- It combines elements from other games: a map from CS2, the art style and abilities from Valorant, and weapon mechanics from Call of Duty.
- With these familiar elements, it still feels unique because of its card system that bends the game’s rules.
- These cards can change the weather, your movements, and your weapon mechanics, and they can affect your teammates or your enemies.
When we think about FPS shooters, CS2, Valorant, and Call of Duty usually come to mind. But what if there’s a game that takes a few elements used in these infamous games and combines them all together to form one game. That is Fragpunk.
Is Fragpunk A Chaotic Mess Or A Genius Leap?
This 5v5 tactical shooter, developed by Chinese developers, twists the bomb-planting scenario into something else using elements from other games. It might seem that it’s only a clone.
However, Fragpunk does it in a way that is nothing but genius. Before I explain how they’ve leveraged this in their favor, let me share what elements they took from these games.
Elements From Valorant & Fortnite
Firstly, you’re greeted with a lobby that resembles that of Valorant, with the same vibrant colors and art style of the characters in the background. The purchasable items can be viewed, and that screen is almost identical to Valorant’s.
CS2 Map
Once you’re in the game, a desert-like map looks extremely similar to CS2’s Mirage map. Not only that, but the mini map on your screen also seems to have been taken directly from CS2.
COD Shooting Mechanics
While it doesn’t include all the weapons from Call of Duty, Fragpunk does have identical shooting mechanics. When you use ADS and run with weapons, you can tell it has taken inspiration from the Call of Duty.
Why It Just Works
It could succeed with it because it gives a strong sense of familiarity to the players who’ve never played this game. When you pick this game up, it feels like you’ve played it before multiple times, and this makes you keep playing.
Chaotic Shooter
Apart from many familiar things, Fragpunk isn’t your average FPS shooter. While games like Valorant require strategic thinking and precise movements, Fragpunk is a chaotic, high-energy shooter that throws logic out of the window.
In most ways, it breaks the mold in the FPS shooter genre and it is similar to Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2, which has lighthearted gameplay in a serious environment. This shows that some games don’t have to play by the rules.
Shark Card System & Abilities
Moreover, Fragpunk has taken the phrase, “rules are meant to be bent,” by introducing shark cards, which are its most unique feature. It offers more than 150 cards, which alter the entire game, either giving you an advantage or giving the enemy a disadvantage
These cards can do things like change the way the map looks, and how it is played. Not only that, but it can also change how our characters move around, and how our weapons work.
The characters also have abilities, which you can use throughout the map just like you can in Valorant, but Fragpunk takes it to another level, especially with the addition of the card system.
Casual & Ranked Mode
In casual mode, you get shark points, which you can put into cards. If you reach a certain number of points that the card requires, then that card can be used to affect the match for that round.
The game gives different options for three cards every round, but in ranked mode, both teams have to choose between the same eight cards, where each can ban a card. The team has to share these points instead of having individual points.
Absurd Card Abilities
One of the best card features I love is the ‘big head’ card, which allows your enemies to have huge heads as if you’ve photoshopped them. Playing competitively seriously is ridiculously hilarious when you see enemies running with huge heads.
I found a few cards extremely useful, and that includes the Lumiprint that shows the enemy’s footprints, Parting Explosion that explodes the enemies when they die, and Healing shot that heals your teammates when you shoot at them.
The best part about these cards is that there are so many and with each update, the devs can add more cards so you’ll be able to experience endless creativity. The devs did admit that they’ve taken inspiration from these cards from Mario Sprites.
Console Launch Delayed
Although it was set to be released on March 6th and 7th, its console release has met with unexpected delays. However, it will still be released for PC and free for everyone, so gamers from different platforms just have to wait for their turn.
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[News Editor]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over three years because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.
