Loadout

Loadout
Developer(s)	Edge of Reality
Publisher(s)	Edge of Reality
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
Release date(s)	Microsoft Windows January 31, 2014 PlayStation 4 December 16, 2014
Genre(s)	Third-person shooter
Mode(s)	Multiplayer

Loadout is a free-to-play multiplayer third-person shooter developed by Edge of Reality, originally made for Microsoft Windows then ported to PlayStation 4, Loadout focuses on arcade-style multiplayer firefights across a variety of modes and uses an over-the-top cartoon gore and wealth of character customization options. Players can alter the appearance of their in-game avatar as well as the properties of their weapons at the cost of some premium in-game currency.^[1] The development of Loadout has since been abandoned and many main developers have been laid off for unknown reasons.^[2]

Gameplay

There are five types of gamemodes: Death Snatch, Blitz, Jackhammer, Annihilation, and Extraction, most of which are based around collecting Blutonium, a fictional element.^[3]

Death Snatch

Upon killing an enemy player, the dead player will drop a vial of Blutonium which can be grabbed to add to team score.

Extraction

Extraction is a game mode in which the first team to win is the one to collect the most Blutonium, an object in the game that rewards one team with points. A player who is designated as the Collector can travel around, picking up Blutonium and depositing it in their team's basket, gaining points. The Collectors are chosen randomly from the currently alive players.

Blitz

The map is dotted with poles and one will be designated as a control point. Teams will compete for control of the point, as standing near it slowly raises a team-colored pair of boxers, as well as taking down the enemy's boxers. When the boxers reach the top of the flag, the point is captured and it is added to the team score.

Jackhammer

Jackhammer is a gamemode similar to Capture the Flag, except the player can kill people with the flag. The goal is to take the enemy's hammer and return it to the player's base. When the enemy's hammer is in control, the player can smash people with it, killing them instantly. Each hammer has 5 smashes per capture. Capturing the hammer will add to the team score.

Annihilation

Annihilation is a game mode that combines elements from all other game modes. The goal is to get a team score of 10,000. Several things can add to the team score. Players drop Blutonium vials on death, similar to Death Snatch. The vials can be picked up to gain team score points. As well, there are two control points which can be captured to gain a temporary damage buff, and adding to the team score, similar to Blitz. There is also a Jackhammer, which can be captured and used to kill people. Adding to the team score will give the player a growing supply of personal Blutonium, which can be used to purchase upgrades for their character. There are three types of upgrades. The first is attack, which buff the amount of damage dealt, the second is Tank, which adds the amount of damage able to withstand, and Health, which increases the healing the player can give to others and adds to the effectiveness of health packs. Once a team has reached 10,000 points, the team must take the enemy's hammer back to their base, and charge it. Then, the team must take the hammer back to the enemy's base, and smash it inside the base, destroying it, finally winning the match.

Domination

Domination is a game mode where the player captures points, and each team starts at 0 points. 20 points are awarded when a point is captured and 5 per second while the point is captured. Each team must capture the points once it is captured by the other team. If there is a red arrow under the point at the top of the screen, the other team is capping the point.

Campaign

In the campaign, up to four players can play cooperatively through missions which are divided into about 5 or 6 "chapters", each mission with its own goal. Many of the missions have to do with killing aliens known as "Kroads" in the game. Each mission will reward the player with some kind of loot, such as loot crates, Blutonium, Spacebux, and other things.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores Aggregator Score GameRankings (PC) 72.56%[4] Metacritic (PC) 72/100[5] (PS4) 59/100[6] Review scores Publication Score GameSpot 7/10 [7] IGN 6.9/10 [8] PC Gamer (UK) 77/100 [9] Hardcore Gamer 4/5[10] The Escapist [11]

Loadout received mixed to positive reviews, currently holding a 72 on Metacritic.^[12] IGN gave Loadout a 6.9 but stated in their review: "The matchmaking system is straight-up broken, leading to frequent frustrating mismatches, and its four maps aren't enough to keep me around for long."^[13] PC Gamer gave the game a 77 and said in their review "Loadout's gun customization and well executed twists on shooter staples make it a free-to-play game that doesn't feel like a compromise."^[14]

References