Review: Highguard (PS5) – Jack of All Trades PS5 Shooter Is Fine

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I’ve definitely played games that almost get it right – they have a cool idea or two, but something just feels off. That’s pretty much how I’d describe my experience with Highguard, the new game from Wildlight Entertainment.

This game is a competitive, team-based shooter, and while it might seem unique, it actually borrows elements from many of the most well-known shooters out there.

This game blends elements from popular titles like Rainbow Six Siege with base building and defense. It features a progression system where you collect better armor and weapons, similar to what you find in Fortnite and other battle royale games. Plus, it includes unique characters with special abilities – think of the hero system in Apex Legends.

So, is it just copying other things? Not exactly. Combining these features creates something new, though it won’t appeal to all players. Let’s move on to explaining how a match actually works.

Each team of three players can build defenses to protect their base. Inside the base, you’ll find two small generators and one large generator. Your goal is to safeguard your own generators while simultaneously destroying the enemy team’s generators.

Next, you’ll enter the gearing up phase. This is when you and your team will gather Vespa (the in-game currency), armor, and weapons. You’ll travel quickly on your mount while searching for better equipment, and you might encounter the opposing team during this process.

Next, players need to secure the Shieldbreaker sword, which appears on the map. Carrying it to the enemy base will disable their shield and allow your team to begin an attack.

When a raid starts, you have a short time to either attack or protect generators. Smaller generators deal about 30% damage to an enemy base, while the large generator completely destroys it.

Whichever base runs its health down to zero will lose the game.

You might think this seems like a complex system for a multiplayer game, and you’re not entirely wrong. It takes a little while to learn how to play Highguard effectively, but once you do, it can be very rewarding, though it definitely has its challenges too.

Playing Highguard on PS5 is a really satisfying experience. The game feels polished and well-made, with impactful gunplay, fluid character movements, and responsive controls. The eight playable Wardens offer a wide range of skills, making combat engaging and enjoyable.

The way matches constantly shift between defending and attacking creates a really exciting multiplayer experience. One moment you’re anxiously preparing your defenses as the enemy attacks, and the next you’re leading a charge with your team to break down their walls.

Highguard seems designed for fans of games like Valorant – those who enjoy strategic, team-focused shooters. If that sounds like you and everything clicks, you’re in for a really good time.

This game relies heavily on teamwork, which can be frustrating when playing with strangers. Success depends on everyone understanding how the game works, and because players can be defeated quickly, you’ll have a hard time winning fights against multiple opponents – especially if your teammates aren’t coordinating with you.

We found that the game is most enjoyable when it focuses on either strong defenses or aggressive attacks, especially after playing for a while.

The beginning part of gathering resources often feels slow, since you’re constantly breaking crystals and opening chests that are far apart. If you encounter another player during this phase, it’s usually best to avoid them. Fighting isn’t worth it, because you’ll just reappear quickly anyway, and there’s no real benefit to engaging.

We also began to wonder about the purpose of building up defenses in the game. You can strengthen walls with iron to protect them from axes, but every player has a tool that can break through those fortified walls anyway. Plus, there are characters called Wardens who can either go around walls or destroy them with their special abilities. It feels like fortifying doesn’t really add much value.

The game’s visual style feels inconsistent. The core environments and characters are fairly generic, combining typical weapons with a fantasy world. However, the store offers a wide variety of cosmetic items, from Roman soldier outfits to looks inspired by the movie Dune, which creates a strange mix.

The game uses three types of in-game currency, including one earned through playing. However, we didn’t feel compelled to spend a lot of time earning more cosmetic items, and we also didn’t experience that addictive feeling of wanting to play ‘just one more’ round, which is important for multiplayer shooters.

We tested the game on the PS5 Pro, but it’s important to know there isn’t a special version of the game optimized for the Pro yet. Even so, the game ran well and looked very clear. While you can’t adjust many settings, the developers did add a field of view slider for console players after the game launched, which is a nice addition.

Unfortunately, the game doesn’t really utilize the DualSense controller’s special features. While there’s some basic vibration during shooting, you won’t experience the detailed sensations from haptic feedback or the varying resistance of the adaptive triggers.

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2026-01-30 20:07