"FBC: Firebreak - The Year's Weirdest Shooter"

Mere hours after first diving into FBC: Firebreak, I found myself indulging in a delicious cream cake. My clumsiness, however, led to a dollop of cream falling into my blood orange cocktail, melting into it and swirling mesmerizingly. That sight transported me back to the halls of the Federal Bureau of Control from Remedy's latest game, firing white-hot bursts of liquid at glowing red enemies. This kind of imaginative leap is what a visit to Remedy's headquarters does to the mind.

Remedy Entertainment is renowned for its eclectic mix of games, spanning horror, sci-fi, and neo-noir detective fiction. What I've always cherished about the creators of Alan Wake and Max Payne is their unabashed embrace of silliness. Firebreak, their inaugural venture into first-person shooting and co-op multiplayer, is no exception to this rule. During a two-hour session, I found myself obliterating foes with a garden gnome and battling a towering sticky note monster. These experiences reaffirmed my belief that Remedy, with its penchant for the weird, is poised to make a unique mark 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 brings us back to The Oldest House. Fans of Jesse Faden's story will recognize the setting, with its brutalist architecture and Finnish folk music echoing through the corridors. In Firebreak, squads reenter this enigmatic government building to combat localized outbreaks of the Hiss, the inter-dimensional threat from Control. You and up to two teammates act as this universe's Ghostbusters, but with shotguns instead of proton packs. Here, crossing the streams is not just allowed—it's encouraged.

Beyond the standard arsenal of pistols and rifles, players can choose from three "kits," which serve as the game's classes. The Fix Kit allows you to repair machines like ammo stations and healing showers, a humorous nod to how FBC employees restore health by getting drenched. The Splash Kit equips you with a hydro cannon that can heal teammates or drench enemies, setting them up for electrifying attacks. The Jump Kit features a short-range Electro-Kinetic Charge Impactor to stun foes. When combined, these kits unleash devastating synergies, like electrocuting a soaked enemy.

While Firebreak can be played solo, it's designed for three-player co-op, emphasizing teamwork and communication. Missions, or "jobs," follow a simple structure: enter, complete objectives, and return to the elevator. My first mission involved fixing faulty heat fans amidst enemy waves. "Paper Chase," the next job, required destroying thousands of sticky notes, which could attach and damage us—a literal "death by a thousand paper cuts." These notes were best neutralized using the game's elemental kits, showcasing the importance of multiplayer synergy.

The third mission at Black Rock Quarry was the most challenging, requiring us to shoot radioactive pearls from leeches and transport them in a shuttle. The need for communication was paramount, especially with the added complications of radiation showers and relentless enemy attacks. Despite the chaos, the fun was undeniable.

Firebreak's map design, while less labyrinthine than Control's Oldest House, is more linear and easier to navigate in first-person. However, this simplicity might detract from the unpredictable charm that fans loved in the original game. Subsequent revisits to maps unlock additional objectives and areas, adding complexity and depth.

Boss encounters, ranging from bullet sponges to creative monstrosities like a giant sticky note creature, gate progress through areas. These battles emphasize teamwork and strategy, reminiscent of some of Space Marine 2's challenging encounters.

Firebreak retains Control's charm with its everyday object monsters and introduces corrupted items that add a layer of unpredictability. Although I didn't encounter them during my playtime, items like a redirecting rubber duck or damaging traffic lights promise to inject more of Remedy's quirky flair into the game.

Unlocking new tools and ultimate abilities, such as the Splash Kit's Teapot or the Jump Kit's garden gnome, further explores Remedy's whimsical approach. These additions ensure chaotic and entertaining gameplay, though occasionally the screen can become overwhelming, impacting readability. The development team is actively working on improving this before the June 17 launch.

At launch, Firebreak will offer five jobs, with two more planned by the end of 2025. Game director Mike Kayatta describes these as "game modes" due to their replayability and evolving objectives. Priced at $39.99 / €39.99 / £32.99 and available on Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, Firebreak promises ample value for both Control veterans and newcomers seeking a fun shooter.

Navigating the always-online co-op shooter landscape is challenging, but Firebreak's solid foundation and Remedy's distinctive personality suggest it can carve out a unique niche. Much like that unexpected dollop of cream in my cocktail, Firebreak offers a delightful twist that I thoroughly enjoyed.