Undead Phoenix
Arcane
Before I found this game sitting in my inbox, wrapped up in a pretty ribbon with a label that requested some Jolly Bro-operation, I had no idea this game even existed. Both the Expeditions games were ones I enjoyed, but for some reason I had no idea that there release was split by, weirdly, this strange 3rd Person stealth/spy game.
Although I'm going to shill for the game, I have to admit that I've only played it in co-op as the Agent. The main reason for that is that the Bro I'm playing with is pretty much a filthy, pale-faced nerd who hacks and programs and dumped all his levels into Arcane classes I know very little about and care less about learning; whereas my class levels have all gone into making me a sexy,Russian deep-cover specialist sneaky bastard. It might be because we're LARPing characters so similar to who we actually are, or because the Copenhagen-based developers actually put plenty of heart into the game, but the humour and dialogue consistently lands and has us in stitches.
Sure, the game itself is pretty janky, but the engine holds together better than Alpha Protocol and there's a surprising amount of nuance in its C&C. The real fun is in trying to ghost the levels and I would have preferred if the game had more focus on infiltration and social interaction, keeping up your cover story with details your hacker friend feeds you, but if this game was a masterpiece rather than a flawed gem I don't think we'd just be hearing about it now, 5 years after release.
If you've got a reliable Bro to play this game with, I highly recommend it, the asymmetrical nature of the game has made it a really unique experience and being guided blind through a maze of cameras and guards (did I mention that they alter their routes? Because fuck me, they always pick the perfect time to switch from Route A to Route B) while your handler talks in your ear gives that real 'Spy Thriller' feeling. The last thing you want to hear when hiding in a supplies closet is “I'm going to need you to trust me.” If you're thinking of playing this single player I would suggest saving your shekels.
Now where's my bribe money.
Although I'm going to shill for the game, I have to admit that I've only played it in co-op as the Agent. The main reason for that is that the Bro I'm playing with is pretty much a filthy, pale-faced nerd who hacks and programs and dumped all his levels into Arcane classes I know very little about and care less about learning; whereas my class levels have all gone into making me a sexy,
Sure, the game itself is pretty janky, but the engine holds together better than Alpha Protocol and there's a surprising amount of nuance in its C&C. The real fun is in trying to ghost the levels and I would have preferred if the game had more focus on infiltration and social interaction, keeping up your cover story with details your hacker friend feeds you, but if this game was a masterpiece rather than a flawed gem I don't think we'd just be hearing about it now, 5 years after release.
If you've got a reliable Bro to play this game with, I highly recommend it, the asymmetrical nature of the game has made it a really unique experience and being guided blind through a maze of cameras and guards (did I mention that they alter their routes? Because fuck me, they always pick the perfect time to switch from Route A to Route B) while your handler talks in your ear gives that real 'Spy Thriller' feeling. The last thing you want to hear when hiding in a supplies closet is “I'm going to need you to trust me.” If you're thinking of playing this single player I would suggest saving your shekels.
Now where's my bribe money.
"
