I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I laid out a pitch for it when Gearbox was being thrown around, but the more I think on it, the more I like it. I think the time has come for Xbox’s answer to Smash Bros. For years, the debate always was whether they had the IP to sustain it, and now I truly believe that they do. HOWEVER, here’s the catch, It should be a first-person hero shooter.
I think this game should do for first person shooters what Smash did for fighting games. Yes, I want to see a shooter with multiple modes that is incredibly easy to pick up and play for people of all skill levels. I’m thinking you’re locked into one arm, one side arm, one special ability and then various pickup items across the many series Xbox owns (i.e. BFG, Minecraft potions, etc.). You could see arenas based on series all across Xbox (especially ones that may not have a suitable character rep like Ori), and even some third party characters and stages. I believe Quake Champions did something kinda similar to this with Doom Slayer and BJ, but I think it should go one step further. The roster would also be divided into three (almost) equal categories: Bruiser (who deal and take the brunt of damage), Stealth (who are glass cannons that hit hard but are frail, and have an advantage in close quarters) and Support (Health levels vary, but these guys are great at healing and buffing.)
In terms on engine, I think this game should run on Id Tech. In terms of developer, I believe maybe Roundhouse could do it. Regardless of how you may feel about their other work, their work on the original Prey is astounding, they helped make Hexen and Heretic AND most of the old team is still there. They also have ample experience with Id Tech.
This is the roster I was thinking.
Bruiser
1. Master Chief
Main Arm: Assault Rifle
Side Arm: Pistol
Special Ability: Bubble Shield
Chief is an all-around type, like Mario in Smash. Easy to pick up and play for anyone.
2. Marcus Fenix
Main Arm: Lancer
Side Arm: Boltok Pistol
Special Ability: Lancer Execution
Marcus is back and plays basically like himself in Gears. A tad slower and a big hitbox, but a bruiser that can slash unsuspecting victims below 25% health with the Lancer.
3. Doomslayer
Main Arm: Shotgun
Side Arm: Energy Rifle
Special Ability: Glory Kill
Doomslayer is an up-in-your face brute who can take and deal a ton of damage, and after charging up can instantly kill a rival under 25% health with a glory kill (albeit obviously toned down to get a T rating)
4. BJ Blazkowicz
Main Arm: Sturmgewehr
Side Arm: Handgun
Ability: Dual-Wield
Terror-Billy is back! If my recollection is correct, this loadout is similar to his one in Quake Champions, but it could use some balance tweaking to make dual-wielding less OP.
5. Brotherhood of Steel Rep
Main Arm: Chaingun
Side Arm: Flamethrower
Ability: Propulsion Boost
Make this anyone of the BoS you’d like. They would wear the power armour which would make them incredibly powerful but also slow as molasses except when using the propulsion boost between cool-downs.
6. Lone Survivor and Dogmeat
Main Arm: Plasma Gun
Side Arm: .44 Pistol
Special Ability: Dogmeat
Our second Fallout rep, the Lone Survivor will travel with Dogmeat and can command him to pick up items and restrain enemies between cooldowns. Dogmeat cannot die, he runs to see his master respawn.
7. Morgan Yu
Main Arm: Q Beam
Side Arm: Wrench
Special Ability: Typhon Strike
Morgan is another all-around type, that can use their Typhon powers to create a massive shockwave that stuns enemies. Gloo Gun would be a pickup so it’s not in their arsenal.
8. Duke Nukem
Main Arm: Microwave Expander
Side Arm: Pistol
Special Ability: Bubble Gum Mania
Duke, our first third-party rep, is back, and he’s all out of bubble gum. Use his bubble gum mania ability and he’ll chew some more causing a large explosive radius damaging all in its path.
9. Gordon Freeman
Main Arm: Assault Shotgun
Side Arm: Crowbar
Special Ability: Headcrab
Watch out for Gordon! He can deal real damage up close and can unleash a headcrab to take brief control over any enemy unit.
