Remedy Entertainment is stepping into co-operative gaming territory with FBC Firebreak, a shooter that takes lots from Control. This detailed guide explains everything players need to know about how the game works, from mission layout to upgrade system.
Mission Structure and Tiers
The launch of the 5 missions from FBC Firebreak provides a three-layered system to offer complexity. As you climb levels, missions will get new areas and new tasks will be added. Before players can access tier two, they must finish tier one, and to unlock tier three, they must finish tier two. The structure offered here is progressive providing the players to build their skills while getting valuable rewards.
The tier system is simple; tier one has one objective before extraction, tier two has two objectives and three objectives in tier three. After completing the three tiers of the quest, players will unlock corruption tiers which are further modifiers that change gameplay and rewards considerably.
Difficulty and Corruption Systems
Two main modifiers affect your experience of the FBC Firebreak. The first is difficulty (easy to extreme), while the second is corruption which impacts available resources. The more important modifier is corruption; the one that looks at your chance to get good stuff.
The coruption system works on a clear formula. One corruption level makes one corrupted item in an area. Two corruption level creates two corrupted item. Three corruption level produces three corrupted item. Just like that sample system in other co-op shooters, each mission will target different types of resources, letting you work towards what you need for your progression.
Currency and Progression Systems
Primary Currency: Lost Assets
Firebreak simplifies its economy with one currency referred to as Lost Assets. Players can later purchase skill points with them when the appropriate rank is reached, plus requisition (similar to battle pass in other games). Lost Assets can be found in any level and difficulty, making them available no matter your expertise.
Players obtain Lost Assets by picking up clipboards and satchels during their missions and extracting with them. You can get the most reliable sources by beating a strong enemy and searching shelters during missions. While there are pickups scattered throughout the levels, these two methods yield the most reliable returns.
Secondary Currencies and Specialisation
The Lost Assets system has five secondary currencies which are assigned to different mission types.
- Resonant Globes (green).
- Achromatic Sand (yellow).
- Vicious Strips.
- Whispering Ash.
- Numbered Splinters.
Each mission specializes in a different currency. Therefore, players have to choose the appropriate missions as per upgrade requirements. For instance, the Hotfix mission collects Whispering Ash. These secondary currencies only appear in tier missions that have been corrupted, so choosing levels to corrupt is important for farming them.
Skills and Character Development
Dual Levelling System
FBC Firebreak uses two different character levels: class and overall level. Class levels dictate how many perks can be equipped at the same time, with players only having one perk at class level one and nine perks at class level nine. Since each of the three classes (fixer, jump kit, and splash kit) levels independently, players planning to use multiple classes must develop each separately.
As players reach higher tiers of overall level, they will have access to new research options and new overall skills. The highest-tier skill, Night Terrors, requires level 47 to unlock. This separation in the overall level and overall skills allows players to specialise in a class they would prefer to use while still levelling up the overall level across their whole account.
Skill Progression and Upgrades
The Skills feature has weak, strong, and resonant capabilities. Players start by using Lost Assets to unlock skills, and then combine Lost Assets with secondary currencies to level up the skills through their tiers. This setup allows you to choose a mission based on what you need for an upgrade.
Everything counts you see even though your character has the class hidden. The main restriction relates to class specific perk slots which define the number of skills players can deploy in various missions.
Requisitions and Equipment
Operational Essentials
Includes 9 pages of unlockable content featuring weapons, cosmetics, sprays, augments, grenades, and tools. Operational Essential – Primary Requisition system To access additional pages, players must spend a set number of Lost Assets. This creates choices regarding upgrades and equipment.
Items come in three rarities, Faulty, Functional and Optimised, as you keep going on the requisition, you will find most higher tier items on the later pages only. The equipment will automatically equip you into the proper classes, with Fixer, Jump Kit, and Splash Kit classes going from left to right.
Fire Starter Pack.
The cosmetic items in the deluxe edition Fire Starter requisition pack are purely cosmetic. This way, no pay-to-win mechanics are introduced, but simply a cosmetic option for richer players willing to pay.
Corrupted Items and Black Rock Gun
Secondary objectives called corrupted items will spawn based on corruption level. The Black Rock Gun usually located at ammo stations in the left-side area is needed for this. The Black Rock Gun only has 3 ammunition so you must make use of it effectively.
When you destroy corrupt items, you will get some samples to research, but you can also find samples from closer to home. These samples give off a glowing sound to help with locating them. When you die in a mission, your research samples and Lost Assets will drop. You will have to pick these up if you die during a mission.
Customisation and Cross-Platform Features
Players may alter the appearance of their helmets, body armor, gloves, voice presets, and in-game sprays. Although the loadout of each class is its, weapons transfer between the classes. FBC Firebreak does not have shooting restrictions based on classes, which is unlike some shooters.
Players can team up with anyone, regardless of their platform. Gamers create random session codes that friends can enter to join their games to avoid complex connections. Nonetheless, the absence of the voice and text chat is a major omission as this is a co-op game.
Early Impressions and Value Considerations
Remedy’s oddball aesthetic comes through in a fresh new experience that takes place in Control’s universe. Changing from playing as the telekinetic Jesse Faden to regular FBC agents makes enemies more threatening and encounters more tactical. The gun mechanics feel solid, and at launch, there are no day-by-day or week-by-week challenges to complete like most live service games.
The price of $32 raises questions of whether there would be enough content given that there are five missions. While higher difficulty levels and corruption tiers do offer substantial Lost Assets, the variety of core missions remains limited. It’s more fun with friends, as it feels unbalanced alone and matchmaking has been inconsistent so far.
Strategic Recommendations
When using their Lost Assets for the first time, players should choose items and augments for their class. A crucial decision arises between upgradation of research or purchase of requisition for progress. Running missions with heightened corruption noticeably amplifies the gains from resources, effectively relieving the initial grind players face.
FBC Firebreak provides Remedy with a good base for its first co-op game with its signature art style and universe. While some players may find the content volume lacking, the progression systems offer a depth that can entice those willing to engage with higher difficulties and different class combinations.
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