FBC: Firebreak - The Year's Weirdest Shooter Experience

Mere hours after diving into FBC: Firebreak, I found myself indulging in a delicious cream cake. As fate would have it, a clumsy move led to a dollop of cream landing in my blood orange cocktail, blending into a swirling mess. That sight transported me back to the eerie halls of the Federal Bureau of Control from Remedy's game, where I was firing bursts of liquid at the glowing red enemies. It's this kind of twisted leap of logic that a visit to Remedy's headquarters can inspire.

Remedy Entertainment, known for titles ranging from horror to sci-fi and neo-noir detective fiction, has a reputation for embracing the whimsical. Their latest project, FBC: Firebreak, marks their first venture into first-person and co-op multiplayer action—and it's delightfully absurd. During a two-hour session, I unleashed havoc with a murderous garden gnome and battled a towering sticky note behemoth. Such experiences affirm that Remedy's knack for injecting the bizarre into their games can help them stand out in the often serious world of online shooters.

FBC: Firebreak - Gameplay Screenshots

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Set six years after the events of Remedy’s 2019 hit, Control, Firebreak revisits The Oldest House. Fans of Jesse Faden’s journey will find familiar elements in the brutalist architecture and Finnish folk music echoing from bathroom speakers. In Firebreak, squads re-enter this enigmatic government building to tackle outbreaks of the Hiss, Control's inter-dimensional threat. You and up to two teammates become this universe's Ghostbusters, but armed with double-barreled shotguns, and yes, crossing the streams is encouraged.

Beyond the standard pistols and rifles, Firebreak offers three distinct “kits” or classes that enhance team dynamics. The Fix Kit allows you to repair machines like ammo stations and healing showers, a quirky way to restore health. The Splash Kit comes equipped with a hydro cannon to heal teammates and douse enemies in water. Meanwhile, the Jump Kit features an Electro-Kinetic Charge Impactor that shocks foes, stopping them in their tracks. When combined, these kits unleash powerful synergies—imagine the impact of sending a high-voltage charge into a soaked enemy.

While the game is playable solo, it's designed for three players to collaborate, especially as missions intensify. All missions in FBC: Firebreak follow a similar structure: enter, complete objectives, and exit via the elevator. My initial task involved repairing three faulty heat fans in the building’s furnace amid waves of enemies, a straightforward yet challenging endeavor.

The "Paper Chase" mission introduced a unique twist, requiring the destruction of thousands of sticky notes scattered across office spaces. Hordes of Hiss would interrupt our progress, and the notes themselves could latch onto us, dealing damage. This mission truly embodied the phrase "a death by a thousand paper cuts." Yet, using Firebreak’s elemental kits to efficiently destroy the notes added a strategic layer to the chaos.

The third mission in The Oldest House’s Black Rock Quarry demanded the highest level of teamwork. Shooting leeches from the walls to collect radioactive pearls and then transporting them deeper into the quarry tested our coordination and communication. The need to take frequent showers to rinse off radiation, fend off numerous enemies, and dodge instakill astral spikes made for a hectic yet engaging experience.

Firebreak’s map design, while less complex than Control’s labyrinthine corridors, offers a more straightforward navigation experience. However, this simplicity can feel like a loss of the unpredictable charm that defined The Oldest House. Don’t expect the Ashtray Maze's wonder here, but instead, prepare for more grounded, linear environments.

Completing missions unlocks clearance levels, expanding the maps with additional chambers, objectives, and tougher foes. Bosses, ranging from bullet-sponge giants to unique creatures like the sticky note monstrosity, challenge players with both combat and puzzle elements, reminiscent of the strategic demands found in games like Space Marine 2.

The game's quirky elements, such as everyday objects turned monstrous, continue to delight. Randomly spawning corrupted items, like a rubber duck that can redirect enemies, add layers of strategy and humor, though their small size can make them hard to spot—a readability issue the developers are addressing before launch.

Firebreak's loadouts introduce zany tools and ultimate abilities, from the Splash Kit’s Teapot that burns enemies to the Jump Kit’s chaotic garden gnome storm. These elements add fun and unpredictability to the gameplay, though the sheer amount of on-screen action can sometimes make it difficult to follow, a readability concern the team plans to refine before the June 17 launch.

At launch, Firebreak will offer five jobs, with two more promised by the end of 2025. Game director Mike Kayatta describes these as "game modes" rather than missions, emphasizing their replayability and evolving challenges. Priced at $39.99 / €39.99 / £32.99 and available on both Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, Firebreak promises substantial value for both Control veterans and newcomers seeking a unique shooter experience.

Navigating the competitive landscape of online co-op shooters is challenging, yet Firebreak's strong foundation, combined with Remedy's quirky personality, positions it well to carve out its niche—just like that dollop of cream found its place in my cocktail. And yes, I drank it all.