With Valorant, Riot set out to integrate a bit of the hero shooter into the Counter-Strike template, and in the process, made it a bit more accessible than CS. Now, Mountaintop Studios, a new studio that includes former Bungie and Respawn developers, has thrown themselves into the tactical FPS challenge with Spectre Divide. Made with input from former CS pro and streamer Shroud, the game looks to be a mashup of CS and Valorant, but it has one big trick that sets it apart from the two: you can switch between the two bodies. I'm… cautiously optimistic? I guess?
The game is a competitive 3v3 FPS, so these team sizes are a bit smaller than typical CS or Valorant teams. Otherwise, it follows a pretty typical pattern: you're attacking or defending a bombsite, death comes quickly, there are “sponsors” (capable equipment), and the weapons are standard military fare.
But one of the biggest differences is their “Dualness” feature, which they describe as “controlling two bodies at once.” From what I've seen from preview videos and descriptions, you essentially throw a little device in that generates a clone of yourself wherever it lands. Press a button and you'll instantly switch to that clone.
Watch on YouTube
For example, you could put your clone generator behind a box in a bombsite at the start of a round, and then move away and cover a completely different part of the map. Did someone tell you there was an enemy sneaking up near the bombsite? You could teleport there and instantly reposition yourself. On one hand, I think it’s great that it eliminates the tedious running to close gaps you might have fallen behind, and in turn speeds up critical defenses or attacks. On the other hand, I wonder if it takes away some of the excitement that can come from consistent repositioning and retaking of the bombsite.
On the other hand, if everyone can move around a map in seconds, then I'm sure some nefarious techniques and strategies will emerge, likely cementing Spectre Divide as a fast-paced hybrid of tactical and arena-like. So, one small example that I can't think of from the gameplay overview is using your clone as a vehicle to cross the space in front of you, quickly repositioning, and then headshotting your opponent from another angle.
Another little detail that's important: as long as you keep the sights pointed down, you'll still be able to hit shots accurately even while moving. That's a big deal! The barrier to entry for these tactical shooters is often the fact that you have to stop moving to get accurate shots. I think that would make it a lot easier for people to get into the game.
You can track down Spectre Divide on Steam , and if you're really curious, you can click “Request Access” to sign up for the game's first big stress test, which takes place on August 3. Check out their site for more information on those schedules.