Don’t you just love when a game is unassuming just so it can sweep you off your feet? We had that experience recently after playing Wedgetail, a new online pvp shooter of the “hero” variety — you know, like Overwatch, Valorant and so on and so forth.
Unlike those two games, however, Wedgetail is all about aerial dogfighting, with futuristic looking ships that, in short, gives the entire genre a fresh look while enticing players to experiment with a different form of gameplay.
We had the opportunity to get a demo of the game on our hands during Brasil Game Show, last weekend, and while we did mention Wedgetail in another article, it feels like some of those games — this one included — deserved a bit of space for their own.
It’s Overwatch, except in the air
I’ll admit I’m not the biggest fan of hero shooters — or online gaming in general (hey, you’re reading a preview article from a guy whose Genshin Impact runs involve refusing co-op invites about a third of the time). However, even I have to admit there is something about Wedgetail that draws you in just like Activision Blizzard’s Overwatch does.
Let it be known, though: although both games have charismatic characters and fast-paced strategic gameplay, Wedgetail does bring its own identity to the mix. The game’s several modes were unveiled with a trailer (above) showcased during the event and, in a relatively small booth located at one corner at the far end of BGS’ venue (where all indies were located, by the way), a demo station was setup to allow 4v4 matches on modes like a basic team fight and — and this one was a favorite for the audience — a tower defense-inspired mode where you had to invade and “hack” the enemy base while keeping yours safe.
It’s when the gameplay gives you the controls that Wedgetail shines bright, however: the notion of a game about fighter jets seems basic when stated out loud, but it’s all about verticality.
One thing that Overwatch does not have (nor should: we’re not dunking on Blizzard here!) is aerial gameplay. While it is easy enough for any hero shooter to simulate the basics of fighting, taking it up to the skies, where you can maneuver your equipment in 360º and consider structures like building railings, skyscrapers and the like to navigate through, this all brings a new flavor to an already appetizing dish, so to speak.
That also plays on the strategy part: dodging, for instance, becomes a whole new feature on its own when you consider using environment structures to shield yourself from enemy fire. But unlike fighting on the ground (where you can duck behind cover), movement in Wedgetail never stops, and as soon as you’re out of cover, you have to immediately consider the exit strategy: should you come out guns blazing? Should you speed up your jet for a quicker escape? All of these are split-second decisions you’ll have to make several times during a match.
As for the rest, the game looks gorgeous and it brings everything you could ask for in a hero shooter: at BGS, Wedgetail introduced us to its jets’ regular guns, special moves and specific capabilities.
Sadly, the demo was a bit short — clocking at around 20 minutes or so — so we’re honestly looking forward to this one whenever it comes out sometime next year.
Wedgetail minimum and recommended specs
Being a PC game, obviously Wedgetail would have a set of components that you’ll have to obey in order to play it. Fortunately, as most hero shooter games go, they’re not demanding at all, and even a three-year-old mid machine can play it in optimized, hi-end settings. Check the table below for the full breakdown:
Minimum
Recommended
Oh yeah, one more thing: Wedgetail will be completely free to play, according to the game’s description on Steam. They haven’t mentioned this anywhere, but it’s likely the game will feature microtransactions of some sort.
