FBC: Firebreak – Remedy’s Rare Misstep?

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Following the release of Firebreak, opinions have split as to whether this cooperative shooter, derived from the Control franchise by Remedy Entertainment, is an exceptional gaming experience or simply a game that loses its excitement after a short while.

Despite receiving less critical acclaim compared to some other 2025 releases like MindsEye, these reviews and scores should still prompt the Finnish studio to reconsider their approach, possibly leading them to reassess their content plan for their recent release.

Located at the ancient stronghold known as The Old House, a remarkably strange setting that mocks both reality and the laws of space-time, Firebreak’s story revolves around the Federal Bureau of Control’s (FBC) least experienced agents joining forces to tackle supernatural dangers within their headquarters. Their mission is twofold: to safeguard this enigmatic location and, in the process, advance through the ranks.

The idea behind Firebreak appears incredibly engaging when written down, but somehow, during development, it seems to have stumbled and lost the enthusiasm of its players. Is this a sign that Remedy might be releasing something less than exceptional for the first time in years? Or could Firebreak still be finding its stride?

Those questions provide a deeper understanding of Firebreak’s inner workings as well as its limitations.

If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try Again

Fans familiar with Remedy’s growth journey will recognize that they have dabbled in multiplayer games before. They teamed up with Smilegate Entertainment to create the single-player modes for the console version of CrossfireX, which was released as a multiplayer game originally back in February 2022.

Given that Smilegate was in charge of the multiplayer aspects, there was a strong possibility that CrossfireX could have been an exceptional fit within Xbox’s thriving collection of games at the time. Regrettably, neither Remedy nor Smilegate managed to captivate audiences, and less than a year after its release, the underwhelming performance of CrossfireX ultimately resulted in its servers being shut down.

It might be expected that a studio like Remedy, after working on a multiplayer game, would learn valuable lessons from its experience. However, it appears that Firebreak has encountered some of the problems common to many multiplayer shooters. Despite Remedy Entertainment’s attempts to address these issues, their skill in creating captivating narratives and eerie, immersive experiences did not shine through on this occasion.

This tale might resonate as all too common with the critics of CrossfireX. Yet, one may wonder if Firebreak is truly deserving of such criticism.

A Sincere Shot at Greatness

The response is affirmative and negative simultaneously. Firebreak excels in numerous aspects, particularly its engaging, thrilling, and enjoyable gameplay loop which even detractors acknowledge. Remedy has shown wisdom by incorporating several references to Control, including Objects of Power that have been significantly developed compared to their appearance in the original game.

In Firebreak, just like before, the same settings and peculiarities provide a comforting sense of familiarity, along with some recurring adversaries from the initial game. Although Firebreak lacks the intricate world-building and gripping storyline found in Control, numerous reviews, including ours, praise it for skillfully utilizing the universe of Control to deliver an enjoyable gaming experience.

In addition, it’s worth praising Remedy for having the courage to depart from a conventional live service model and stay committed to offering a game without paywalls or microtransactions, which stands out given its importance when we delve into its effects swiftly.

Fundamentally, Firebreak is generally a good game, as its gameplay suggests. Yet, it might struggle due to Remedy’s high standards, as players and critics may anticipate more from a studio renowned for the success of games like Alan Wake and Control.

Why is that the case, though?

Firebreak’s Strengths Are Also Its Weaknesses

When Firebreak gets going, it becomes an unstoppable rollercoaster ride through the Oldest House, introducing ominous hazards, peculiar adversaries, distinct puzzles, and creative methods for accomplishing tasks. Any player jumping into the game following Jesse Faden’s journey through it will undoubtedly admire how the Oldest House feels both familiar and renewed.

Initially, Firebreak seems promising, but it doesn’t take long to uncover some problems. For instance, the enemy variety in Firebreak is quite similar to what was found in Control, although there are a few exceptions like the Post-It Note Man. This is surprising given that there was a collaboration with the Alan Wake franchise in Control.

In Firebreak, why didn’t Remedy incorporate more of those peculiar characters into their roster? Given the game’s potential for eccentricity, it seems like a missed opportunity. However, it appears that Remedy might be reflecting on this decision and planning to introduce some intriguing new elements in upcoming updates to the game.

