Final Pilot (PC) Review

 

Final Pilot is the modernized Battle Royale version of the Atari 2600 classic 'Asteroids'. I feel like this is the best way to describe the game.

It uses the same control scheme like the original game, the bigger map and more versatile enemies in a Battle Royale version however made the controls more demanding, but also clunkier and more annoying than in Asteroids. The Gameplay itself is somewhat okay, but I am not sure if it really fits a Battle Royale approach. I am big BR fan, but I just don't see a niche of people, who like to play Asteroids and Battle Royale matches. The only somewhat similar game is Stars Survivor, which failed even more. I say failed, because Final Pilot has an alltime peak of 9 Players and has shut its servers down on the 5th of June 2023. Since there never was a playerbase to begin with, the majority of opponents in the game are Bots. The Bots however are less constrained by the control scheme and made me enjoy the game probably even less, than I would have with 60 human players. Nonetheless, this was probably better than not being able to play at all.

The Visuals didn't do the game any favours either and probably prevented a lot of people from checking it out. The game at least has multiple background layers and a couple of different planets in the background area, but that's it with the positives. Final Pilot is a 2D game with cheap mobile visuals. Asteroids may be a lot older, but it still has an iconic style, that isn't impacted by its simplicity. Final Pilot's visuals on the other hand actively discouraged people from giving it a try.

 

Result:

Final Pilot had an honorable intent in the vision of modernizing a classic (Asteroids). It unfortunately failed in execution. If you like the idea of a clunky 2D Space Ship Battle Royale game, than Final Pilot may have something to offer. I personally however enjoyed it much less than I had hoped. Nonetheless, I appreciate the fact that they tried and it at least had no technical issues (which is quite rare nowadays).

 

3.5/10