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Ubisoft just wrapped up the latest Alpha test for its online multiplayer game called “For Honor” and the reception has been overwhelming. Not only did players absolutely devour the experience, many in the press are impressed as well. It’s safe to say that at the rate it’s going, “For Honor” might be the next big hit for the studio.
In terms of numbers of participants alone, Ubisoft indicates that the Alpha test saw the highest ever for the studio, Gamerant reports. The test lasted four days, from September 15 to 18 and players flocked to the event by the hundreds of thousands.
During the event, players could test out three modes; Duel, Brawl, and Dominion. On average, players reportedly spent as long as four and a half hours playing the game, which is a lot for what essentially amounts to a demo. It didn’t stop there as players also kept coming back to play longer and longer over the four-day event. The Alpha test was so popular that it eclipsed giants in terms of views on Twitch, including “World of Warcraft” and “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.”
According to Gamespew, much of the title’s appeal has to do with how realistic the combat system is. Regardless of how likely it is that Samurais, Medieval Knights, and Vikings fought in the same place, the fighting mechanics is one of the closest to emulating real-life swordsmanship.
Naturally, there are still plenty of discrepancies as the developers had to balance fun with realism, which is what Ubisoft has always excelled at. With the game’s three-stance fighting style and quick and heavy strikes, the combat might seem simplistic. By adding shoulder rushes, environment interactions, and feints, however, it becomes a lot more complex.
Then again, the great thing about “For Honor” is how it allows players to become comfortable with the gameplay before hitting them with the hard stuff; thanks largely to the intuitive and comprehensive tutorial. On a final note, the game also sports impressive graphics, which only adds to the realism.
