14 DAY TRIAL // The multiplayer segment of the gaming industry is a pretty tough one to enter, but independent developer Shield Break Studios seems to have no fear of the competition in the market as it's just released its Bierzerkers title on Steam Early Access for PC.
The new titles promises to impress with its Viking-inspired action, not to mention its fast-paced combat. With intense online team-based action, a solo Survival experience, not to mention different classes and environments, Bierzerkers paints a pretty picture.
Does it have what it takes to reach glory in combat or should it be banished back to Midgard? Let's have a quick look.
Bierzerkers is fast and very fun
You can spot right from the get-go that Bierzerkers doesn't take its action too seriously, as if you go through the brief tutorial, you can not only come to grips with the basic controls and mechanics but also have a few laughs as you're controlling your own Viking warrior through hordes of zombies.
Afterwards, you're gently nudged towards the main portion of the game, which consists of some fast-paced yet quite intense online battles. You can pick from different characters, who excel at one of three different roles: offensive, defensive, or support.
Each class comes with different abilities and weapons. You have basic attacks, a heavy one that requires extra time to pull off, as well as three different cooldown-based abilities. From throwing your shield at an enemy, jumping into the sky and crashing down onto foes, to summoning a wall of Viking holograms, the different abilities of the various characters are quite imaginative.
The environments are also pretty varied, and the stylized visuals ensure that everything stays colorful and fun, even when you're losing.
The modes include traditional ones like Team Deathmatch or Domination, but the great combat makes them feel quite fun.
There are dedicated servers, and if the slots on the two teams aren't filled with human enemies, quite capable bots step in to ensure that you still have a great time. Friendly-fire is turned on, at least in the battles I went through, so be careful when you're entering chaotic fights, as you can end up team-killing others.
For those who prefer solo action, you can test your mettle in the Survival mode, which throws you into an arena and tasks you with killing as many enemies as possible until you succumb their attacks.
Speaking of opponents, while they may be zombies, they do offer a pretty varied challenge. Some wield shields that require successive attacks to break, while others use longer spears or ranged attacks to get the jump on you.
Overall, Bierzerkers is a mighty fun experience that manages to add the right mix of depth in terms of mechanics, while not alienating newcomers. During the Early Access, Shield Break Studios wants as much feedback from fans as possible and hopes to release the final version in three to six months.
Check out a gamepay video and some screenshots below.
