In the world of multiplayer shooting games, there’s a growing risk that they might become overly repetitive. With the market becoming exceedingly competitive, it’s getting tougher to make an impact. For instance, consider the case of Concord. Therefore, focusing on a specific niche could be more crucial than ever before.
PIONER, hailing from GFAGames, is packing a tremendous amount of features into its MMORPG FPS gameplay. Here goes: It offers an alternate reality open world teeming with elements reminiscent of both Stalker and Fallout, filled with unusual occurrences. The game is steeped in classic sci-fi lore, boasts a narrative campaign, features PvE missions alongside PvP arenas, offers minigames such as casinos and fishing, an extraction shooter mode, distinct faction personalities, extensive weapon customization, survival aspects, crafting, clan-based social interactions, raids – the list seems endless.
As a gamer, I often find myself pondering: “How on earth could a game manage to blend so many captivating features into one seamless experience?” Could it really excel at everything? Or is there a risk that Pioner will be labeled as a jack of all trades but master of none?
To assuage any apprehensions, it’s important to mention that GFAGames has been developing the game named Pioner since its conception in 2021. This means that the team of 70 developers have had ample time to organize all aspects of the game meticulously. Additionally, given the financial backing likely secured for the project, there should be no concern about budget constraints as the game approaches release. Lastly, by observing the gameplay reveals, you may discern thoughtful design elements that are intended to help players manage their workload effectively, preventing them from juggling multiple game modes at once.
As a gamer, I’d describe it like this: In this game, I find myself on a solitary Soviet-era island, a 50-square-kilometer expanse of irradiated wilderness known as Tartarus. It’s filled with untamed wildlife, mutants, and strange cosmic occurrences. Although it might not be the Chornobyl exclusion zone, this setting gives the game a striking resemblance to S.T.A.L.K.E.R., even though it’s not a copycat as some might assume. Both GSC Game World’s depiction of The Zone in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and GFAGames’ radiation-heavy island draw inspiration from the same source: the Strugatsky brothers’ philosophical sci-fi novella Roadside Picnic, which was also the basis for Andrei Tarkovsky’s 1979 film adaptation. To put it simply, Roadside Picnic can be seen as the originator of a whole genre with its mystifying phenomena. Games like VR’s Into The Radius and 2024’s Pacific Drive show clear influence from it, alongside movies such as Alex Garland’s Annihilation and the Amazon Prime series Tales from the Loop.
On this island, different areas are designated for specific activities. The developer refers to the eastern part of the island as the location for intense Player versus Player versus Environment (PvPvE) zones and clan wars. This region, known as the Empty Lands, features brutal firefights against other players and the island’s most dangerous creatures, but it’s also where the most valuable loot is hidden. However, this area lacks quests and the developer warns that it’s less forgiving than other parts of the island. The game’s extraction mode similar to Escape from Tarkov can be found in the Shadowlands, a desolate wasteland situated on the eastern side of the island. Gameplay involves gathering resources with your clan, capturing strategic choke points and production facilities, and then navigating various paths to reach a safe zone. The risk versus reward is evident when venturing into these hostile zones.
GFAGames notes that there are no guides for fast travel on the right side of the island, implying that you’ll need to explore and navigate manually. But fear not! Guides will help navigate other areas of the island, where instead of extraction shooter zones, you’ll find raids and world bosses similar to MMOFPS games such as Destiny 2.
If the actions within the game feel familiar to players, GFAGames are introducing an enchanting mystery surrounding the island to keep things fresh. Even though elements inspired by Roadside Picnic appear frequently in various media, video games’ interactive aspect often makes for the best adaptations. The allure of these worlds overrun by mysterious forces remains constant, but it’s video games that truly shine when it comes to engaging with this phenomenon and influencing gameplay.
On Pioneer’s island, there are scattered energy sources called artifacts, though they are supposedly extremely rare, their worth is evidently immense. GFAGames cautions that the activation of these artifacts by unauthorized individuals could result in catastrophic outcomes, although the specifics remain unknown. However, hints of such consequences include weapons enhanced with anomalies – a rifle equipped with bullets capable of melting whatever they hit and sickly green landmines that rise from the marshy ground before exploding. This suggests the possibility of an adversarial group on the island, a force intent on seizing these powerful artifacts for their own purposes. GFAGames is keeping tight-lipped about Pioneer’s storyline, but we do catch glimpses of individuals resembling cult members moving through a dark forest as a foreboding narrator speaks of escaping constraints while ‘the power of the tides’ brings destruction.
It appears that the ongoing conflicts between different islands might stem from the powerful abilities these artifacts possess. The inhabitants are engaged in a war, each trying to gain control over forces they may not fully comprehend. As for Tartarus, it’s currently divided into four factions, but only details about two have been disclosed so far. One is the local residents known as the Source Conglomerate, and the other is a military group called the Brigade. In the game’s storyline, players will be given tasks by faction leaders, and they can choose which side to support. Performing tasks strengthens relationships, encourages loyalty, and provides benefits. Money and resources, essential for crafting weapon upgrades, will also play a significant role. Anomaly scanners, crucial for survival, can either be upgraded or, as suggested in the gameplay reveal, purchased outright.
The game’s survival aspects make it feel intense, but for now, we don’t have the full base-building experience like in Fallout. However, we will need to rest, recover, and find food. As for the weapons, they look worn out to reflect the radioactive environment, but they won’t malfunction or misfire as seen in STALKER or Far Cry 2. This detail could have made the island conflict feel even more realistic, but GFAGames might have chosen to focus on survival in this harsh climate without adding the complication of weapons malfunctioning. Still, each item has a rating for accuracy, rarity, and damage, so you never know what you might find.
Glancing at it initially, Pioneer might not appear overly original, but its gunplay is impressive, the environments are thoughtfully designed, and its backstory is intriguing. If all survival elements seamlessly integrate with the array of game modes, then Pioneer could emerge as a competitive online shooter that has the potential to stand the test of time.
Please keep in mind that the opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author. They may not align with the general viewpoints of GamingBolt as a collective.
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2025-01-06 14:11