Splitgate Combines Halo with Portal in Nostalgic, Fresh Multiplayer

We stumbled into Splitgate: Arena Warfare and we're glad we did.

Splitgate presents itself as a simple blending of two sets of core mechanics, the gunplay and movement of early Halo and the momentum management and reality warping of Portal. It seems like such a no-brainer to combine these elements. After playing for the last week or so, I am surprised we haven’t seen a game like this sooner.

Coming from development studio 1047 Games, Splitgate actually has the quality of Halo 4 or Halo 5: Guardians. Movement is smooth, melee attacks feel solid, and guns feel similar to their counterparts in Halo. Mechanically, I was instantly capable and felt right at home.

Starting up the game, there is a simple tutorial that explains how portals work. By default they’re mapped to the Q and E keys, which felt perfect. I did end up changing my melee attack to a mouse macro, but aside from that tweak I left the controls at default. In just a match or two, I was able to dial in on headshots and start up killing sprees. There were a couple guns that felt under-powered but there are steady adjustments being made and my least favorite gun already feels much more capable. Visually the game ran well and I was able to get a stable 120 fps on a GTX 1080.

Really the main complaint I have is that the game’s characters and maps are pretty generic. It goes for this gladiatorial, esports style that’s all about contrasting colors for zones but it can feel a bit drab sometimes. That said if they continue with that style and pull off creative settings and game modes like what’s found in Rocket League, it could work in its favor.

Speaking of game types, ranked and social play are available with Halo staples. Classics like King of the Hill and Oddball are here, as well as hardcore SWAT. It was awesome to see my teen years in gaming be handled in a way that respects those games with a new twist.

What a twist it is! Using portals in Splitgate is simply awesome.

Players can use their own portals to do sneaky things like recon and surprise attacks or flashy maneuvers like using a drop to transition to a huge jump for an angelic sniper shot. This is mostly because any portals not owned cannot be seen through. They can be shot through or destroyed with a grenade though, so there are some clever tactics available. Players can also walk into any portal. My favorite moments of Splitgate involved using portals to create hard-to-read paths, dodging bullets only to circle back for a melee strike to the back of the head. It feels incredible.

Each kill or point made felt like a big success. This is accentuated in the game’s audio design. Hits and kills are punchy. Footsteps and shots are easy to determine the origin of thanks to the headphone settings. Voice communication options are simple and easy to use. I really enjoyed throwing on a playlist and getting lost in the lobbies.

Due to the game being free-to-play, there is little excuse to not check out Splitgate: Arena Warfare. There are typical lootboxes for cosmetic armors and gun skins but they didn’t interest me much. The core mechanics and ease of use keeps bringing me back though and I’m excited to see how the game evolves over time. Of course, there will be direct competition as the Master Chief Collection hits PC.

If 1047 Games can avoid the trappings of free-to-play economies, dial in their aesthetic, and continue to offer tight combat, we could see Splitgate hit the tops of many charts.

For more information on Splitgate: Arena Warfare, check out their official website. It is currently available as a free-to-play title on Steam.

Music - Curse Curse Revolution