It’s thanks toFinal Fantasy 7: The First SoldierthatFinal Fantasyfans finally have a means to thematically engage with the battle royale genre. Instead of just having a typical battle royale withFinal Fantasy 7characters, however,FF7: The First SoldiertakesFF7lore and turns it on its head. In thegame, players are Candidates to be chosen in the Shinra Electric Power Company’s elite SOLDIER Program, designed to create combatants for the company’s task force.
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Gameplay-wise, this means that players have to duke it out either solo or as a team against multiple other candidates in massive simulated battles. Given that this is aFinal Fantasygame, the battle royale now incorporates not just weapons, but also magic and classes into the mix, making this quite an overwhelming game at first. However, these tips should make the battle royale game much more fun for players.
Customize The Button Layout
While other battle royales allow players to choose a particular controller layout and mix-and-match control designations,First Soldieractually gives players the opportunity to manually configure the gameplay buttons themselves. This goes for both controller input too for those with console controllers, and forthe actual layoutof the controller in the game.
Players should take this opportunity if they have the time, especially if they’re using smaller devices like mobile phones and tablets. The game allows players to not just adjust the placement of each gameplay icon, but also change their size and opacity. By doing so, players can tailor the interface to exactly how they want to play the game.
Study The Map Carefully
While there’s only one map inFirst Soldierso far, it’s littered with a lot of areas and zones that contain their own structures, building complexes, and multi-level areas that players can explore. It helps playersto study each area carefullyand understand what their elements might imply when seen on the map. Here are important considerations when it comes to studying locations:
Diversity Has Advantages In Weapon Choice
Similar to other battle royales,First Soldieroffers a wide range of weapon types for players to choose from. These range from Assault Rifles, LMGs, SMGs, Sniper Rifles, Shotguns, and Handguns. Each of them has specific Ammo needs and properties,giving them varied uses in battle. At its core, players should attempt to carry at least two different kinds of weapons to give them more flexibility in combat. Here are things to consider for each weapon type:
Level Up As Soon As Possible
Players have a Style in a match not just to access certain special skills in combat, but also because leveling up their Style throughout battle allows them to access better versions of their Style’s techniques and abilities. Depending on the Style, leveling up gives players access to improved skills and stronger stats, as well as more MP bars with whichto use Materia.
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As such, players are encouraged to kill monsters as often as possible and engage in combat in a more cautious manner. That way, they can level up early on in the match and secure level-up advantages before the game enters more dangerous training phases.
Take Time To Learn About Accessories
Anyone who’s played a battle royale game before should already understand that there’s no time to wastein the heat of battle, especially since standing in an open area ofleaves them wide open to attack. Sadly, certain components ofFirst Soldieronly get explained in live matches, such as descriptions of Accessories. If possible, players should take time to read them to fully understand the scope of their benefits, if any. At its core, Accessories confer specific benefits within these parameters:
Make Use Of Three Materia Efficiently
Given that there are 11 kinds of Materia in the game, it’s easy to feel confused as to which Materia to carry throughout the rest of the match. In fact, some players may feel compelled to just carry three offensive Materia and go along with it. However, players whouse their Materia properlycan get an undeniable edge in the game. Instead of just choosing Materia willy-nilly, players should try to secure one of each kind of these Materia:
Upgrade Whenever Possible
Since characters have a limited HP, players who knowhow to use their weapons and skills wellcan easily kill opponents in just a few shots, makingFirst Soldiera heavy skills-based game. However, players shouldn’t skip out on securing as many advantages as possible, and part of this is to upgrade their equipment whenever they’re able.
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Players can secure Gil by looting supply chests or defeating opponents, allowing them to spend this currency either on potions or upgrading their equipment in the many booths that are scattered around the map. If possible, players should upgrade their Style Weapon and their equipped weapons, as their upgraded versions add a lot more punch to their fighting capability.
Mind The Moving Dots
SOLDIER Candidatesacross different Classesduke it out on sprawling battlefields that are littered with various buildings, factories, and complexes that give players a lot of room to explore and hunt enemies. An interesting component of these battlefields are the vast landscapes that offer players views of areas miles ahead of them.
With the lack of lock-on mechanics, players can find it tricky to spot enemies from a distance. However, a nifty way to circumvent this disadvantage is to remember that only four things “move” in the battle royale: items and interactive objects, spells, monsters, and players. If players spot a moving dot at a distance, it’s safe to assume it’s either a monster or another player, and they need to proceed with caution.
Use Utility Vehicles To Secure Area Advantage
Aside from the helicopters that are used to drop into battle, players also have access to utility vehicles (motorcycles and cars) as well as a Chocobo. This means that they don’t necessarily have to fight all opponents they face, but can instead choose to escape and retreat to a better vantage point. Here are considerations:
Secure Supply Drops Whenever Possible
Given how there are a lot of combat components inFirst Soldier, one might ask themselves why they should even bother looking at the Supply Drops that enter the map every once in a while. After all, they already have Style skills, upgradeable weapons, and Materia at their disposal. However, Supply Drops contain some of the most compelling weapons in the game and so are absolutely worth seeking out whenever possible. Here are some things players can expect:
Final Fantasy 7: The First Soldieris available now for iOS and Android.