As a devoted fan, I must admit that while the repetitiveness in the enemy roster of Firebreak might not be as noticeable, the scarcity of weapon options for players certainly stands out like a sore thumb. It’s the second significant flaw I’ve noticed, following the limited selection of weapons available to choose from. Sadly, none of these weapons seem to meet the lofty expectations set by their descriptions, a point echoed in numerous user and critic reviews of the game.

thirdly, the game features three unique categories of characters that add intriguing complexities to the gameplay experience. The mission objectives utilize these complexities and introduce captivating turns to each mission played by gamers. However, these twists eventually become repetitive, leaving Firebreak’s players performing the same tasks repeatedly. This isn’t necessarily a negative aspect but it could potentially make the game feel tiresome even as the action remains intense throughout the missions of the FBC’s new recruits.

Re-examining Remedy’s choice not to adopt the live service model for Firebreak, it demonstrates how a key attraction for the game has become its drawback. This issue should have been resolved at the time of release and could potentially be a mistake that Remedy may find regrettable in the future.

Initially, Firebreak’s engaging start transitions into a challenging journey that resembles a steep ascent. Players are expected to complete tough missions repetitively for minimal returns, and these meager rewards are crucial for progressing within the game’s upgrade system, which appears to favor the more experienced players over newcomers.

It’s particularly disheartening, given that the success of another cooperative multiplayer spinoff by FromSoftware is taken into account, that the final section doesn’t meet expectations.

Firebreak’s FromSoftware Conundrum

In several aspects, the aspirations of Firebreak mirror those of Elden Ring Nightreign. Both are spin-offs, aiming to build upon an established game’s success. They offer a fast-paced, action-packed cooperative gaming experience for up to three players. Furthermore, while they are both competitively priced, Firebreak has a slight edge in this regard.

Nevertheless, Nightreign has effectively leveraged Elden Ring’s popularity more successfully than Firebreak. This is largely due to the diverse array of enemies in Nightreign, many of whom are familiar faces from FromSoftware’s extensive collection of villains. Not only does this include bosses from Elden Ring, but also from other renowned titles within the Japanese studio’s impressive history, such as Limveld. This blend of familiar foes has played a significant role in Nightreign’s success.

Furthermore, the inclusion of various unique character types and the opportunity to explore rich backstories for each adds another layer of excellence to FromSoft’s portfolio. Each character class offers a unique twist on the game mechanics, enabling players to enjoy the game in completely new ways.

Furthermore, instead of following traditional progression systems, Nightreign introduces a randomized loot system similar to roguelikes, offering an enormous range of build options. This innovative approach creates a much more captivating experience for upgrading compared to Firebreak, which currently struggles to compete in this aspect.

Remedy might find it beneficial to examine FromSoftware’s strategies for realizing almost every ambition they had for Firebreak, while avoiding a live service model at the same time. It’s worth noting that making Firebreak available on PS Plus and Game Pass gives Remedy an edge in their unexpected competition in the multiplayer field.

Bright Lights on the Horizon

Though Firebreak has some flaws, it might be premature to completely dismiss it. Considering Remedy’s track record of producing top-tier games, we should take into account their potential for improving Firebreak through updates. The concerns raised about this latest release could very well be addressed in future versions.

If the skilled team at Remedy continues to work on it, Firebreak could be an entirely transformed game in just a few months’ time. Already, there are plans to add fresh content to the game, which opens up possibilities for addressing criticisms such as excessive loot grinding and a lack of diversity in levels and enemies.

As a gamer, I’m excited about the studio’s ambitious plans for the future. They’re working on remakes of the Max Payne franchise, a sequel to Control, and there are even whispers of Alan Wake 2. It’s a dream come true, right? But here’s the catch: with so many great projects in the pipeline, they might just overreach themselves, striving for perfection in one game at the expense of others. I hope they can balance it all out and deliver on each project.

Regardless of how Firebreak’s moderate criticism and sales performance is addressed, it’s likely that this will just be a temporary setback for the studio, with a promising future ahead.

We’ll just have to wait and see if FBC: Firebreak is high on its list of priorities.

Please take note that the opinions put forth in this piece are solely those of the writer and do not reflect the views or endorsements of GamingBolt collectively.

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2025-06-20 10:12