Stealth
10. Joanna Dark
Main Arm: Laptop Gun
Side Arm: Silenced Pistol
Special Ability: Sentry
Joanna Dark is deadly. She can pick you off with a few well placed silenced headshots, and she can protect her territory with a variety of sentry guns.
11. Emily Kaldwin
Main Arm: Crossbow
Side Arm: Pistol
Ability: Far Reach
Emily is quick, and deadly, like a thief. She can use her far reach to propel herself across the map.
12. Corvo Attano
Main Arm: Sword
Side Arm: Pistol
Special Ability: Blink
Corvo is special in that he is our first primarily melee character. He can deal a ton of close-quarters damage with his sword, and can use his blink ability to reach hard-to-reach areas, and can drop attack from them causing massive damage.
13. Julianna
Main Arm: Sniper Rifle
Side Arm: Silenced Pistol
Ability: Social Stealth
Julianna, from Deathloop, is able to disguise herself for 30 seconds as any rival teammate in a manner similar to the spy from TF2, and can pick off enemies from a distance as well. This is counterbalanced by her being among the weakest in HP.
14. Arbiter
Main Weapon: Energy Sword
Side Weapon: Needler
Ability: Cloaking
Arbiter can go invisible at a moments notice and stalk you, but he only has 30 seconds to do so. Watch out!
15. Starfield Rep
Main Arm: Idk
Side Arm: Idk
Ability: Idk
We need a Starfield rep somewhere, but I do not know where.
16. Pierce Brosnan Era Blocky N64 James Bond
Main Arm: AK-47
Side Arm: Silenced Pistol
Ability: Quick Draw
Please, it’s time. Render him in all the clunky N64 days glory. His quick draw ability allows him to deflect 5 incoming attacks with a shot from his pistol, just like in the intro to his movies.
17. Agent 47
Main Arm: Sniper Rifle
Side Arm: Silenced Pistol
Ability: Remote Explosive
Excellent work 47. Everyone’s favourite bald secret agent not named Phil Harrison is back and better than ever. His remote explosive can be detonated at any time so watch out!
Support
18. Dovahkiin
Main Arm: One of Fire, Lightning or Ice Magic
Side Arm: One of Health or Hasten Magic
Main Ability: FUS RO DA!
Dovakiin can use multiple types of magic, and can switch to heal and hasten allies. They can even dual wield albeit to less effect. Their main ability can knock back all enemies and deal large damage.
19. Parvati Halcombe
Main Arm: Assault Rifle
Side Arm: Energy Ray
Ability: Repair
Parvati is an all-around unit with a decent arsenal that can replenish ammo for her allies.
20. Kait Diaz
Main Arm: Gnasher
Side Arm: Boltok Pistol
Ability: Jack Protect
Kait Diaz is great in close-quarters and can use Jack to keep a player alive in a DBNO state for 15 seconds, allowing her the chance to heal them.
21. Tommy
Main Arm: Shotgun
Side Arm: Wrench
Ability: Healing Winds
Tommy is a close-quarters character that can enter a trance like state for 15 seconds wherein he can hunt spirits, granting health to all team members dependant on the number he defeats.
22. Hero of Bowerstone
Main Arm: Crossbow
Side Arm: Sword
Ability: Chicken Chaser
The Hero of Bowerstone is an all-around type with melee and ranged capabilities. They can use their chicken chaser skill to summon an army of chickens to stun and attack their enemies, Zelda Cucco style.
23. Starfield Rep 2
Main Arm: IDK
Side Arm: IDK
Ability: Some kinda buff
Again, IDK.
24. Chel
Main Arm: Portal Gun
Side Arm: Pistol
Special Ability: Turret Summon
Chel is an interesting character in that her offensive capabilities are limited, but she can use her portal gun to great portals for her teammates outside of restricted areas (i.e. not over obstacles or in the same room as an objective. She can place defensive portal turrets.
25. Lara Croft
Main Arm: Bow
Side Arm: Pistol
Ability: Survival Instincts
Lara can use her bow and pistol to deal major damage, and with her ability she can restore any local ally to full health over 5 seconds.
So, what do you think? Obviously balance needs work but just spitballing an idea.
