It seems like there’s always a new breakout hit video games popping up out of nowhere, with the likes of Fortnite, Among Us, and other games seemingly becoming overnight successes thanks to their presence on streaming platforms. Now, Splitgate, an arena shooter from developer 1047 Games, is seeing its own rise in popularity, opening the game up to an entirely new audience. For those anxiously awaiting Halo Infinite, Splitgate is the perfect game to check out in the meantime.
Splitgate isn’t necessarily as polished as what fans will be getting out of Halo Inifnite, as the arena shooter is still in early access. However, it’s impossible to deny the parallels between how Splitgate feels compared to classic Halo gameplay, just sped up a bit. Meanwhile, Halo Infinite is a balancing act of modernity and tradition which puts the two in the same league.
And despite the fact that it’s a bit rougher around the edges than what Halo Infinite fans, hopefully, will be getting at launch, Splitgate is still a quality FPS game, with a unique twist thanks to its iconic portal gun mechanics. Coupled together, it makes for a delectable shooter experience, and one that can be used to get players up to speed for when Halo Infinite launches.
Splitgate’s Shooting Parallels Halo Infinite
What’s particularly astonishing about Splitgate is how much it manages to feel like Halo without directly being Halo. The Halo Infinite technical alpha is the perfect example of how closely Splitgate feels to the Halo franchise, specifically where the gunplay is concerned. It isn’t identical, but mastering the fundamentals will translate nicely to Halo Infinite, it seems. At least, if the way Halo Infinite’s gunplay felt during the technical alpha translates to the final game.
The Assault Rifle is perhaps the closest proxy for each game, as they feel relatively similar to each other. Fans will notice immediately that Splitgate puts a larger emphasis on zooming in than the Halo games do, but they have a similarly satisfying firing pattern driving them, with punchy, rapid-fire mechanics that make them feel solid to use.
But the similarities extend beyond just the Assault Rifles. Splitgate’s Battle Rifle is a near carbon copy of Halo’s BR, but in a good way. It’s satisfying to down an enemy with controlled bursts, just as it is in Halo. The same core concepts apply with the weapon, too, so those that have experience in Halo will likely find themselves doing well in Splitgate, and vice versa.
Splitgate Captures Classic Halo Level Design
But beyond the combat mechanics, there’s something to be said about how Splitgate approaches level design. Halo maps have long had a certain look and tone to them, fluctuating between far-future industrial and sleeker, more alien designs. Splitgate strikes a balance somewhere between the two but manages to capture what makes Halo maps so memorable. It’s a certain combination of visual flair and easily traversable pathways, all coupled with a verticality that other games fail to replicate.
Plus, Splitgate introduces portal mechanics that shake up how the entire game is made, the defining mechanic separating it from the sea of other FPS games out there. Those portal designs are integrated into the maps in a way that feels natural, offering new layers of strategy for players to use to make better strategies.
That’s an important factor when drawing comparisons to the Halo games. Much like other shooters out there, it’s important to find new sightlines to get the upper hand against opponents. Halo has always introduced those sightlines directly through the map design, but Splitgate takes it a step further by letting players create their own new sightlines, with a broad range of possibilities for placement. Coordinate portals with a team, and it can practically ensure victory.
What Halo Infinite Players Can learn From Splitgate
Those portal mechanics can even be used to improve the Halo formula. While it isn’t realistic to expect real portals to make their way into Halo Infinite, the game is bringing some new innovations that help speed up gameplay and movement, like the grappling hook.
The portal mechanics and grappling hook serve the same purpose in vastly different ways, but those looking to hone their Halo Infinite skills before launch should pay close attention to them. Fundamentally, the portals and grappling hook are about out-maneuvering the other team and quickly traversing the map. Use those effectively, and it’s a recipe for a swift and decisive victory.
Again, Splitgate’s Halo inspirations are clear, and those inspirations lead to players being put into similar situations between both games. Learning how to handle conflict in one will translate to being able to handle conflict in the other, and that’s key for those that want to perform competitively in an arena shooter. Players are essentially trying to learn what the best play is in each possible scenario, and with the similarities, Splitgate can be seen as a sort of Halo Infinite scenario boot camp.
Luckily, Halo Infinite itself isn’t too far away, and with the game including bot modes, there’ll be plenty of opportunities for fans to hone their skills before diving into any competitive scenes. So far, the game’s emphasis on classic Halo gameplay melded together with just some of the refinements from newer entries seems to be a happy middle ground. It just so happens that the happy middle ground has a lot in common with Splitgate.
Splitgate is impressive, especially for a free-to-play game, so it’s worth checking out for those that need a new shooter to fill the void. It’s one of the best FPS games on the market right now, and it may even manage to maintain its presence when Call of Duty: Vanguard and Battlefield 2042 release later this year. It’s certainly deserving of success.
Splitgate is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.