Spellbreak
{{Short description|Free-to-play battle royale online video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Spellbreak
| image = Spellbreak_cover_2020.jpg
| developer = Proletariat
| publisher = Proletariat
| engine = Unreal Engine 4{{cite web|url=https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/developer-interviews/spellbreak-is-a-unique-battle-royale-game-that-combines-magic-roguelike-and-rpg-elements?sessionInvalidated=true|title=Spellbreak is a unique battle royale game that combines magic, roguelike, and RPG elements|date=February 19, 2019|access-date=October 10, 2021|publisher=Unreal Engine}}
| platforms = {{ubl|Microsoft Windows|PlayStation 4|Xbox One|Nintendo Switch}}
| released = September 3, 2020
| genre = Battle royale
| modes = Multiplayer
}}
Spellbreak was a free-to-play, class-based third-person shooter video game developed by Proletariat for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, released on September 3, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/07/spellbreak-to-launch-as-free-to-play-title|title=Spellbreak to launch as free-to-play title|website=Gematsu|date=15 July 2020 |accessdate=July 22, 2020}}
On June 28, 2022, it was announced that Spellbreak would shutdown in early 2023.{{Cite web |title=On the future of Spellbreak |url=https://go.playspellbreak.com/blog/spellbreak-future |access-date=2022-12-26 |website=Spellbreak |date=28 June 2022 |language=en-US}} It was shut down on January 10, 2023.{{Cite web |title=Servers Have Sunset |url=https://go.playspellbreak.com |access-date=January 11, 2023|website=Spellbreak |language=en-US}}
Gameplay
Spellbreak was a projectile-based PvP shooter, however, unlike other shooters, it used gauntlets that fired magical spells in place of guns. Additionally, players could levitate and carry one 'Rune', giving access to abilities like flight, teleportation or invisibility. Players could choose from one of six elemental classes: wind, fire, ice, lightning, stone and toxic, which granted in game benefits related to that element. Each player started with their class gauntlet permanently attached to them and could pick up one of the other five as a secondary. Gauntlets could deal a primary attack, called a spell, and a secondary attack, called a sorcery. Spells were limited by Mana which was an energy pool shared with levitation, while using a sorcery triggered a cooldown timer. Elements from different gauntlets could be combined to make spells more powerful, provide crowd control effects, or reduce others, depending on strategic desires.{{cite web |last1=Hargreaves |first1=Jim |title=Preview: Is Spellbreak the next must-play battle royale game? |url=https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2020/03/19/spellbreak-ps4-gameplay-preview-battle-royale/ |website=The Sixth Axis |date=19 March 2020 |accessdate=11 July 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Orland |first1=Kyle |title=Spellbreak beta stands out from the copycat battle royale crowd |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/03/spellbreak-beta-stands-out-from-the-copycat-battle-royale-crowd/ |website=Arstechnicha |date=3 March 2020 |accessdate=11 July 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Chandler |first1=Sam |title=Spellbreak hands-on preview: Battle royale with a magical twist |website=Shack News|date=29 February 2020 |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/116604/spellbreak-hands-on-preview-battle-royale-with-a-magical-twist|accessdate=11 July 2020}} According to the developer the game also included role-playing and roguelike elements.
Game modes included battle royale and Clash, a team deathmatch. With the release of Chapter 2 on April 8, 2021, Dominion, a 5v5 mode featuring control points would replace Clash.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-23|title=Spellbreak officially reveals new Dominion game mode details|url=https://www.pcinvasion.com/spellbreak-dominion-game-mode/|access-date=2021-03-31|website=PC Invasion|language=en-US}}
Development
The core combat was inspired by old school shooters like Quake and Unreal Tournament.{{cite web |last1=Hargreaves |first1=Jim |title=Spellbreak developer talks PS4, inspirations, and cross-play |url=https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2020/03/19/spellbreak-ps4-interview-battle-royale/ |website=TheSixthAxis |date=19 March 2020 |access-date=7 January 2021}} At the time the Battle Royale genre was and CEO Seth Sivak remembers thinking "was really a competitive roguelike for people that didn’t play roguelikes" wondering "Could we do a cool, interesting fantasy version of that and make it into something awesome? All the mean while finishing it up with in 2 years and with a team of 6.’"{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/10/30/spellbreak-is-a-chaotic-magic-slinging-take-on-battle-royale/|title=Spellbreak is a chaotic, magic-slinging take on battle royale|website=Venturebeat|date=30 October 2019 |accessdate=July 13, 2020}} The setting was decided on after the team realized that most Battle Royale games were gun based and felt that they could produce a fantasy themed version of the genre. According to executive producer Cardell Kerr the game was initially more "swords than sorcery" although the balance would eventually switch.{{cite web |last1=Shubhankar |first1=Parijat |title=Spellbreak Interview – Progression, Upcoming Improvements, Possible Next-Gen Ports, and More |url=https://gamingbolt.com/spellbreak-interview-progression-upcoming-improvements-possible-next-gen-ports-and-more |website=Gamingbolt |accessdate=July 11, 2020}} The gameplay was influenced by such games as Unreal Tournament and Quake, while the visual design was influenced by such anime films such as Akira and Princess Mononoke as well as the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. Further inspiration for the visuals came from games with "gorgeous visual effects like 2D Castlevanias, League of Legends, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild."{{cite web |last1=Hargreeves |first1=Jim |title=Spellbreak developer talks PS4, inspirations, and cross-play |url=https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2020/03/19/spellbreak-ps4-interview-battle-royale/ |website=The Sixth Axis |date=19 March 2020 |accessdate=July 11, 2020}}
Proletariat announced in late June 2022 that they would stop working on further updates for Spellbreak as they had been acquired by Activision Blizzard and were transitioning to incorporate into Blizzard Entertainment's team that is in charge of developing World of Warcraft.{{cite web | url = https://venturebeat.com/2022/06/29/blizzard-acquires-spellbreak-studio-proletariat-to-bolster-world-of-warcraft/ | title = Blizzard acquires Spellbreak studio Proletariat to bolster World of Warcraft | first = Dean | last = Takahashi | date = June 29, 2022 | accessdate = June 29, 2022 | work = Venture Beat }}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = PC: 79/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/spellbreak/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Spellbreak for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=September 19, 2021 }}
PS4: 72/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/spellbreak/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=Spellbreak for PlayStation 4 Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=September 19, 2021 }}
XONE: 78/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/spellbreak/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |title=Spellbreak for Xbox One Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=September 19, 2021 }}
NS: 71/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/spellbreak/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Spellbreak for Switch Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=September 19, 2021 }}
| IGN = 8/10{{cite web |last1=Jagneaux |first1=David |title=Spellbreak Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/spellbreak-review |website=IGN |date=19 September 2021 |access-date=19 September 2021}}
| NLife = {{Rating|7|10}}{{cite web |title=Spellbreak Review (Switch eShop) {{!}} Aces high |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/spellbreak |website=Nintendo Life |date=19 September 2021 |access-date=19 September 2021}}
| Destruct = 6/10{{cite web |last1=Andriessen |first1=CJ |title=Review: Spellbreak |url=https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-spellbreak/ |website=Destructoid |date=19 September 2021 |access-date=19 September 2021}}
}}
Spellbreak received "generally positive" reviews for Microsoft Windows and Xbox One and "mixed or average" reviews for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, according to review aggregator Metacritic.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://playspellbreak.com/en}}
Category:Free-to-play video games
Category:Inactive multiplayer online games
Category:Unreal Engine 4 games
Category:Nintendo Switch games