One of the fascinating things about growing up amid the rise of the Internet was getting to see all the global barriers break down. The Internet allows companies everywhere to reach a worldwide market, and localizing a product to only a single local region began to make less and less sense. What was once a treasure trove of import games is now just a collection of oddities and smaller releases, with a few big exceptions. That's where CrossfireX comes in. Although new to American shores this year, Crossfire has been one of the biggest names in FPS across Asia for over a decade. A recent beta showcased multiplayer gameplay featuring both finely-aged mechanics and unique twists. No wonder it captured so much attention in its homeland.
There are two types of multiplayer in CrossfireX. In Classic modes, rounds play out with limited lives and a distinct lack of fancy abilities. It mirrors the popular Counter-Strike series, featuring run and gun action and necessary tactics for staying alive. Beta participants choosing Classic play rounds of what CrossfireX calls Team Match, which is exactly what that description implies. Two teams fighting for survival with a bomb-based objective included in case someone wants to turtle up in a far off bathroom.
The other gameplay style, listed as Modern, pushes the clock forward a decade into Call of Duty territory. Soldiers respawn after they die, sprint around the map, and compete for points rather than the ruthless elimination of an enemy team. The weapon selection doesn't change, and there aren't perks per se, just an upgrade system that dishes out minor stat boots throughout the match. Out of the two styles, Modern feels the most vibrant, although that may change when playing alongside a team of likeminded combatants.
Whether playing with respawns or without, the gameplay remains focused and engaging. Combat feels a step above other first-person shooters and on par with what might be expected from a modern-day AAA console release. While it's not going to blow anyone away, it is impressive to get such a fun deathmatch suite for no initial investment. If CrossfireX goes the way of its Asian counterpart, expect plenty of microtransactions, including "VIP weapons" that give a gameplay advantage over the opposition. That transitions pretty clearly from free to play to pay to win, and CrossfireX's gunplay isn't unique enough to withstand that type of blow against it.
Looking beyond the competent but unsurprising gameplay, CrossfireX does have a few tricks up its sleeve. Its Classic mode is immediately more interesting than other Counter-Strike-type games because it lacks the store between rounds. That system works in Valve's game for sure, but it makes matches longer than necessary and overcomplicates the onboarding process for new players. Here, there's no worrying about cash or an economy. Instead, it's a set loadout to plan around.
The map design is also worth a call out, particularly GR Tower. This is the map where the Modern zone capture mode takes place, and there's nothing surprising at the start. The two zones are pretty close together but separated by enough walls that it's difficult to keep an eye on both without a teammate's watchful eyes. There's an escalator that produces plenty of stupid fun moments whether someone is camping the exit at the top or shooting from below and watching a body tumble past. The real kicker is something akin to Battlefield 4's levolution concept. Near the end of any match on the map, the windows blow out and players gain access to a new capture point below the tower via zipline. Even though EA may be bringing it back in their next installment, it could be one way CrossfireX stands out from the crowd.
The full version of Crossfire X is headed to Xbox as a free-to-play title later this year. Alongside the full multiplayer suite, the game will include a single-player campaign created by a team at Remedy Entertainment, makers of Xbox hits like Alan Wake and Control. This portion of CrossfireX has been in development since late 2018, so it should be something to see when it finally debuts. The team at Remedy knows how to craft an excellent action shooter, so here's hoping that it all comes together to form a novel and exciting shooter for Xbox fans across generations.
CrossfireX is coming to Xbox One later in 2020. Screen Rant was provided an Xbox One code for the purpose of this preview.
