Ever since the early days ofThe Finals, there have been hints and easter eggs that something ominous was lurking. We now know that this mysterious entity is CNS, a rouge hacking collective that has taken over the first-person shooter’s fictional gameshow. While it’s bad news for the showrunners, it’s great news for players as CNS' takeover means there’s new content for players to dive into with Season 2.
Embark Studios was kind enough to invite DualShockers for some hands-on time with The Finals Season 2 before its launch tomorrow. During my 2 hours of playtime, I was able to check out the new map, weapons, gadgets, and the highly-anticipated new 5v5 mode, Power Shift.
Something For Everyone
Whether you main Light, Medium, or Heavy, every player is going to have something new to test out when Season 2 launches on March 14th. Light classes will be able to make their getaways even quicker with the new Gateway gadget, a pair of limited-range deployable portals that allows contestants and objects to move between the two locations. While definitely a game-changer, it wasn’t the standout gadget of Season 2 for me (more on what was later).
Medium players are getting the short end of the stick with the new Data Reshaper gadget, which can transform objects in the arena into something else entirely. In theory, you could use the Data Reshaper to turn enemy mines and turrets into tables and chairs, but it didn’t quite have the same tactical effect that the other new gadgets did. I’m sure there will be moments when the Data Reshaper gives players a tactical advantage, but they were simply overshadowed during my playthrough by the standout gadget, the Anti Gravity Cube.
The Finals Season 2 Turns The Deadly Game Show Into The Matrix
It’s almost time to plug yourself in.
I don’t usually gravitate toward the Heavy class, as I enjoy the fast-paced antics of the Light class, but the new Anti Gravity Cube is most definitely going to make me rethink my strategy when Season 2 launches. This handy new gadget allows players to manipulate gravity in its immediate area, affecting both objects and contestants. While it can be used as a traversal tool, this is going to change the way players approach Quick Cash and Bank It.
My two hours of playtime in The Finals Season 2 were split between Quick Cash and the new Power Shift mode, but it was in Quick Cash where the new Anti Gravity Cube really shined the brightest. Whether it was to gain a height advantage on an unexpecting enemy or to send the deposit station floating into the air, the Anti Gravity Cube added a whole new element to this fast-paced game mode.
The Anti Gravity Cube Stole The Show
More often than not, as my team (which consisted of Forbes' very ownMike Stubbsand Rock Paper Shotgun’sJames Archer) approached a deposit station to potentially steal it from our enemy contestants, we found the station floating way up in the air. Attempting to jump into the anti-gravity field and float my way up to the station left me vulnerable and an easy target, and while that might sound frustrating, it turned out to be incredibly fun and an added challenge that didn’t feel outright impossible.
But it wasn’t just sending the deposit station floating into the air that made this new gadget a real show stealer, I saw plenty of other great uses for it during my hands-on session, one of which was in our very first game.
As we spawn into Quick Cash for the first time, Mike, James, and I make a dash for the vault. Things quickly go sideways as we become pincered between two enemy teams, but I eventually found myself with the vault and sprinting toward the deposit station. With two entrances to our location, we held down the fort for an intense battle. Now, I can’t tell you which one of my teammates did it, but as enemy contestants began making their way to the deposit station, somebody placed an Anti Gravity Cube in the doorway, making it damn near impossible to get through the door.chefs kiss.
But our fellow journalists were one step ahead of us and came prepared with the new Dematerialzier. This new medium specialization allows players to completely erase physical surfaces, such as walls and ceilings. It allows players to see, shoot, and go through surfaces, essentially allowing you to create new entrances and exits and make your escape. This seemed to be another fan favorite during my hands-on session, as I’d often see the deposit station completely disappear through the floor and down into the room below. It was a smart play by the enemy team, and I think it’s going to be used quite a lot by players when Season 2 launches tomorrow.
Horizon Introduces Some Neon-Filled Chaos
To fit the theme of Season 2, Embark Studios has created a stunning new arena map known as Horizon. This glitchy, neon-filled cityscape is the perfect playground for contestants to battle it out in.
