Reviews// Homefront

There is something about Homefront that annoys me. It’s not that the game has any specific frustrating moments or broken gameplay, or that it has a terrible story with a tacked on multiplayer. In fact, Homefront has so much potential to be brilliant that it became so aggravating to watch it thrown away.

You see, Homefront is a little different to what you have come to expect from an FPS today. The story is more than something to buffer between corridors of mindless headshots and grenade spamming; Homefront presents a world in which America has been invaded by a unified Korea. It’s a little out there but the idea is an intriguing one and Kaos Studios have certainly been brave treading onto what could be perceived as a very sensitive subject.

Homefront opens with a plausible montage of the coming 15 years. It’s 2027 and Korea has occupied America’s mainland. An eerie glimpse into the Korean People’s Army (KPA) sheer brutality as the US suffers military subjugation. US Armed Forces are scattered and what little resistance there is has been taken underground.

Our Protagonist, Robert Jacobs, is soon arrested by the KPA and so begins a Call of Duty 4-inspired scene where Jacobs is piled into a bus, and watches out the window as American citizens suffer under the brutal control of the KPA.

Families Torn Apart
It’s a little unsettling to watch families being torn apart, unwilling people shot down and, worst of all, a toddler’s parents killed in front of him as they beg for their child to look away. Kaos paints this occupation so vividly that your first kill feels that more satisfying.

After being rescued by a small resistance team, you begin to traverse across decimated American homeland, ruined lives and homes. Fighting a war in American’s streets and gardens is a refreshing setting and the people that still populate them encourage your efforts.

While the experience is short, well under the five-hour mark, its action packed with enough set pieces, pivotal moments and emotion driven objectives to keep it fresh and entertaining. You’ll feel involved every step of the way.

Frustrating
This is why it’s frustrating. You invest so much into the story only to have rather lacklustre gameplay and lazy visuals ruin the whole immersion. It’s not bad but it’s nothing remarkable. It’s easy to pick up and feels almost too familiar to other shooters. You’ll be using the same guns, grenades and occasional vehicle to combat the frag happy soldiers you’ve always been fighting.

This kind of stagnant gameplay almost ruins your potential investment which is probably why the campaign is so short. There is little value in replaying the game unless you are desperate for collectables and achievements.

Multiplayer
Luckily the multiplayer is really fun. Split into two primary modes with or without Battle Commander, it’s a great amalgamation of Call of Duty and Battlefield. Huge maps to explore and a real team effort mixed with quick run and gun gameplay. It’s the best of both worlds and the perfect stop gap as we wait for these giants to release.

Each kill or action rewards the player with Battle Points which can then be spent on perks, vehicles or special weapons. If you save up your battle points during the match then you can spawn into a tank or helicopter. This means players are evenly matches at the start of each match and only those who are patient enough to use their points at the right time can really reap the benefits.

This isn’t saying you can’t customise your load out prior to a match. While the armoury on show isn’t as large as Call of Duty, the main essentials are there.

You can select attachments for the weapon, special grenades, two Battle Point perks that can range from RPGs to mini helicopters and two match perks like faster experience or quicker recovery time from melee attacks.

Battle Commander
While we all know how Team Deathmatch and Ground Control work, Battle Commander (BC) really changes up how you play. What BC does is increase your threat level depending on how good you’re doing.

If, for example, you manage to kill a number of targets in a row your threat level goes up. When your threat level rises then other players are alerted to your location and are more likely to attack you than your team mates.

The higher threat you become the more bonus stats you gain which can be anything from additional battery life to any drones you use or better firepower in vehicles. This might sound like better players become overpowered but as they become more threatening the rewards for killing them raise and their location is highlighted on the map.

It’s a real shame that there are a few niggling issues with the multiplayer server right now as I’m itching to jump back into the action. In fact, the only thing that is tearing me away from multiplayer right now is this review.

Conclusion:
While the single player is a little disappointing, the idea is there. It’s worth playing through though and if you need addictive multiplayer to fill the gap until the next blockbuster title hits shelves, it won’t disappoint. It’s just a shame that some extra polish and a few unique gameplay features could have made a huge difference.

SPonG Score: 70%