Fireteam Reloaded Preview

About a decade ago, a shooter debuted on the PC that offered top-down shooting for multiple players online. The game, Fireteam, was a team-based shooter that offered a fresh take on the new online gaming concept. Unfortunately, given the fact that online gameplay was still in its infancy at the time (not to mention that the game was only on sale through digital download), it didn’t leave much of a mark on the world of PC gaming. However, although the title was way ahead of its time, the follow-up seems to be right on track. Fireteam Reloaded is the game’s second lease on life, available for play through Pixel Mine’s gaming portal. Offering a casual shooter experience, Fireteam Reloaded works best in short gaming spurts.

For those who didn’t play the original (and there are a lot of you), Fireteam Reloaded is a team-based shooter that is presented from a top-down isometric view. You can control your chosen character through a few different control schemes involving the keyboard and mouse in different arrangements.

You have access to three different classes: gunner, a huge character with a bazooka in hand; a commando, a long-range unit with a rifle specialization; and the scout, who is fast and has a great field of vision. Each class has their own distinct advantage over the others, as well as some weaknesses that cater to an individual’s playing preference.

The game is divided into four different gameplay modes, including Deathmatch, Gunball, Basetag, and Flags. The Gunball mode was probably the most interesting of the four, and basically felt like a sports game, where the two teams would each vie for control over a ball on a field laden with debris. The constant spawning and intense fighting makes this mode a lot of fun to play with the right number of players on either side.

Graphically, the game isn’t much of a departure from the version that hit back in 1997, but still looks pretty good for a casual game. The sprite-based models and environments are pretty well done and should run on just about any PC out there right now.

Fireteam Reloaded is a nice reinvention of a forgotten, though revolutionary shooter. If you are looking for a fun casual shooter to sink your teeth in to, Fireteam Reloaded could be what you’re looking for. The game is currently in beta and should be releasing soon.