Symbiosis Games consists of two guys who are huge fans of the stealth genre, specifically Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. This stealth masterpiece was way ahead of its time when it was released back in 2005 implementing stealth mechanics never seen before. It also launched with an exceptional stealth multiplayer mode, Spies vs Mercs, that entailed a cat-and-mouse type of asymmetrical gameplay. Unfortunately, the servers closed down many years ago and the game is only playable through custom servers from hardcore fans. Thus, Spectre is here to fill that stealth multiplayer gap.
Gameplay
Spectre is an asymmetrical multiplayer stealth game. It is heavily influenced by the Splinter Cell multiplayer in many ways. Although the game’s developers will tell you it is a different game, it is very hard to see the differences between the two, which is a compliment to say the least. The question is, how does it play? Well for starters, Spectres play in third-person view and rely on shadows, gadgets, perks, and their witt. Since they easily blend into the game's dark corners and shadows, they do not have any lethal weapons or gadgets. The only way a Spectre can kill a Reaper is by sneaking up behind them and breaking their neck. Very reminiscent of The original Spies vs. Mercs game.
Of course, the goal is not to kill all of the Reapers (although that is one way of securing a win) but it is actually objective-based. Spectres must try to hack terminals on the map and escape with the stolen data. Any Splinter Cell fan will feel right at home with this premise but it is important to note that this is the only mode available at the moment.
Reapers play in first-person view and have a full arsenal at their disposal. Guns, grenades, mines, and other gadgets are at the Reaper's disposal to aid them in winning the fight against the shadow-lurking Spectres. Their goal is to eliminate the Spectres by depleting their respawns or by defending the terminals until the clock reaches zero. Playing as a Reaper feels closer to the actual Merc experience from the original Splinter Cell multiplayer games, but it is not without its quirks. Everything still needs polish and longer development time. Maps have boundary bugs, characters fall through floors and climb invisible ladders, and even gamepad support needs some work. I understand the game is in early access but this seems like it should be titled, very early access. There is a lot of work that needs to be done before I can recommend this title.
Expectations
Now this is an early access title and it is very evident. The game is very rough around the edges in its current state. Lobbies are a bit disfunctional and it can take some time to find players to play with. There is a disclaimer that recommends gamers to join the game’s official discord to find players to play with, but it isn’t ideal. The stealth gameplay is ok but it requires exceptional level design which I found to be a bit lacking. Hit boxes need work and collision, which are both essential for this type of game.
Verdict
This early access game is very much in its early stages of development. There are only a few maps available at the moment and the developers are hopeful to make more but focusing more on fine-tuning the content that is currently in the game, which isn’t much. Sure, there are gadgets and perks (or edges) but the core gameplay needs some help. It needs more polish and time in the oven before it’s ready to be considered a rightful successor to this legendary multiplayer genre. That being said, I am extremely thankful that this development team of 2 people are working on bringing back such an amazing multiplayer game and attempting to put their own spin on it. It's just really hard to recommend it in its current state. I would say that if you are a fan of the original games or a fan of the stealth genre in general, you should consider supporting the developers to help them make this game something truly special. When the market is flooded with FPS, battle royales, and open-world sims, I feel like there is definitely room for something truly unique in the multiplayer space. Spectre just needs time to bake.
Spectre is available now for PC on Steam Early Access.
