I’ll have to admit, New World Interactive and Focus Entertainment’s Insurgency: Sandstorm was not on my radar when it came to 2021 console releases. I played a bit of the original Insurgency title back in 2014 on PC but never got around to trying out Sandstrom when it came to PC in 2018. Hearing about its console release really instilled excitement in me to see how it could move the genre forward for console.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) is the only modern combat title that even remotely tried to make its gameplay a bit more grounded for console players. Having played Insurgency: Sandstrom for myself though, this game is not a cakewalk for those hoping to drop no-scopes or to take part in fast-paced gameplay.

Gameplay

As I stated, Sandstorm trades the fast-paced gameplay that most console gamers as used to for more methodic and team-based situations. The stakes feel high and that’s due in part to the superb gunplay as well as how the game punishes you for dying.

Gameplay is broken up into two types, there are players versus AI or players versus players. From there, you can choose what type of servers you’d like to jump into contingent on the types of game modes. Most, if not all, are based on objectives where your team, the enemy team, or both will try as hard as possible to take control of objectives.

These can lead to some extremely tense moments as the game does a great job at making choices feel weighted. Sure, you can run into a room guns blazing, but death means you have to wait about 35 seconds on a timer, or maybe not even spawn in again at all if your respawns are exhausted. The game awards those who take their time, examine their surroundings, and prey on those who go against them.

The game’s “free aim” is a very interesting mechanic that lends itself perfectly to the realistic sensibilities the game plays to. Aiming your gun where you want it to shoot gives players more freedom of movement while making it a bit more challenging. It’s something that I wished existed in more FPS titles. It goes to show that you really don’t need a set of cross-hairs to make gunplay enjoyable.

I loved how satisfying each different gun was and it became a game in itself of figuring out which one felt more comfortable for my style of gameplay. The hit accuracy is great too and I really like how you can’t always tell if you killed someone. You have to go with your gut on it.

New World has also mastered the art of creating fun and tensely driven levels. Most seem like labyrinths of hallways, stairways, and alleys for you to peek around or camp out to wait for an unsuspecting victim in. The maps also actually give Marksman players places to hide. I’ve missed having actual locations to sit and camp for a while. FPS titles of late, at least on console, seem to purposely work against snipers.

I was very happy with how the controls feel on a controller. Keeping in mind that this was a PC game first, I enjoyed the options given to me. Switching weapons is different than the average console FPS, but a layout that I became very fond of. Sniping is particularly smooth and it’s not as floaty as most FPS titles.

The game has probably my favorite gun crafting selection yet as it’s carried out using allotted points. You’re allotted a specific number of points that you can use to select your loadout. Removing parts or weapons will then give you more points to spend and vice-versa. Leveling up also adds additional points to use in your loadouts as well, bettering you overall.

The game offers many varying roles with different duties to do on the battlefield as well as their own selections of weapons. When choosing your role, it’s pretty important to pick one that not only serves your playstyle but the situation at hand. Most are pretty standard to any console FPS like the Rifleman who handles just about any situation, the Breacher who handles close-quarters, or snipers aka Marksman. But the game shakes things up a bit by offering the Observer and Commander positions as well.

The Observer position is one of the key soldiers needed in order to fully dominate the battlefield alongside the Commander. The Observer surveys the landscape and reports the methods needed for the Commander to call in. This includes things like artillery strikes and even chopper attacks. These two need to remain nearby each other in order to actually get work done which adds another level of cooperation.

Sandstorm also allows you to spend the in-game currency that you earn by playing, on customization options for your soldiers on both the security and insurgency teams. There are some pretty cool choices and there are even pieces that you can use to throw enemies off. There have been many times where I got killed by an enemy that I overlooked because they looked like the rest of my team.

If you’re ever lost on how to play the game though, rest assured because it offers “lessons” that show the ins and outs of roles, game modes, and controls. It’s pretty dense stuff and actually pretty useful. It’s also written down clearly and in small segments.

Audio and Visuals

Audio-wise, Sandstorm can be pretty shocking. Characters scream in agony when they die and it can sound pretty realistic. Gunfire is also extremely realistic with the majority of it being heavy popping sounds as opposed to what we’re used to hearing in these types of games. I’d also have to say that most of the things called in by Commanders are scarily realistic themselves, often overtaking the sounds of the battle on the ground.

Player communication is carried out by holding down the left-shoulder button in a push-to-talk way. I prefer push-to-talk as it cuts down on radio chatter and people yelling in the background. Communication from players is most often helpful as everyone, for the most part, enjoys being immersed in the game’s realism.

Visuals on the other hand could be a bit more polished-looking. It does give off the PC-look and charm though. I wouldn’t say the game looks bad at all but there are instances where I could tell that this game is 3 years old.

What It Could Have Done Better

While I’ve sunk many many many hours into Sandstorm and have become somewhat addicted to it, the game suffers from a few minor bugs that have to be worked out. Some have been acknowledged by New World themselves though, so luckily the team is working on them.

I’ve had issues with audio disappearing, all well as glitches while jumping and trying to enter game queues. These issues were pretty persistent throughout my playthrough but didn’t get in the way of gameplay too much.

Verdict

One of my favorite games of 2021 by far, Insurgency: Sandstorm manages to pump new life into the genre for console players. I think its gameplay is so addictive because of the fact that not many games like this exist on these platforms.

It’s a necessity for FPS players that haven’t had a taste of what shooters are like on PC, with their heavy focus on team-based strategy and realist gunplay. It’s also a pretty accessible game even if on the more hardcore side due in part to its inclusion of great instructions. It’s definitely a win for console players and I can only hope we get more like it.