Veiled Experts: The First Preview

ign.com:

Veiled Experts is quite the mysterious name for a game that is filled with mechanics and game modes that are commonplace in multiplayer shooters these days. Being familiar isn’t a bad thing here, though. The team-based tactical shooter is easy to pick up and play competently, as demonstrated in the short time I had to preview it. Its two modes – a standard deathmatch with a little twist and a more tactical bomb defusal – were a bombastic good time. But without much depth outside of the running and gunning, the future for a game like this in today’s tough games-as-a-service climate seems cloudy.

Before you jump into either game mode, you’re introduced to the cast of contractors that you can take the field with. A surprising nine of them were available to try, each with their own sets of passive and active abilities. I didn’t get to examine and try out team comps that took best advantage of these unique abilities, but some seem like they can be pretty impactful – like this guy who is definitely not John Wick, but can stun enemies with pistol shots to the torso. The cast is also pretty diverse and aesthetically expressive up close, but I found that when it came to game time, it was pretty hard to identify them. They dress well and have fun haircuts, but in the heat of battle, they're all just humanoid shapes.

Of the two modes available, bomb defusal was the star. Both teams take turns defending and attacking two points on a map, with the attacking team tasked with planting a bomb and keeping it safe long enough to go off. The second map I played on, a multi-story art gallery, was my favorite, as it really encapsulated Veiled Experts’ emphasis on planning and thinking strategically. There are multiple ways into the building,