×
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Features
  • Videos
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Features
  • Videos
Log in / Register
REVIEW

Hardware Rivals Review

by Liam Gittins, January 18th, 2016
  • Hardware Rivals
  • Reviews
  • News & Features
  • Guides
  • Hardware Rivals
  • Reviews
  • News & Features

After the surprise hit of 2015 that was Rocket League, it is no surprise that Sony is trying to tantalise us with another PS Plus exclusive competitive car-based multiplayer title. This one going by the name of Hardware: Rivals; a 10-player arena-based vehicle combat game where players attempt to murder each other as many times as they can before the game’s timer runs out. It’s a tried and testedmultiplayer formula, yet Hardware Rivals has still managed to screw it up.

Players have a choice between four vehicles to use, two tanks, and two Fast Attack Vehicles (FAV’s). The Tanks have a slow-reloading weapon that packs a punch upon impact along with superior armour to soak up more bullets and explosions, though as a tank it is the slower and more cumbersome vehicle choice. The FAVs have much weaker armour and primary weapons, but they have superior speed and maneuverability which makes them more difficult targets.

In theory these differences would create a form of balance, with every vehicle having its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Sadly, the controls are absolutely appalling no matter what vehicle and settings you choose. The default controls mean that you fire with R1, accelerate with R2, aim with the right stick and steer with the left. This crazy control scheme resulted in my holding my controller in a claw-like shape, not ideal and not very comfortable.

On top of the glaring control issues, the vehicles also feel unresponsive and unsatisfying. When firing something as heavy as a missile, the feedback both in terms of audio and visuals feel flat, as if you hadn’t hit anything at all. This isn’t helped by the down-right bizarre hit boxes on enemies; there were numerous instances throughout the game where I watched as my missile completely phase right through an enemy, yet they’d still blow up and register it as a kill. I didn’t feel like I achieved anything or was being rewarded for my efforts, it felt more like the game made a mistake.

Hardware Rivals is also quite bare of content, boasting a mere four game modes; none of which are unique to Hardware: Rivals. The game modes are Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Team Domination and Team Elimination, each of which can be found in any online multiplayer title. The map count is pretty shocking too, with only has 5 maps, one of which is a basic training ground, devoid of any entertainment whilst the rest of the maps are entirely forgettable in their own right.

Hardware: Rivals also had an annoying habit of forgetting which game type I selected. After playing a few games of Team Deathmatch I would be randomly thrown into a completely new game of Free-For-All Deathmatch, as if the game believed I was probably bored of one gametype and decided that I would rather play something else instead.

Like many online games, Hardware does have a levelling and progression system; each game will reward you with experience points which will lead to you levelling up and as you level up you will be rewarded perks and cosmetic items. The perks will only be marginally helpful, offering abilities such as faster reloads or more precise aiming. Though the extra dimension was appreciated, it just won’t be enough to keep you interested for much longer.

Hardware Rivals isn’t all terrible. Once you get the hang of the awful controls you may actually find yourself having fun, because once you look past all of the problems it is a bright, colourful, and silly title that is designed merely to entertain you. The addition of secondary weapons, each with their own colourful ability did revitalise my interest for a bit longer, but the fun runs out sooner rather than later in Hardware Rivals.

3
What should have been and easy-to-play, fun game ruined by clunky controls, uninspired maps and fairly bland gameplay.

Filed under: Hardware Rivals Multiplayer online PlayStation 4 Review shooter vehicle

Peaky Blinders Mastermind
Peaky Blinders Mastermind Review
The Academy
The Academy: The First Riddle Review
7 Reasons to Buy Ghost of Tsushima
Memories Of Celceta
Ys Memories of Celceta (PS4) Review
World-War-Z-Free-on-Epic-Games-Store
World War Z is Free on Epic Games Store & Goes Cross-Play
Streets of Rage 4
Streets Of Rage 4 Final Character And Multiplayer Trailer Revealed
Shenmue III
Shenmue III Review
Lapis x Labyrinth Review
Greedfall Review
Powered by Magic
  • VGU
  • Platforms
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • Games

© 2023 VGU.

Insert/edit link

Enter the destination URL

Or link to existing content

    No search term specified. Showing recent items. Search or use up and down arrow keys to select an item.