Staff – October 9, 2018 at 10:57 AM
If you haven’t been playing Fractured Space, Edge Case Games’ MOBA-meets-space combat game, now is the perfect time to get into it. The latest “episode” of the game, entitled “The Awakening,” adds a dynamic, new boss that has single-handedly revamped the meta, giving new strategies a chance to shine.
A quick primer on Fractured Space for the uninitiated: The game is a 5v5, class-based MOBA that takes place in the far reaches of outer space. Instead of the “lanes” you might expect to find in other MOBAs, however, Fractured Space’s maps are divided into sectors that can only be navigated through activating a jump drive — a maneuver that leaves ships vulnerable. The primary objective of the game is to destroy the enemy team’s base in their sector.
There aren’t any AI minions or defensive towers to defeat along the way, either. There is, however, a sector in the middle of the map called the “Gamma sector” which grants team-wide buffs should players manage to capture it before the enemy team does. All this makes for tense matches between hulking, beautifully designed ships.
“The Awakening,” however, has changed the game immensely. Instead of finding a passive Gamma sector that ships needed only occupy for a certain window of time to capture, players will find a Gamma sector that’s inhabited by a colossal, volatile, floating AI-controlled eye. This boss, called the “Ark’ain Eye,” has serious Eye of Sauron and Death Star vibes, raining destruction and terror upon any unlucky ship to get caught in its crosshairs.
This living element is key to heightening the suspense of the game. “The Eye is the first time you encounter something that is actively...alert and reacting to you,” said Jim Mummery, Edge Case Games’ creative director. It’s a brilliant addition that allows the map to feel more dynamic and interactive while encouraging new strategies for conquering the Gamma sector and securing victory.
Another key addition to the game that has helped diversify the strategic context of the game is the introduction of missile-powered home bases. “The standard tactic [for capturing home bases] was just to push massively,” Mummery said. “Now there's reason to help take the base down, so when you get your push, you stand a better chance of doing greater damage.”
Fractured Space is perfect for anyone who’s tired of the typical MOBA and is looking to try something new. “The Awakening” is now available on Steam.
