At it’s best, For Honor is easily one of the most uniquely fun multiplayer experiences to be had on current gen consoles. While slightly beguiling at first, its cocktail of mechanics quickly snap into place to create a competitive online game like no other. That really shouldn’t come as a surprise, especially when you consider that Ubisoft Montreal were the team responsible for Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood and its own gobsmackingly great multiplayer.
Having racked up close to thirty hours of play time, the one thing that really annoys about For Honor is its players. Naturally, when writing our review, this wasn’t something I could hold against the game. While Ubisoft sets up each and every match, they can’t be held responsible for the baffling, rage-inducing actions of their most toxic players.
I’m not even referring to the enemy team here, although getting constantly ganged up on by a roaming party of warriors is depressing, you eventually learn how to counter such cheap tactics. What you can’t influence, however, is the behaviour of wayward teammates who can singlehandedly ruin your experience.
For Honor has a pretty smart mechanic dubbed “Revenge Mode”. If a player is getting whaled on, a gauge slowly rises, eventually allowing them to snap into a frenzied state. This temporary boost to their stats can help turn the tables or at least allow them to survive until backup arrives. It’s clever because it rewards cunning players who can time their parries and blocks effectively. More importantly, it punishes those attackers who mindlessly bang on the door, looking for a cheap kill.
When facing down an opponent one-on-one, aside from coming off worse and getting your ass handed to you, the worst thing that can happen is somebody rushing in to help. Hungry for some takedown XP, the worst offenders will leap in with a combo regardless of whether their target has their guard up. A few deflected blows later, that player you had almost killed triggers their Revenge and suddenly throws both of you on the back foot. For Honor also has friendly fire of sorts, where attack animations get interrupted by exuberant, but foolhardy allies. It’s like being in a bar fight and having your friend accidentally bottle you over and over.
The antics don’t stop there; “feeding” can also put a massive downer on your game. This term refers to the process of farming easy XP but cutting down players that attack you, despite knowing they don’t really have a chance. Over the course of a match, players rank up a maximum of four times, unlocking powerful feats along the way. These range from passive buffs to devastating area attacks. By feeding a player that is already on their second or third rank, you only tip the scale the enemy team’s favour.
What it can really come down to is that many players don’t quite grasp the balance of some of the game’s mechanics, simply eager to wave a sword around instead of thinking and recognising the situation. Poor teamplay can be a blight, but it’s one that is easily offset by grouping with people you know or making effective use of the commands prompts. It’s also worth mentioning that much of this rant doesn’t apply to For Honor’s Duels and four-player brawls, but without a ranked playlist, there’s no way to distance yourself from this sub-class of player. I’ve come across fighters who must have spent fifty to six hours playing For Honor yet still don’t understand how to engage in team fights.
As with many parts of the game, it will be interesting to see how Ubisoft Montreal responds to this kind of feedback. Like Rainbow Six Siege, Overwatch and Destiny, it joins a new wave of AAA multiplayer titles that will evolve over time. With new maps, features, and heroes on the way, in a matter of months For Honor could look very different to the game that launched last week.
Tony Cawley
Whilst I know what you’re saying, these things are always the case with any multiplayer game. Unfortunately we can’t account for arse holes!
Stefan L
That really depends on the game. Shooters are much more about individual skill, so one or two poor players won’t necessarily wreck your chances of winning, but For Honor’s balance of gameplay mechanics means that a player that doesn’t quite understand how things work or rushes in foolishly can actively enhance the other team’s capabilities.
Tony Cawley
Yeah it’s comparable to Destiny for example, where you’d have that tool on your team (sometimes me) that goes 0-12, feeding the enemy supers and wrecking your chances of victory.
I really don’t see there’s much Ubi can do about human nature to be honest, though their matchmaking needs a real makeover to stop noobs matching with MLG pros.
Sad Panda
This is why I’m so glad Bungie ignored the cries for Raid matchmaking on Destiny. Being lumbered with an AFK or a guardian that doesn’t know what a super is is bad enough in Strikes.
I’d imagine For Honor is great with a party of 4 and a pot luck crap shoot with randoms.
Jim Hargreaves
I’d have to disagree. The reason I abandoned Destiny was Bungie gating off slabs of content behinds a party-only system. If I don’t know people personally who play the game, that’s content I’m never going to see.
Starman
Stick with another player, and if you’re outnumbered, don’t be afraid to leg it. That works for me.
Some of this article seems kinda daft to me, complaining that people are working as a team to get kills & objectives? What did you expect? 1v1 duels whilst everyone else stands aside?
Clubber Lang
I’m a bit of a saddo when it comes to this. I only ever play duels and brawls.
I don’t gang up if I have the opportunity, instead I’ll stand watching the match and if my team made is killed I step in.
I REALLY get into the “honour” system and have even had matches were the opposition even stop giving up in favour of a more honourable watch and wait approach :-)
Sad I know
Jim Hargreaves
Teaming up is fine. Trying to steal your team-mate’s kills and forcing their opponent into Revenge Mode is maddening.
A good team player will stick around, waiting to land blows without disrupting their ally.
Starman
I’d argue that no kill is stolen, due to the fact that fights can quickly be turned around when almost beaten. A teammate helping out is always appreciated.
Avenger
Wholly disagree. It would be one thing to take issue with trolls or bad matchmaking, but I don’t agree with people who take issue with other people’s play styles.
How they play the game is up to them, and it’s up to the developer to curb the meta.
People complain or quit in Gears 4 because other players aren’t playing the way they want. With respect, not everyone is looking to get the same thing out of the game that you are, and I don’t think they should be expected too.
Clubber Lang
My play style (never hanging up) would probably frustrate the hell out of any random team mates I get in Brawls…. But I’m there to fight my way. With Honour ;-)
Clubber Lang
*ganging
Starman
Especially when he talks of “attackers who mindlessly bang on the door”, which is actually the best tactic for the quicker characters.
Tuffcub
An excellent point.