Introduction

CrossfireX hopes to deliver first-person shooting thrills, but lands flat on its face like a clumsy ninja. Launched by Smilegate Entertainment, this follow-up to the popular PC title Crossfire (with a cherry on top of a muddled storyline) hit consoles but was met with an unfortunate fate could only be described as disastrous.

Gameplay

When you fire up CrossfireX, you get a title that aims to mix classic first-person shooter (FPS) mechanics with the chaotic energy of some modern classics—think Counter-Strike meets Ghost Recon with a pinch of oh-no-why-are-my-aiming-controls-so-clunky. The multiplayer mode features the usual bomb-planting insanity vs. bomb-defusal antics. Players dart around the map like headless chickens, trying to shoot each other while simultaneously questioning their life choices. Adding to the chaos, there's a Modern mode for map domination, and, of course, Spectre mode, where you get to stab unsuspecting foes while invisible, which sounds super cool until you realize it’s only so you can get more sad about dying; yes, the clinical diagnosis for that is called ‘gamer frustration’. Now, let's talk about the single-player campaign, which tries to tug at your emotional heartstrings but instead gets tangled up in a web of confusion and bland characters that you won't remember by the time you finish the first mission. Set against the backdrop of a global conflict where two private military factions (Black List and Global Risk) are at each other’s throats for a variety of reasons that could've made interesting plot points, we’re left with a story so predictable you might as well read an IKEA manual. And yes! There are two operations—Operation Catalyst and Operation Spectre—each involving soldiers, betrayals, and more shooting. Sounds thrilling, right? Unfortunately, it's like a movie where none of the actors show up to work. You might get a few laughs from the absurdity of it all, but it’s not quite what they were aiming for. I definitely recommend reading the walkthrough just to figure out who the characters are supposed to be.

Graphics

CrossfireX teeters somewhere between 'did anyone even try?' and 'well, I guess these textures exist.' It runs on the Unreal Engine 4, which typically indicates beautiful graphics and world-rendering powers; however, CrossfireX somehow eludes the worthy attributes of its engine. Environments look flat, with lighting effects that have all the vibrancy of a potato. Character animations occasionally resemble that awkward moment when you realize you left your internet browser on a cringe-worthy video. In other words, they won't leave you awed or even mildly impressed. They might just leave you sighing deeply and intermittently shaking your head in disbelief, which, let’s face it, is not ideal when trying to enjoy a gunfight.

Conclusion

CrossfireX is a perfect example of how high hopes and ambition can meet an unfortunate demise on the digital battlefield. From clunky gameplay to a story that feels like a flat soda, it’s hard not to feel a little bad for this game. Hour by hour, the experience morphs into a smorgasbord of disappointment. With a score that most players would probably give a decent vegetarian pizza (3 out of 10), CrossfireX was ultimately destined for the oblivion of canceled service on May 18, 2023. While it promised the thrill of FPS action and a riveting story, it left players confused, frustrated, and mostly wondering where they left their favorite games instead of an uninspiring competitor. So remember kids, sometimes when you crossfire, you shouldn't pull the trigger. Stick with something that won’t have you questioning reality… like watching paint dry. Or maybe even another five rounds of that game you love; you know, anything will do to avoid the wet blast of CrossfireX!

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