Two games I really love are “Halo 3” and “Portal”, and since the idea behind “Splitgate” seems similar, it’s easy for me to appreciate it too. However, while I still enjoy the main fighting aspects, I find that the new modes and features in the sequel actually detract from this wonderful blend of styles. “Splitgate 2” is a fast-paced first-person shooter that uses portals to enhance its multiplayer battles. One exciting scenario you can encounter in “Splitgate” involves sneaking up on an opponent through a portal and then escaping by setting up another one across a pit. In the sequel, they keep this same formula, but to a lesser extent.
“Splitgate 2” introduces larger maps and character classes with abilities, which adds complexity to the existing portal concept, but at the expense of its straightforward appeal in other ways.
Initially, let’s discuss how Splitgate 2 has either progressed (or regressed depending on personal taste) in refining its PvP portal formula. The straightforward arcade-style arena battles of the initial game have been significantly upgraded to include character classes. In this version, collaboration and strategic thinking are more important than just fast reactions. Although there are still compact arena matches outside the new battle royale mode, it’s clear that larger, expansive maps were given greater focus.
In contrast to the initial game, strategic portal placement has taken a bit of a backseat in Splitgate 2 due to the expansive, open-style maps. There are fewer narrow corridors and walls for portals, instead leaving more space for running around freely. To make up for this, Splitgate 2 adds a slide mechanic to its movement system, enhancing the focus on large maps. The game’s developers have managed to make both running and sliding feel smooth and crisp. Movement remains as tight and responsive as in the first game. The guns continue to be satisfying to fire, with improved visuals and sound quality due to upgraded engine technology. I didn’t encounter many frame drops or glitches during my games, which is commendable given its recent launch. The netcode seems robust so far; I haven’t been abruptly kicked out of matches or disconnected except when my internet connection was poor.
“Running and sliding feels super smooth and crisp.”
Although the gameplay of Splitgate 2 might be more refined than its predecessor, I’m drawn more to the visual charm of Splitgate 1. The levels in Splitgate 2 appear simpler compared to the original, with the arena maps appearing as truncated versions of the larger ones. There’s a balance between indoor and outdoor spaces, but they seem less organic this time around, giving off an almost factory-produced vibe, which is quite different from the Halo-inspired settings in the first game. What makes it more noticeable is the absence of background music during matches, something that didn’t bother me in Halo, but the original had a more captivating environment to compensate for it. Splitgate 2 could benefit from some ambient or event-triggered music to enhance the atmosphere and excitement of the gameplay.
To compensate for any lackluster maps you might encounter, we’ve introduced an upgraded version of the much-loved Stadium from the initial game, along with the reemergence of The Lab – a versatile map creator that has been a staple since the first Splitgate. Even if you’re not enjoying the ‘official’ maps, you’ll likely find something quirky and enjoyable within the user-generated maps. I haven’t personally explored The Lab extensively, but it seems to be an evolution rather than a radical transformation from the original game’s map creator. There are some new biomes and a snap-to-surface feature, but no significant additions as of yet. However, the updated Unreal Engine 5 graphics provide users with the ability to create stunning maps, and all the tools from the original are still available for creating wild and entertaining designs.
One standout feature of The Lab is its capacity for players to design unique play modes and tailor-made match types. From treasure hunts to maze challenges, the possibilities are endless as Splitgate 2 continues to evolve with time. Let’s discuss the built-in game modes in Splitgate 2, excluding those created by users. Arena Quickplay is your typical team mode set on standard maps, while Onslaught introduces larger maps for up to 24 players. Takedown, a returning mode from the original game, offers a fresh take on traditional deathmatch, adjusting respawn speeds based on the rate of team kills and deaths. Deathmatch itself has several variants, it’s worth mentioning that most game modes are locked until you reach level 50k, approximately an hour or two of online matches depending on your skill level.
Let me take you through the introduction of Factions in Splitgate 2. This marks a new chapter for the series, as Factions represent unique classes with specific abilities and roles. There are three factions: Aeros is a versatile portal expert, known for swift movement; Meridian serves as support, able to see through walls using an active ability; and Sabrask is the tanky, offensive class with a Smart Wall ability to temporarily shield attacks.
