It's hard to make something new and unique in the world of games. Some unique experiences can be found among the endless sea of Call of Duty or PUBG clones, but they are not very common.
NERF Ultimate Championship feels different from the beginning. Some of the best games in the series can't claim that.
The guns are the starting point. As you would expect, the team has swapped out the usual set of realistic or sci-fi guns with something else. The NERF blasters have darts for projectiles rather than bullets.
A parkour navigation system that is done in virtual reality would make Titanfall blush. NERF Ultimate Championship is just getting started with a few arenas and modes, but the promised free seasonal content and updates mean players will have a lot to look forward to over time.
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The developers gave me the chance to play through several matches and one-on-one. The NERF Ultimate Championship is open in a new tab.
NERF Ultimate Championship is a 4v4 shooter that can be purchased for just $12. You can only play certain modes on certain maps when it launches with four maps and three game modes. Later, more on that.
This game is official because the development team at Secret location is owned by Entertainment One.
The team plans at least three seasons of free content for all players starting in September 2022.
Super authentic in-game NERF blasters are part of the perks of being official. Each of the 10 blasters shoots darts that feel very different from one another.
The first month of NERF Ultimate Championship is considered the pre-season, and players will be able to get a lot of content as they level up.
Secret location says that it has three seasons worth of content in the works. The team told me that it's committed to growing the game and player base without forcing players to pay more for a game they already purchased.
You will be thrown into the social hub when you start the game. You'll feel right at home with the setup. The hub in the middle is where you can interact with a console that allows you to personalize your character, browse the season pass, party with friends, and start your next match.
The social hub also has a parkour course and a blasting range where you can try all 10 NERF blasters.
Weapon skins, characters to play as, and clothing for each character will be gained as you level up.
You will get the feeling that your character is walking around when you start playing NERF Ultimate Championship. The head bob of a human walking pattern is familiar to me and you can enable the FOV reduction system if it makes you queasy.
There are options for smooth or snap rotation, but there isn't a virtual movement system. It's a possibility that we could see more options in the future, because the roadmap includes improvements to the quality of life.
Movement in NERF is intense. You'll definitely need your VR legs for this game.
I would only recommend the game to players with their virtual legs about them. Population: One or one of the other popular virtual reality games like Onward or Contractors should work well for you.
The parkour system involves players pressing a button to jump or double jump. Walls and free standing platforms are some of the surfaces players can run on. You can chain together some incredible movements in any of the busy courses if players jump from any surface.
Once you jump off something, you can even steer your character a bit. It's great if you accidentally messed up your jump and need to correct it. You can pull off some sick stunts if you chain together jumps and double jump from the floating walls.
The image is the first of three.
The image is from the secret location.
The image is from the secret location.
The image is from the secret location.
Maps are confined to a single mode each, but may be expanded in the future.
The arenas in the game are very well designed. At this point in time, there are only four arenas that can be used. I had a lot of fun playing and will definitely be looking for more in the future. I think other players will do the same.
Each map can only be played in one mode, which is a hang up. Teams must hold on to the three capture points in order to win the game. This is reduced to one central point by Colosseum.
Death match-style modes are the only modes available in the other arenas.
The foundations here are solid. We need to know how these maps hold up over time.
The armory is next up. The NERF blasters do not shoot bullets. The people shoot darts. If you've ever had the chance to shoot both types of guns, you'll know how different they are.
It's the case with the NERF Ultimate Championship. When a dart is fired from a blaster, it travels at a slower pace than a bullet. When you shoot a normal gun in a video game, the bullet instantly hits whatever you were aiming at.
Blasters must be primed before they can be shot each and every time, making them feel very authentic.
darts in NERF Ultimate Championship are actually objects that have to make physical contact with something they hit. You have to get over the learning curve before you can be a good player. It means darts can hit players and bounce off the ground.
Before blasters can be shot, they need to be primed. This is set to automatic if you set it that way. Before the gun can be shot, a pre-canned animation will show a hand preparing it. I think the learning curve would be too much for some players if it wasn't the case.
Once you've gotten used to the mechanics, you can enable either manual or dual-wielding.
The gunplay mechanics have quite a learning curve but, once you master them, you'll have a ton of fun.
The manual requires players to physically prime the gun with each shot. You can hold the gun and fire it quickly with manual reload. It will mess up your aim before you figure out how to hold the gun.
In close-quarters battles, players that have figured out this mechanic will have a huge advantage, as they can shoot much faster than players using the automatic reloading mode.
A hybrid of both modes, dual-wiedling automatically reloads whenever players hold one gun in each hand. This is important for any player who wants to play this way since it's impossible to hold one gun in one hand and the other in another.
You have to grab a new pack when you run out of darts. It's easy to cram them into a gun, but reloading takes time since each dart has to be put in the gun separately. Don't worry, that is a pre-canned animation and won't require a lot of skill. The armory will be balanced out a bit by the longer animation.
I did well for myself in each match after an hour of playing and felt like I had most of the mechanics down pat. I could see a marked improvement in my skills in a short period of time.
I think it would be helpful to have some sort of weight on top of them to make them feel like they're real. Thankfully, it looks like the folks at HelloReal might be thinking the same thing with a limited- edition controller accessory that looks very much like one of the blasters in the game.
SURPRISE! We are incredibly proud to announce that we have teamed up with @NerfVR and crafted a ✨ limited-edition NERF Elite 2.0 Commander VR attachment ✨to celebrate the launch of NERF Ultimate Championship, coming to Meta Quest 2 on August 25th. 🏆🥇GIVEAWAY info 👇🏻👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/GIhuJLCNKSAugust 19, 2022
You can see more.
Nerf blasters range from light pistols to shotguns, automatic weapons that have to be revved up before they shoot, and giant blasters that shoot through dozens of rounds in seconds.
There are three guns at each team's starting point, with a special gun that can be used at any time. Additional darts and guns can be found throughout the levels.
Each player's shield needs to be dissipated before they take damage. It gives players a chance to realize they're being hit before they have to leave the game.
Within a few seconds, you'll return to your team's starting point. There is no way for players to grieve each other by camping in a protected space.
The game feels authentic in a way that other games do not. It means the game has a lot of promise and it's a special position for developer Secret location.
I think players will get hours of enjoyment out of mastering the mechanics before the first season starts. A new map, 30 additional levels of unlocks, and a new blaster are on the way.
The team's dedication to a fan base that doesn't exist yet was impressive. It's a good sign that the game will do well over time as it will see regular updates and keep players coming back.
It's an excellent price since most similar games are twice as expensive. It's a great start, and something that should definitely be considered by fans of the game.
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