PC

  News 
  Reviews
  Previews
  Hardware
  Interviews
  All Features

Areas

  3DS
  Android
  iPad
  iPhone
  Mac
  PC
  PlayStation 3
  PlayStation 4
  Switch
  Vita
  Wii U
  Xbox 360
  Xbox One
  Media
  Archives
  Search
  Contests

 

Shattered Horizon

Score: 75%
ESRB: Teen
Publisher: Futuremark Games Studio
Developer: Futuremark Games Studio
Media: Download/1
Players: 2 - 32 (Online)
Genre: Action/ First Person Shooter

Graphics & Sound:

Right out the gate, Shattered Horizon requires a beefy setup. But this is expected from a company who, prior to developing Shattered Horizon, was known for developing those cool 3DMark simulations used to test PC performance. Designed around DirectX 10, Shattered Horizon requires Windows 7 or XP, as well as a massive video card - but there's a pay-off for paying so much. Shattered Horizon is a twisted, vertigo-inducing multiplayer shooter that, were it not for the lack of content, would be a must-play game.

If your system is able to meet the game's high performance specs, you'll be treated to an amazing looking game. The game's four maps are loaded with asteroids, crates and other space debris - it's really a sight to see, provided your system can handle it. Thankfully, Futuremark provided players with the ability to scale nearly every visual aspect. You may have to suffer through some ugly textures or other scaled-down elements, but its good to have the option since you'll want the game running as smoothly as possible.

Despite what numerous sci-fi movies have shown, sound does not exist in space. Shattered Horizon embraces this concept, but also builds it into a really cool piece of presentation, as well as a gameplay mechanic. Since you wouldn't be able to hear gunfire and other battle sounds in space, your space suit simulates the sounds. Not a big deal at first, but when you activate stealth mode on your suit, the ability to hear battle sounds is lost. Though you'll remain hidden, you're also at a disadvantage since it gives a wily enemy the chance to sneak up on you.


Gameplay:

Shattered Horizon takes place in the future after the moon blows up due to a mining accident. The result is Earth's very own asteroid belt, the Arc. The explosion also prompts government types to go after the people responsible for the initial accident, setting up spaceman-on-spaceman action.

The "hook" to Shattered Horizon is that matches take place in zero-g space. Normally in shooters, you have the comfort of a floor and, in some places, a ceiling. Here, you're left out in the open and exposed on all sides. At times, matches feel more like a flight combat sim than an FPS. Opponents can come from anywhere, forcing you to play without blinders. Fixating on one target is a sure way to have someone sneak up on you from behind, under or above. It's a dizzying experience and probably one of the year's best FPS concepts.

As genre-pushing as the mechanics are, Shattered Horizon's flaws begin to pop-up once you see how much game there really is. Matches are split between three common variants. Of course, the game mechanics do add something different, though the novelty can wear thin. Additionally, there are only four maps. Although they offer something neat to look at, the concepts behind each remain the same - stay behind the floating rocks.


Difficulty:

Shattered Horizon is about more than zipping around with a jetpack and blasting other players. There's a subtle, yet incredibly complex mechanic of using your environment and ability to move just about anywhere. Until you realize combat is more about finding cover than running around blasting people, you can expect to spend a lot of time silently floating through space awaiting death's cold, dark embrace.

With no bot support or tutorials, you're forced to jump into multiplayer games and learn by doing. This isn't too bad thanks to the control setup, but having to face down more experienced players may shake players who need some time to adjust.


Game Mechanics:

The biggest hurdle with presenting a zero-g game, or really any game involving free movement and a jetpack, is controls. By now, we've all managed to get a hang of the whole moving in 3D thing that's all the rage with current games. Futuremark has done a really good job at bridging concepts that are familiar to players with the new concepts introduced in Shattered Horizon. Jetpack thrusters are mapped to the familiar WASD setup, making getting around incredibly easy. That's not to say you won't experience some disorientation as you get used to things, but the transition is smooth and painless.

There's only one weapon in the entire game, a scoped blaster that can really tear up an opponent's suit. However, nearly every round you let off will also send you tumbling in space. The physics are toned down to keep you from floating into the vastness of space, though it does prevent players from simply unloading their weapon in your general direction rather than committing to a carefully placed shot.

You can also engage in close combat or toss grenades, which present another interesting concept. Normally, grenades are a way to quickly clear out an area of cover and escape. They play the same role here, but they also come with the added bonus of an EMP burst. If an enemy is in range of the blast, their suit is powered down for a few seconds, possibly opening up an easy kill. Of course, the zero-g gameplay makes tossing grenades a little tricky and forces selective throws to random tosses.

With a few more maps and match variants, Shattered Horizon could become a must-play recommendation. However, even at $20, Shattered Horizon is really only going to appeal to players looking for a multiplayer shooter with a twist or something to show off their PC's specs.


-Starscream, GameVortex Communications
AKA Ricky Tucker

Minimum System Requirements:



Shattered Horizon requires DirectX 10 on Windows Vista or Windows 7. There is no support for Windows XP or DirectX 9.

Minimum: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 / AMD Athlon64 X2 5600+; NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT / ATI Radeon HD 3870; GPU Memory - 256MB; HDD Space - 1.5 GB; RAM - 2GB

Recommended: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 / AMD Phenom II X4 940; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 / ATI Radeon HD 4870; GPS Memory - 512MB; HDD Space - 1.5GB; RAM - 2GB

 

Test System:



Windows 7; 2 GHz Dual-Core processor; 4 Gig RAM; 120 GB HDD; GeForce 8600 GT; Broadband Internet

Related Links:



Sony PlayStation Portable Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier Microsoft Xbox 360 Fairytale Fights

 
Game Vortex :: PSIllustrated