I’m the furthest thing from a competitive player, so for those eager to know how this will play in Ranked, I’m not the man to tell you. What I can tell you is that the map has a plethora of different places to parkour, plenty of rappels scattered around the map, small vents for Lights to squeeze through, and bridges between buildings. Combined, all of these elements meant there was never a dull moment when I played on Horizon.
It could just be the overall design of the map, but Horizon felt smaller than others. While there are plenty of tall buildings to scale and rooftops to jump between, I never felt like I was out of the action for long. Whenever I died (which happened quite a lot), I was only one corner away from getting stuck back into a battle.
As you’re able to see from the clip above, Horizon is one of The Finals' most visually stunning maps. The neon-kissed streets and vibrant colors are an excellent fit for the overall feel of The Finals, and it might just be my new favorite map.
Power Shift Kind Of Misses The Point
After battling out on Horizon, it was finally time for us to queue up for Power Shift, The Finals' newest mode coming with Season 2 tomorrow.
When I was first introduced to The Finals late last year, I was instantly hooked on its fast-paced, high-adrenaline, and somewhat silly action. It scratched an itch that Call of Duty has been failing to do since the days of Black Ops 2. So you can imagine my disappointment when I eagerly jumped into the new 5v5 Power Shift mode for the first time, only to quickly realize that it kind of missed the point of what The Finals is all about.
Power Shift is The Finals' first two-team mode where each team must compete to escort a platform from one point to another. Once you’re on the platform, and as long as it’s not being contested by the enemy team, it will begin moving on an assigned route. The aim is to get it to the end of the route, but if the enemy team takes control, the platform will begin moving back toward the end of their designated route.
The Finals: 10 Best Weapons, Ranked
Looking for the top meta weapons in The Finals? Here are the best 10 weapons ranked!
In total, I think we played roughly six games of Power Shift. The first three modes, my teammates and I were absolutely steamrolled. I’m talking, game over in about 2 minutes flat situation. So, I didn’t want to judge too quickly, because it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that something is bad when, in actuality, you’re the one being bad.
The next two games went very differently. Now, my teammates and I were the ones doing the steamrolling. Sadly, this is when I realized that Power Shift wasn’t just unbalanced and unfair, it was just boring.
Power Shift felt like it was all about the team who could reach the platform first. Once a team was set up on the platform, it felt damn near impossible to get them completely off of it. This was mainly due to the fact that the platform had walls around it, allowing for a ton of cover for anyone on it. While I don’t think the walls should be completely removed, there’s definitely room for improvement. Whether it’s lowering the height of the walls or creating more gaps, changes need to be made to balance it out.
It was also incredibly frustrating to see your entire team get wiped and having to wait almost 30 seconds to respawn. In a mode where every second counts, having such a heavy disadvantage for getting team wiped became tiresome.
The Start Of Something Great?
All in all, Season 2 of The Finals is shaping up to be something great. Sure, I was a little disappointed with Power Shift, but with a few tweaks here and there, it can be improved.
The new gadgets and specialization are an absolute blast, and I think most of them are going to become fan favorites in the community. As for the new weapons, I didn’t get the opportunity to try them all out, but the new Light 93R machine pistol and Heavy KS-23 slug shotgun looked like solid additions. There’s also the new Medium Famas burst assault rifle, but Embark noted that the recoil pattern for the new rifle wasn’t working as intended in our build of the game (though I assume this will be fixed by launch), so it didn’t get much love during our hands-on time.
As is customary for live-service games, Season 2 will also come with a brand-new Battle Pass filled with some of the most vibrant and stunning cosmetics in gaming.
The Finals has real potential to be the next big thing in the first-person shooter genre, and I had more fun than ever before trying out all of the new content coming with Season 2. If Embark continues to innovate and listen to community feedback, The Finals could become a real powerhouse in the world of gaming.
The Finals
The Finals Player Combats Cheaters With Ingenious Troll
Not the hero we deserve, but the hero we needed.
