FBC: Firebreak
FBC: Firebreak Review
FBC: Firebreak is a cooperative first-person shooter set in the Control universe, developed by Remedy. Players assume the roles of Firebreakers, specialized operatives tasked with combating supernatural threats in the Oldest House. The gameplay loop is reminiscent of Left 4 Dead, involving running through maps, completing objectives, and fighting hordes of enemies while utilizing unique class kits with specific abilities. The game features five missions, each divided into three parts, with difficulty and corruption modifiers to tailor the experience.
Players praise the solid core gameplay, unique class roles, and Remedy's signature art style that captures the Remedyverse atmosphere. However, the game is criticized for a lack of content, repetitive missions, limited enemy and weapon variety, and insufficient onboarding or tutorials. The absence of in-game voice or text chat hampers cooperative play, and some bugs and UI issues detract from the experience. Many feel the game was released prematurely and would benefit from more polish, content, and communication features.
Highlights
Players especially appreciate the game's engaging cooperative mechanics and the synergy between the three distinct Crisis Kits, which add tactical depth. The Remedyverse art style and setting, including the Oldest House environment, receive strong praise for atmosphere and design.
The progression system, including perks and weapon upgrades, provides meaningful customization. The adjustable difficulty and corruption modifiers allow players to tailor challenge and session length, enhancing replayability. The core gameplay loop of objective-based combat against hordes is considered fun and satisfying once players understand the mechanics.
Criticisms
Common criticisms focus on the game's lack of content and variety, with only five missions and limited enemy types leading to repetitive gameplay. Weapon variety is minimal, and guns often lack impactful feedback. The missions are short and sometimes feel like chores with repetitive tasks.
Player onboarding is poor, with no proper tutorial and unclear explanations of key mechanics such as elemental synergies. The absence of in-game voice or text chat severely limits team communication. Several bugs, UI issues (especially on ultrawide monitors), and matchmaking problems further hamper the experience. Many reviewers feel the game was released too early and would benefit from additional polish and content updates.
Pros
- • Engaging cooperative gameplay with distinct class roles and synergies.
- • Strong Remedyverse art style and atmospheric Oldest House setting.
- • Adjustable difficulty and corruption modifiers for tailored challenge.
- • Meaningful perk and weapon upgrade progression system.
- • Fun objective-based combat reminiscent of Left 4 Dead.
- • Good potential for replayability with future updates.
- • Drop-in/drop-out multiplayer and room code join feature.
Cons
- • Severely limited content with only five missions available.
- • Lack of enemy and weapon variety leading to repetitive combat.
- • Poor player onboarding with no proper tutorial or explanations.
- • No in-game voice or text chat, hindering team coordination.
- • Short mission lengths reducing gameplay depth and engagement.
- • Various bugs, UI issues, and matchmaking instability.
- • Weapon feedback and gunplay feel underwhelming and floaty.
Rating Criteria
About This Game
FBC: Firebreak is a cooperative first-person shooter set within a mysterious federal agency under assault by otherworldly forces. As a years-long siege on the agency’s headquarters reaches its boiling point, only Firebreak— the Bureau’s most versatile unit—has the gear and the guts to plunge into the building’s strangest crises, restore order, contain the chaos, and fight to reclaim control.
Dive into the Federal Bureau of Control’s (FBC) unpredictable and extradimensional headquarters during its darkest—and strangest—hours. As one of the FBC’s fearless first responders, you and your team are on call to confront everything from reality-warping anomalies to otherworldly monsters... no matter the odds. Will you contain the chaos or finally lose control?
Join forces with friends or strangers to tackle each job as a well-oiled crew. Survival in this three-player cooperative FPS hinges on quick thinking and seamless teamwork as you scramble to tame raging paranatural crises across a variety of unexpected locations. Improve your odds by utilizing the tools and skills that make you unique or improvising with whatever’s on hand to support your crew.
Before deploying, select your weapon and customize your Firebreaker’s Crisis Kit with specialized tools, grenades, support items, and paranatural augments... then modify them to suit your strategy and change the way you play. Experiment with different loadouts to perfect your playstyle and synergize with your team, giving you the edge to succeed in every job, no matter the difficulty.
Return to the strange and unexpected world of Control or venture in for the first time in this standalone, multiplayer experience. Discover the iconic and unfathomable headquarters of the FBC — the Oldest House — from an entirely new perspective as a team of volunteer first responders with nothing but gear and guts to bring the Bureau back from the brink.
8 – GameSpot
“A chaotic, engaging romp”
8 – Stevivor
“An impressive multiplayer take on the Control universe”
8 – Shacknews
A three-player cooperative first-person shooter set within a mysterious federal agency under assault by otherworldly forces.