Good day Gamers! A few weeks back Bodycam was released in early access. This game has had my attention since I first saw images of it and I was initially blown away by the graphics. In some screenshots you couldn’t tell it was a video game; which is scary. However, after a little hands on time with the game, I found the base package to be very wanting as there is a lot of smaller issues that are currently plaguing the game. Now it is still in early access and already I’ve seen the game patched twice as I signed back into the game at two different times and the game auto updated on day one, so its great to see that game is consistently being worked on by the dev team. Here are my breakdown of Bodycam.

Hyper Realism Comes At A Price

With the introduction of hyper realistic graphics in video games there seems to be a trend or recurring theme of visuals being the ultimate selling point of the game, and while that is definitely a highlight, it appears to come at the cost of having drawbacks to gameplay. Bodycam struggles with this very issue. From a visual / graphical standpoint, its hard to argue that Bodycam is a truly impressive game to look at. The details are just stunning from top to bottom on of any of its varied maps. There are just tons of hyper realistic details everywhere. In some cases, the tension that builds from the visuals is stress inducing and you can’t help but feel claustrophobic as you hesitantly peer around every corner in search of your opponents. Another thing to note about the insane graphics is that the game is so realistic with the lighting and shadows, that in some cases, you can’t tell if you’ve taken down your opponent. While the presentation is stunning, on the player side, its incredibly frustrating as there is no indication if you’ve scored a kill or not. Otherwise, the game oozes pure atmosphere at every turn, a major selling point if you’re all about the visuals.

Unfortunately though, the game itself is held back by some of the most heavy / groggy movement and clunkiest controls I’ve ever played in a shooter. The weight of your character in Bodycam feels like a tank and your aiming is super quick like most modern shooters. Honestly, I felt like I was half the speed of the Helghast in Killzone 2 back in the day, and those guys were heavy. This combo makes it extremely difficult to enjoy the game because not only are you slow and heavy, you also get caught on any little corner of the map. Anything from a bookshelf, to a door entrance, or even a staircase, can easily get you stuck – making you a sitting target. In a game this intense, which demands hyperfocus and precision, the sluggish movement can cause extreme frustration and anxiety in the heat of a gunfight. It is one of my biggest gripes with the game. One other issue I had when playing was the extremely long matches. A Team Death Match in Bodycam can last over a half an hour depending on how quickly the teams can reach 10 points. Its ridiculously long, so much so that a few times I found myself just leaving mid game due to the extreme wait times after a swift death. These issues are unfortunate because the rest of the experience is solid.

Next Level Sound Design

Another highlight of Bodycam is its phenomenal sound design. Honestly it can be downright scary with how loud the guns are, and this is amazing. The popping of the guns just adds this layer of realism to the experience and you’re always at the edge of your seat because of the intensity. Everything sounds ultra realistic, but you can also hear a difference between indoor and outdoor gunshots, as well as distance when an enemy is firing. In some cases, the best strategy is to wait patiently until an opponent fires their weapon and use the sound of their shots to mask your movement as you move around to flank them. Its an incredible feature in the game, and probably one of the best sound designs in an indie game period.

Final Breakdown

Overall I really like the experience that is Bodycam. Its unique, its loud, its intense, and in some cases it can be a really fun game. Comms in the game are also a nice touch, although many players don’t really use headsets so communication was at a minimum from my sessions. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to play with a group of friends yet, so perhaps the overall experience will be better with a team of people you know. Bodycam is still in Early Access, so this is not a full representation of the final game, however, this is a fantastic job so far. For being an indie developer who put together a solid multiplayer experience like this, it is a job well done, and I am looking forward to the full release, and if any major changes will be made to have speedier movement controls. For now I recommend only hardcore shooter fans check this one out as the slower mechanics may not be for everyone, and it is difficult to adjust and get into this game. It is not for the faint of heart.

As always readers thank you so very much for your time. I have not been able to post for a while due to a few things happening, mainly my computer had some issues and I had to restore all of my data, meaning I lost all of my previously saved content like gameplay clips and pictures. Now that I am up and running again, unfortunately I ran into another issue I’m currently dealing with. At this time my site will not allow me to attach photographs because of the cloud memory limit being reached. I currently do not have the means to cover the cost of increasing it at this time, and until I am able to upgrade my space again there will be no photos for the upcoming articles I will be posting. However, I’m working on an alternative so that you can at least see some kind of visuals, so I will be uploading video links to watch the gameplay I can record going forwards.

Thank you so much for your time, and if you appreciate my writing and breakdown on games, please consider making any donation you wish. Anything received will go right back into my site to have everything up and running smoothly, and it is highly appreciated. Have an awesome day!