Crossout (PC)

Crossout

The first thing to say about this game is it has those three dreaded words that make almost everyone hesitant. Those words are "Free to Play" since they usually are followed closely by "pay to win." However, it is possible to pay to advance the game does play very well without putting a penny into it.

Crossout is set in a very traditional post-apocalyptic land and has a sort of mad max feel to it, with its car combat system taking place in various arenas. The game also features both PvE and PVP game modes, including both coop and versus play.

While the game itself is very straightforward, the biggest hook that brings you in is the nearly unlimited options for our vehicle build. Rather, you want a walker, tank, truck, hovercraft, and any mix-and-match you can think of all a possibility. Every vehicle is unique as each is made by you or someone else.

The only actual requirements for your vehicle are a frame and cab that provide the vehicle's base, power, and health. To destroy an enemy vehicle, the cab must be destroyed. With weapons ranging from machine guns to missile launchers and even energy weapons and fire, the options indeed are fantastic as nearly anything goes short of a part limit and energy limit. Both are very fair and create an outstanding balance in the game. Each item has a set power score that it adds so that vehicles of similar scores are matched together to create an outstanding balance in the game.

While the massive number of options for creating your vehicle can seem overwhelming, the way everything is introduced and the speed at which you are introduced to everything and acquire all the items for doing so make it far less so. I found the game to be a load of fun and find myself playing it constantly.

The only real catch is that getting parts can become a real grind, especially as your progress into the more advanced items, which is where the pay-to-win can come in. However, I have been playing and enjoying the game a great deal without ever putting a penny into it. While I may not advance to the higher-end stuff as fast as those who put money into the game, you are also not matched with the game's higher power score vehicles.

Because of that fact, while you may find high-end tech in the lower brackets, they are also limited heavily in other areas because it brings a great deal of balance to the game at all levels of the game.

Another great point about the game that I found is that it is a game you can jump into when you have only a few minutes to play since many of the matches. The PVP matches only last about 3 minutes at the most, and while this does not seem like enough time to enjoy yourself, it is as if a lot does happen in that short period.

In conclusion, I found the game to be rather enjoyable even though there is a considerable grind for the powerful parts. Even having the grind, I would recommend the game to anyone who enjoys vehicle combat games and even some of those who enjoy fps games. The game has a significant focus on multiplayer rather than its coop. There is no real single-player game mode; this may be a turn-off for some. I would say give it a shot, especially since the game is truly free to play. Even though my progression has been slow, I have enjoyed the game, even in the lower-end power brackets.