Insurgency: Sandstorm

The genre of team-based multiplayer shooters gained particular popularity around the second half of the 2010s. Moreover, it became so widespread that even incredibly conservative publishers like EA still forked out for AAA-class projects, in which, in principle, there is no single player.

Things have become much more interesting with indie projects. As a rule, pioneers of new genres, in this case, they simply took a tight niche and began to improve technically. Insurgency: Sandstorm is just one example of such an indie project. Thanks to the Unreal Engine 4, it looks like a full-fledged AAA game. And this is an unambiguous advantage.

No place in war for Rambo and superheroes

In the hot summer of 1990, the Gulf War began - one of the largest armed conflicts of the late 20th century. An international coalition consisting of the forces of Kuwait, the United States, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia and a dozen other states, including the Soviet Union, tried to expel Saddam Hussein's troops from Kuwait.

Some historians suggest that the Gulf War was artificially provoked. The fact is that the soldiers of each side did not hesitate to use the most modern, high-tech and deadly weapons. The Gulf War, according to a number of historians, has become simply "an exhibition of the achievements of the defense economy."

Whether it was a natural kind of conflict or an artificially created confrontation - history will judge. But one way or another, the Gulf War still inspires game developers. Although they have to act very carefully, because it is difficult to understand who was “good” and who was, respectively, “bad”.

Insurgency: Sandstorm is also inspired by the Gulf War. It is not openly said about it, the action of the shooter takes place somewhere in the Middle East. The opponents are the Security teams (based on US special forces and Kurdish people's self-defense units, including female soldiers) and the Insurgents (inspired by the ISIS army (an organization banned in Russia)).

Both sides are armed with the most modern and deadly weapons. Indeed, in most cases, a single hit is enough to kill a character. This tiny detail makes the gameplay incredibly intense and at the same time realistic, because in war there is no place for cinematic Rambo and superheroes, a single bullet can interrupt any hero's action. And rushing at the enemy, shooting him with a machine gun, is as stupid as sitting in cover.

Insurgency: Sandstorm Multiplayer Modes

As a rule, multiplayer battles take place in 5 × 5 mode, in some cases - teams increase to 8 × 8. Tasks in most cases do not provide for the methodical destruction of opponents; to win, you need to show dexterity and ingenuity. As a result, after death, the character is revived in a random place on the map.

The following multiplayer modes are presented:

• "Push". The attacking team must capture three or four targets in a specific sequence, and for each given some time. The defending team, as a consequence, must repel the attack. If the attacking team captures the target, they receive reinforcements. Knock deaths are permanent, no respawn;
• Firefight. Each team has three flags. The task is to capture all enemy objects and hold their own. Deaths are not permanent, but respawn occurs only after capturing the flag;
• Frontline. Similar to Push, except that each team is both a defender and an attacker;
• Domination. Similar to Skirmish, only teams have more tasks - not only to capture and hold the flags, but also to complete some minor tasks. The winner is determined by the number of players. Deaths are not permanent, rebirth occurs instantly;
• Competitive. Also similar to Skirmish, only 5 × 5 teams, more equipment and more class structure.

Also weekly there are small tasks that can be performed directly while playing in any of the modes.

Co-op in Insurgence: Sandstorm

Insurgence: Sandstorm also has a full-fledged co-op. True, he is only one. The co-op mode is called "Checkpoint" and offers sequential execution of small missions by a group of several players. The opponents here are bots controlled by artificial intelligence.

An interesting feature of "Checkpoint" is the revival of dead characters after completing each mission.