Defiance 2050 is a great improvement on the original Defiance game, with a new outstanding progression system and immersive graphics. Although gameplay still revolves around shooting down different opponents, it still makes for a fantastic play. But it’s a shooter game, and there’s nothing more riveting to do in such a genre. 

Combat in Defiance 2050 is basically what you’d expect in most shooters: you are in third-person view with a camera over your shoulder, perusing the large enemy-filled worlds. If you’ve played the original game, Defiance 2050 is going to feel very familiar. That’s understandable because this is just a remaster, not a remake. However, you’ll be missing out on a lot if you fall into the trap of sticking to the dynamics of the first release.

One Job – Bring Down The Bad Guys

California is in ruins, and some unscrupulous elements still hover around the almost-dead space. You wear the robe of an Ark Hunter with a job description your name clearly defines: hunting. There are countless dangerous aliens and mutated scumbags that must suffer the sword of your wrath, and you’re not shielding your sword till they take a permanent seat in the abyss. Sword, as used above, is only metaphorical. What you do have are different types of guns, from shotguns to pistols.

Shooting feels alive in Defiance 2050. Clicking on a thug sends a bullet straight to them, and this happens with fascinating seamlessness. As if that isn’t enough, you can deploy your unique class skills even to make your firepower more catastrophic. Although using different weapons doesn’t feel very varied, the effects are considerably palpable.

Defiance 2050 repeats the major characters of the original, and the storyline is unchanged too. The missions follow the same dynamics old players have become used to. It’s either you are killing a sea of enemies, or you’re defending a particular thing from the bad guys.

Varied Classes Offering Unique Capabilities

Who doesn’t like to choose from varied class options? In Defiance, you can pitch your tent with the Assault Class, Assassin, Guardians, or Combat Medic. The class you choose will determine your gaming experience to a large extent, dictating the type of skills and weapons you possess. 

For example, as a member of the Assassin class, you’ll most have to take long-rage shots to bring down the militant opponents, with a touch of stealth in the process. As part of the Assault Class, you have a variety of skills that allow you to move at the speed of light and attack your opponents with an incredible degree of swiftness. As a Guardian, shields serve as your fortress while you depend on shockwaves to send your opponent to the ground. Finally, the Combat Medic’s strength lies in healing.

Only one class is available to new players, and they’ll have to unlock others through leveling up. But if that grind is too much to bear and the time too much to wait, they can unlock the classes by buying them with some real money. If that’s not the path you want to take, then be prepared to devote countless hours to the game before enjoying the plurality of classes. Besides the four major traditional classes, there are novel classes you can only get by spending money. An example is the Demolitionist, which, as the name implies, constitutes a ruthless force of destruction. The class gives you access to powerful weapons and explosives. That’s in addition to the ability to call on minions to join in the battle. Isn’t that just incredible?

There’s also the Crusader class that puts a giant hammer in your hand, with special melee abilities. The fact that you have to spend money might make these additions less enticing, but they are worth the few dollars you’d spend. However, you can still enjoy Defiance 2050 without spending money. All you need is to take the grind head-on and not back out when the going gets tough. By the way, that’s what such games are all about – it’s the toughness that brings out the fun and excitement. 

When The Ark Drops, There’s Plenty To Kill

Everyone who’s played Defiance 2050 will attest to the incredible thrill that comes with Ark Hunting. Although it doesn’t happen all the time, it’s simply unbelievable when the occasion does present itself. At different unpredictable points and spots in the game, an Ark drops, and with it comes a sea of enemies. This allows you to shoot as many as possible and increase your reward. However, you’re not the only one gunning for multiple kills, as other players will waste no time rushing to the scene.

Ark Hunting isn’t the only time you’ll see other players. In fact, Defiance 2050 will have you running into various players almost every time. This feature isn’t present in many similar games, but you can argue it offers less than what you’d expect. The players can’t stop to hold a conversation and move along as though the other person isn’t there. At the end of the day, it’s as good as other players not being there. Although the game features a zone chat where you can chat with other players you come across on the map, the space will be empty most of the time.

Verdict

Defiance 2050 feels like the original game in so many ways, but several upgrades have been made to give it some uniqueness. The progression system, class options, and shooting all give the game a bright spark. What stands above every other thing, however, is ark hunting. The game does make a decent attempt to transform the original architecture of the series and is definitely worth a playthrough.