Hyper Scape is the latest addition to Battle Royale, and Ubisoft's own entry into the free mass-loved genre. The game does certain things very differently from popular battle royales, and even adds its own spin to the massive free-for-all. Hyper Scape has also modified some mechanics that players of the genre have common grievances about such as looting and surviving.
From the cinematic and gameplay trailers, Hyper Scape looks very promising. It features a futuristic battle royale centered on parkour, verticality, and tide-turning abilities. In playing the game, players may find that the game has the potential to change future battle royale formulas. With that being said, here are 10 things to know about Ubisoft's Hyper Scape:
10 Virtual Playground Battle Royale
Hyper Scape is a lot like the movie Ready Player One. The setting is a virtual world where players from all over the world compete in. Taking the form of a battle royale, Hyper Scape focuses less on military elements, and more on a futuristic computer-emulated reality. Competitors take each other on in the Hyper Scape -- a world with towering urban landscapes where weapons are scattered everywhere. In the Hyper Scape, players in the real world get an escape and engage in some fun competition. However, this domain hides a darker story.
9 Very Fast-Paced
Hyper Scape is really quick to get into the action. The map is relatively small compared to Warzone, PUBG, and Fortnite, and players have infinite sprint in the game. Loot is easy to pick up as well. How it works is that the same item can be "repeatedly equipped" to make it a more powerful version after each repeated equip. This makes for more spontaneous looting without worrying about an accidental downgrade. The game isn't too tactical compared to Warzone. Enemies can be easily spotted when they're sprinting via a bright red trail that follows them. On top of that, there are abilities in the game called "hacks." These abilities make for some spontaneously thrilling combat.
8 Loads of Game-Changing Abilities
On the topic of these hacks, there are nine in the game so far. The player can equip two at a time, making for some deadly combinations of attacks and tactics. This also allows for limitless strategies since 72 different ability combinations are possible with the nine hacks in the game.
The nine hacks include a wall hack which literally spawns a 100-foot metal wall, a slam hack which launches the player up and slams him down for area-of-effect damage, an invisibility hack which makes the player invisible, a mine hack which spawns a tracking mine, a shockwave hack which deals knockback and damage in an area, a reveal hack which reveals all enemies in an area, a heal hack that heals all allies in an area, the ball hack that encases the player in a giant bouncing ball, and an armor hack which makes the user invincible for a short time.
7 Various Weapons
There are 10 different weapons in the game, each with their own unique effective uses. Like the hacks, weapons can be repeatedly equipped to merge into a more powerful version. There is the trusty rapid-fire assault rifle, the pump-action shotgun, the auto-aim pistol, the high-powered revolver, a rotating minigun, a drilling SMG, the FPS-required bolt-action sniper rifle, an explosive energy cannon, a grenade launcher, and an explode-on-impact plasma launcher. Each of these weapons have their own strengths and weaknesses. On top of the melee weapon, any two of these can be equipped to tailor to the player's playstyle and strategy. In addition to this varied weapon system, a quick-melee attack can be performed at the press of a button, making it easier to finish off enemies.
6 Spontaneous Revive System
In Hyper Scape, players aren't downed where they have to crawl. Eliminated players are turned into echoes-- passive entities in the game that can roam about the world. This makes them excellent reconnaissance units for their team. Echoes can be revived but by a more spontaneous means. When enemies are killed, they may drop a revive point where echos may be resurrected back into the playing area. This leaves the squad to worry less about reviving and more towards killing. This mechanic adds to the fast-paced action of the game.
5 Regenerative Health
Hyper Scape encourages players to always get back into the fight. There's little to worry about rationing health kits. Like Warzone, players' health regenerates fairly quickly. This allows players to replenish easier from critically-injured to battle-ready, making the game more heated and intense.
In addition, this encourages attackers to chase their prey down and commit more to kills. Removing the survival element of non-regenerative health is a great tactic to promote aggressive gameplay.
4 Lots of Verticality
In the Hyper Scape, the urban jungle isn't just a nesting ground of indoor-hidden loot and weapons. There is more gunfire exchange on Hyper Scape's rooftops than there is across Fortnite's green lush plains. Parkour is a huge element in the game with the addition of scaling and mobility abilities. There are also a lot of jump pads in the game to ensure players get to high grounds. In addition, players have infinite sprint and can slide quickly underneath lower debris. When attacked, players can expect gunfire coming from up top and down low. Hyper Scape has done an amazing job maximizing the 3D playing area of the game.
3 Huge Learning Curve
Unlike Apex Legends, characters don't have fixed abilities. Rather, players build their abilities from nine hacks in the game. This mixing-and-matching creates a ton of strategizing where players can explore great and unique arsenals. This allows solo players and squads a lot of room to explore different tactics. Though the game is easy to get used to, it has a lot of stuff to master. Traversing the urban jungle alone has an optimal strategy. Weapon combos also require a decent dedication to.
2 Crowd Influence and Participation
Random events are triggered throughout the Hyper Scape, allowing for fresh and randomized encounters. These events range from infinite ammo, player reveal, low gravity, super jump, and more. Twitch viewers may vote on what event should take place.
This enables the spectators to have a direct impact on the game. It is a fitting mechanic for an emulated-reality sport since it maximizes crowd influence. It also allows streamers to play the crowd, resulting in a modified game experience.
1 It's Still In Beta
As great as the game already is, it is still in beta. Ubisoft allows players to play the free beta so the team can study and analyze how players go about their game. This is so that they know which abilities are broken and game-breaking, which weapons need tweaking, and how they can improve the game overall. Players may expect some bugs, some abused abilities, some unfair strategies, and other grievances but that's expected when a game's still in beta. When the game officially releases version 1.0, it will be worth it.