The game is actually quite good, but the developer and publisher are holding it back.
Where do I even start? The game has definitely improved over time. It's less buggy and more enjoyable than it was at launch, but the pace of development is painfully slow. Updates are small and take far too long to arrive. In my opinion, this game should have launched in Early Access because it was clearly unfinished and, to be honest, it still is. Major features like spectator mode, replays, save/load for campaigns, a map editor, and proper modding support are still missing.
The map editor, in particular, was one of the features i wanted but never came. It could have provided virtually endless community-created content, but at this point I doubt it will ever be added.
The latest update after the PTE was good overall, but I can't understand the decision to scrap almost all the new features that had been tested during a PTE that lasted around four months. It feels like a huge waste of time and effort.
Now they've announced a PAID DLC, and I think that's one of the worst decisions they could make given the current state of the game. I'm strongly against locking gameplay content behind a paywall in a multiplayer game like this. Cosmetic DLC is fine, but if specializations, factions, or anything that affects gameplay are sold separately, people will see it as pay-to-win. That will only drive players away.
What the developers and publisher should do instead is completely rethink their business model. Right now it feels as predatory as possible, trying to squeeze every last penny out of the player base.
They could switch to a free-to-play model to attract new players (which this game will desperately need within a year) while monetizing through battle passes, skins, cosmetics, and optional DLC. Alternatively, if they insist on paid DLC, at least let players unlock it by playing the game. Imagine rewarding players for actually playing instead of just paying (that's crazy right) daily missions, weekly challenges, or progression-based unlocks (it s also fine if you need a lot of time to unlock new stuff or challenging request). Something as simple as "Destroy a tank with an RPG" or similar objectives could earn players currency toward unlocking new content.
Unfortunately, based on Slitherine's communication and the way they've treated the community so far, I don't expect that to happen. Their communication with customers has been poor, and they often seem disconnected from what the community actually wants.
At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if the DLC costs around €20. If it locks meaningful gameplay behind a paywall, I think many players will quit, and the game could be in serious trouble within a year unless something changes dramatically.
The base game still costs €50 a year after release. That's simply too expensive for an unfinished game that is also planning to sell paid DLC. You can't justify that pricing.
This isn't a hate review. I genuinely want this game to succeed because it has a lot of potential. However, the current direction isn't sustainable. Without faster updates, better communication, and a fairer business model, things are only going to get worse.
The developers will probably never read this, but maybe if enough of the community keeps protesting, they'll eventually realize that the current business model and painfully slow update schedule are hurting the game or they will just fall and lose everything they have done till now. I think it will happens the second (i m still negative on this project).
Broken arrow deserves to be much better than this.
One final suggestion: the game would benefit from dynamic map events that encourage teams to fight over temporary objectives. For example, a new capture point could appear during the match, rewarding the squad that controls it for the longest time with a significant number of points or points to spawn stuff. You can take inspiration for example from the objective of heroes of the storm (i know that is a MOBA but the idea is similar). There is so much unused potential in this game, and it's frustrating to see it wasted due to poor decisions and a lack of ambition.
