At the time of review: 90hrs played.
I do not recommend this game at this time. Maybe in another 6 months to a year that could change.
Survarium is an FPS game that isn't arena style shooter, but more of a tactical area style shooter with multiple in's and out's to flank or out flank your enemy. There is a slight learning curve dealing with the environments, the character progression and the skill tree. You may want to do a trial and error with resets on the skill tree to find what you like and don't like. The control layout is generally the same as any other FPS title.
Pros:
1. Graphics and textures are pleasantly pleasing to the eye for a free to play
2. Sound FX does the job for a free to play and the music is alright and fits in with theme.
3. Up-gradable character weapons and armor to where the player can have bonus stats put on to them through the use of spare parts and game points (gp) with a random success or failure.
The use of cash is optional for a guarantee results without wasting spare parts and having no failures, which can be seen as pay to win.
4. Being able to choose four different factions which offers different strengths and weaknesses. You are only able to level one faction at a time and use any available equipment that you unlock in that faction. You are also able to mix and match any equipment (as long the faction you level is unlocked) to make a more custom built character.
“Or” The use of real money to unlock + weapon's and equipment which offers pre-bonus stats and offers a permanent exp or gp percentage booster.
5. Weapon customization's which limited to 3 types, barrel (front), fore grip (under) and sights (top) can be unlocked by making kills with that weapon.
“Or” The use of the real money to unlock the customization's without the need to grind to unlock it.
6. Knyazev's Tools is a great to have, I have used it and I believe all FPS Games should have a similar program like it. Link below:
https://surv.knyazev-tools.ru/en/
The Con's:
1. No team auto-balance before the match or auto-balancing during an active match.
2. No in-game vote kicking of players example: team killers, AFKers, or hackers...etc
3. Movement is clunky:
A. Crossing the terrain isn't smooth, the player may get some hang ups or stuck on static mesh on the map.
B. Traveling near guard rails or stairs the character will either pop on top of the rails without cause / warning or up and over which will fall to your death
C. Jumping over or onto 3D models like boxes, branches, vehicles, tanks or just general rubble isn't smooth and awkward. The act cause's hang ups or sometimes having to remake the attempt again or several times.
4. Match making is a waiting game with wait times that can very from 2 minutes to 15 minutes. The max I've experience is almost a 30 minute wait time.
5. Limited game modes “4” Limited maps “9”, it can get boring fast.
6. Rendering issues, I've experience “Missing 3d Models” like building, tress, vehicles...etc. Would have to shut the game down, restart the program wait for a match and hopefully it would load and render the game properly
Some rendering issues like “Smoke Grenades” can be exploited by other players by changing their game graphic options to where they can see through the “Smoke Effect” easier. Which in turn they are able to take advantage of “unknown players” in a unbalanced game match.
7. Ping and Delay's: If your a NA player playing in the NA/EU server and playing against an RU player, say hello to bullets sponges. It is so bad it makes the game almost unplayable and not worth it
8. Random Game crashes
9. Pet peeve of mine:
Early access game's full of bugs and issues wanting real world money from the player-base with the use of cash-shops / micro-transactions with the promise of completion.
If a game or any game that is truly in "BETA" closed or open, or “Early Access” I believe that there shall be no "real money" cash shop allowed.
If the company wanted too there are other ways; they could offer a one time Founder's pack for early access until it was complete. They could start a kickerstarter, gofund page ....etc to generate the funds needed.
Remember the $10.00 potato salad on kickstarter.
Now if they re-move the early access, then I have no problem with the company having a cash shop.