As you progress, each of these Factions can be leveled up individually. You’ll unlock distinctive weapons and skins for them by earning experience points. Each class comes equipped with a heavy weapon, two attachment slots (for enhancements like scopes or accuracy boosts), a light weapon, an attachment slot, an equipment slot (similar to grenades and mines), and two perks. More loadout options become available as you gain experience with each class.
When it comes to gameplay, the three classes are nicely balanced, making for excellent team-based action due to their unique active and passive skills and attributes. Personally, I lean towards the Sabrask tank class, but none of them seemed excessively powerful or weak.
In the sequel of “Splitgate”, there’s a new addition called “Factions”. These factions serve as unique classes, each having specific abilities and functions, marking a first in the series for this kind of feature.
In the sequel of Splitgate, you’ll notice a familiar battle pass layout, common among many live-service games. By investing in a season or chapter (as it’s labeled here), you gain entry to a collection of Faction cosmetics such as character skins, weapon skins, taunts, banners, and yes, even weapons and equipment. The first season offers a legendary grade burst rifle for your Aeros character, all at the affordable cost of 500 Splitcoins, which equates to $4.99. Unlike other games, the useful weapons in this battle pass are not overly abundant, but each season does showcase a few. You can acquire these weapons, sans unique skins, through conventional progression, or speed up the process using the battle pass.
Instead, let’s discuss an exciting new feature in this game: battle royale mode. At the start of each match, 15 teams of four players are randomly assembled. It’s important to note that there are no options for custom team selection, and even more intriguingly, the player who determines the drop location is selected by a simple random draw, similar to flipping a coin. Sometimes, this has led to unfortunate outcomes where the leader inadvertently chose an out-of-bounds location, resulting in the entire squad being eliminated. Additionally, it’s quite common to find yourself teamed up with novice players who disregard the shrinking safe zone due to its rapid collapse rate. However, I can’t fault them for this, given how swiftly these zones contract.
Generally, matches last approximately 10 minutes, which seems brief for a battle royale game. This duration is insufficient to explore a hideout thoroughly, establish defensive strategies, and organize perimeters effectively. It’s unfortunate that zones force players out so quickly because the loot distribution is evenly balanced, offering an abundance of weapons and equipment in base centers, making it crucial to defend these areas. As matches move along swiftly, strategic planning becomes challenging and situations can become messy very quickly. You rarely have enough time to strategize around a base before it gets destroyed by the collapsing zone.
As a gamer, navigating from one zone to another can be quite challenging because the game mechanics seem biased towards snipers. With zones being spread far and wide, snipers have an obvious edge when it comes to long-range combat. My close-quarters build struggles significantly once pushed out of our base into the exposed outdoor environments due to the encroaching ring. Abilities offer a slight advantage, but they’re not enough to compensate for this disadvantage. For instance, Sabrask, with his deployable shield ability, can momentarily block sniper shots, but that comes at a cost since you need to keep moving in order to stay ahead of the shrinking circle. The current pace of battle royale mode leans heavily towards long-range gameplay, which unfortunately isn’t well-balanced within the current meta.
In expansive surroundings, the available options for portal usage are somewhat restricted due to a higher proportion of outdoor spaces compared to indoor areas.
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Players might find a letdown in the modified portal system within Battle Royale mode. Unlike other game modes, portals can’t be excessively used without limits. Each use of a portal consumes a certain charge, which increases as you gather loot across the map. The vast landscapes restrict portal usage due to less enclosed spaces and more outdoor locations, which I previously mentioned not being fond of. Since portals are a key feature in Splitgate, reducing their functionality weakens the game’s distinctive appeal.
However, there are some advantages to this new mode. The swift respawning system is something I appreciate. Teammates are motivated to stay together because they can revive each other, fostering a more cooperative and vigilant squad than usual.
In the future, I anticipate that Splitgate 2 will address the issues it faced during launch. Similar to its predecessor, the portal system offers a wealth of strategic possibilities and boasts a high skill cap, albeit with portals playing slightly less crucial roles this time. The novel class system enhances teamwork dynamics significantly, although there are only a few skills available at present. Unfortunately, my least preferred mode is battle royale, which is unfortunate given its prominence in the game’s advertising. I hope that updates will improve the pace of gameplay because all the essential elements seem to be in place for an exciting and engaging experience. Splitgate 2 is worth a try if you enjoy multiplayer arena shooters or were fond of the original, but it currently doesn’t distinguish itself significantly from its competitors.
This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.
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2025-06-11 19:12