eliminate them. Collaborating with your teammates and making instant decisions during the game creates a diverse range of outcomes, even before considering the specific loadouts and their functions. As you embark on securing Sponsors and purchasing weapons at the start of each round, Spectre Divide introduces additional depth to its streamlined yet complex gameplay style.

In this scenario, sponsors function as your character’s job or role, granting you new equipment that can transform your playstyle from offensive to supportive, such as changing from an attacker to a healer. At the beginning of every round, based on your performance in the previous one, you receive money to purchase various levels of weapons. As you progress, each level enhances, offering you and your spectre one weapon each. In addition to the existing strategies, selecting weapons that synergize with your team adds another layer of strategy to how you approach each game.

Spectre Divide is good enough to stick around where others have failed | Hands-on impressions

Spectre Divide stands out due to its intuitive control system that’s easy to grasp. The gameplay feels fluid with seamless movement and precise shooting, which sets it apart from some shooters that can be hard to get used to because they strive for uniqueness. However, Spectre Divide understands its identity well and enables players to jump right in without a steep learning curve. Its Duality mechanic ensures you quickly master the essentials while maintaining the same responsive and smooth feel as other games within the genre.

Looking forward to seeing how the final game shapes up, but right now, Spectre Divide is an enjoyable experience. Duality introduces a unique tactical aspect that sets it apart from other shooters, many of which are quite similar. It’s hard to predict which ones will stick around, but with the right post-launch support, this one might just be one of them. The gameplay is fun, the tension and thrill of defusing or protecting the bomb keeps it engaging, and the cel-shaded graphics make it a visual treat worth checking out.

Spectre Divide is coming to PC via Steam on September 3rd.

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2024-09-02 16:46