When the original Homefront reared its head in 2011, it looked like it might be doing something different. The premise was captivating – the United States is perhaps the last bastion of a dwindling resistance against a fiercely aggressive Korean occupation. Sure, it’s loaded with cliches, but the lore behind the fighting was undeniably intriguing and nicely thought out. There seemed to be a lot of depth behind the story and it looked like Homefront had the potential to be something a bit special.
Unfortunately, the game was heavily criticised at launch for its mediocre gameplay and short campaign, while the multiplayer aspect (despite being left relatively unscathed by the critics) died a death. Couple the dull shooting with shoddy graphics and what could have been great no longer shone. Homefront was lost in a sea of average games – the dreaded ‘7 out of 10′ that for some reason people don’t seem to want to pick up.
However, like an unrelenting foe in a typical shoot ’em up, Homefront is back from the dead and we should all give the series another chance. Titled Homefront: The Revolution, the new game already seems to be on the right track. Now being developed by Crytek, who are at the very least famed for making beautiful titles such as Crysis and Ryse, Homefront: The Revolution is being released solely on the next generation consoles and PC, alongside the likes of Batman: Arkham Knight. If that doesn’t get you excited at the prospects of its graphical quality then maybe you saw the trailer? Of course it was probably pre-rendered, but there was definitely an air of defiance that had a dash of Killzone: Shadowfall’s civil war trappings.
Of course, graphics don’t make a game. Homefront: The Revolution appears to be making the most of its fantastic concept by giving the player an open world to explore, rather than forcing them down a series of linear corridors towards pre-determined events. Imagine scuttling through occupied America in the dead of night, Korean fortifications lining a once pleasant suburb. It’s taking what was best about the original game and expanding it, turning it into a living world and dropping the player in the middle. It’s already being reported that the game will feature four-player online cooperative play. Now that is a tantalising prospect.
The potential here is incredible. As a member of the resistance, moving about the open world to complete tasks and help other fighters push back the occupying army would lend a sense of gravitas to your actions, but not only that, a sense that you’re truly achieving something in an otherwise terribly bleak situation. That sense of progression would lend a lot to Homefront: The Revolution, especially if you’re given a visual representation of your successes as time goes on.
Perhaps Homefront’s greatest success in the end will be giving its newly born sequel plenty to work with. A compelling narrative, but also, plenty of issues to iron out and improve. The original was a competent game, just not a standout one. The FPS market is oversaturated as it is – Homefront: The Revolution needs to be something greater. Unfortunately, Homefront: The Revolution will supposedly see a 2015 release, pitting it against other open world big shots such as Tom Clancy’s: The Division. I hope that this time around, Homefront earns the right to wield a great story and setting, and uses them correctly alongside a fun and excellent game.
I’m going to give Homefront a second chance, as I felt the first one could have been so much more. How about you? Let me know in the comments.
