If FBC: Firebreak isn’t doing it for you, you should play this Remedy game that never truly had enough credit

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Following a fair amount of eager expectation towards FBC: Firebreak, the newest addition to the Control universe by Remedy, its response has been relatively subdued.

I haven’t had a chance to try it out personally, but based on what I see from user reviews, it appears that many are disappointed with this game from Remedy. Given their track record, Remedy is typically known for producing exceptional games.

Looking back now, it feels like the ideal moment to revisit some old-school charm. I’m referring to a Remedy game, one that, even up until today, hasn’t quite garnered the recognition it truly deserves in my eyes.

Quantum Break.

If you never played it, you absolutely should.

A wild sci-fi story told across game and live action TV

We found Quantum Break to be exceptionally engaging, and for valid reasons. It masterfully blends Remedy’s signature strengths in storytelling and game design, and uses an interwoven live-action television series in a unique manner that we hadn’t witnessed on such a grand scale before.

My colleague, Jez Corden, who wrote the review, summed it up perfectly:

Quantum Break stands out as a unique, exceptional gaming experience – arguably the first must-have game for the Xbox One.

He hit the nail on the head. The visuals, to this day, remain impressive, but at that time, they were simply astounding. The third-person combat was groundbreaking and fulfilling. The blending of conventional shooter elements with intellectually stimulating powers made gameplay a delight.

Exceptional in every aspect – Quantum Break is simply breathtaking to observe, exhilarating to engage with, and unforgettable to live through.

A significant aspect of this experience lies in the smooth integration of the narrative across gameplay and live-action TV show scenes. The talented ensemble, led by Shawn Ashmore, the late Lance Reddick, Aidan Gillen, and Dominic Monaghan (best known for his roles in Lord of the Rings and Lost), truly shines.

I hadn’t experienced anything quite similar prior to that, and rarely have since then. As I recall, I yearned fervently for a complete live-action Quantum Break series, or perhaps a spin-off, with an ardent hope for a sequel.

Instead of discussing the plot, let me encourage you to explore it on your own, as it offers a unique blend of time-travel elements and extraordinary abilities.

It’s out there, it’s absurd, but it’s utterly brilliant.

Critical praise, but we never got a sequel

Quantum Break, though widely praised rather than universally hailed, ultimately became a standalone title. It appears that Microsoft, the intellectual property owner, did not find sufficient reasons to produce a sequel.

Initially, it encountered problems during its debut, notably on PC platforms. Some of these troubles could be attributed to UWP (Universal Windows Platform). However, subsequent updates addressed these issues, and the game was eventually made available on Steam as well.

According to Metacritic, Quantum Break has received a 77 from critics and a 7.3 from users. I personally believe it deserves a slightly higher rating.

In the past, we never observed a PlayStation version of Quantum Break being released. Back then, console (and Windows) exclusives were much more common than they are now on modern Xbox. It’s quite unlikely that this will change in the future, unless Microsoft decides to revamp it for a remastered release.

Hey, Microsoft, remaster Quantum Break would ya?

If you’re a fan of Remedy’s work and missed Quantum Break initially, it’s high time you give it another look right away.

Quantum Break can be accessed via Xbox Game Pass, however it doesn’t support Xbox Play Anywhere. Yet, you can enjoy it on both console and PC platforms. Additionally, it’s featured on Steam, and performs well on devices like the Steam Deck and portable systems such as the ROG Ally.

Even in 2025, I can’t really find a comparable experience to what Quantum Break is.

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2025-06-18 15:39