Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - First Assault Online
- July 28, 2016
- Neople
- 12h median play time
Join Section 9 in a first person shooter experience. Become a member of an elite force of cybernetically enhanced combat operatives dedicated to the defense of society, and use your advanced firepower, Tachikoma Tanks and unique cyber skills to bring down cyber terrorists in a connected world.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of fast-paced FPS gameplay with tactical elements, making it enjoyable for both casual and competitive players.
- The character abilities and customization options add depth to the gameplay, allowing for varied strategies and team dynamics.
- The graphics and sound design are well-executed, capturing the essence of the Ghost in the Shell franchise.
- The recent update introduced class restrictions on weapons, limiting player choice and frustrating long-time fans who invested time and money into the game.
- The matchmaking system can lead to unbalanced teams, often pairing inexperienced players with veterans, resulting in one-sided matches.
- The game suffers from netcode issues, including hit registration problems and lag, which can detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay711 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying its fast-paced, action-oriented mechanics reminiscent of popular shooters like Call of Duty and Counter-Strike, while others criticize it for being generic and lacking depth. Many users noted issues with balance, map design, and mechanics that detract from the overall experience, such as small maps leading to spawn camping and unrefined shooting mechanics. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the unique character abilities and skill-sharing features that add a layer of strategy to the gameplay.
“The gameplay is great, no health regen except with special abilities, it takes 'just' enough shots to kill someone (not too much, and you don't die immediately depending on the gun and where they hit you, or you hit them.)”
“Gameplay is fast, rounds don't even last more than 5-10 minutes if you're lucky.”
“The gameplay is solid and the cyberpunk elements blend in well.”
“The actual meat of the game is modeled after every other match-based team shooter, but at the extremely basic level with absolutely no flair or mechanics.”
“The maps are extremely small, there are no variations in landscape to allow for other forms of gameplay such as sniping or mid-range combat.”
“Instead of fixing gameplay issues, they put out a bunch of new mechanics that slowed it down and made it no fun to play.”
- graphics406 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the anime-inspired art style and character designs that stay true to the source material. While some praise the visuals as polished and immersive, others criticize them for being outdated or lacking in detail, especially when compared to current standards in the free-to-play FPS market. Overall, the graphics are generally considered decent, with a few standout elements, but there are calls for improvements and optimizations to enhance the visual experience.
“The graphics are fantastic to my standards, and the gameplay is smooth enough for me.”
“The graphics, maps, game modes, guns, etc. all come together to make something that deserves a $60 price tag.”
“The graphics are very clean and whenever it wasn't freezing it felt really smooth.”
“They also didn’t upgrade the graphics, not even with an optional 'HD texture pack' like the original Skyrim had, so even on the highest settings, it looks like you are running it on an integrated laptop potato GPU.”
“The graphics are abysmal for an FPS produced in this day and age.”
“The graphics are not that great; now don't get me wrong, I don't mean this as a specifically bad thing about the game, I just wanted to point that out in this review.”
- story167 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and absence of a single-player campaign, leaving players feeling disconnected from the rich lore of the "Ghost in the Shell" universe. Many fans express disappointment that the game focuses primarily on multiplayer modes without incorporating narrative-driven missions or character backstories, which could enhance the experience. Overall, while the gameplay is enjoyable, the absence of a compelling story mode is seen as a significant missed opportunity.
“I play the game because I love Ghost in the Shell, and while this game does not represent the show's story, it captures the feel of Section 9.”
“I would love to immerse myself in the story of the members of Public Security Section 9, a special-operations task force made up of former military officers and police detectives.”
“Ghost in the Shell has a lot of lore and story that if one wants, you can drill into, explore, and base an exciting game on.”
“The game is only online and PvP, so don't expect an RPG or much story.”
“There is no Puppet Master or story to be told here; there are only the police raid-like shootings, and the areas and surroundings are all homages to the original manga/anime.”
“Ghost in the Shell was never a gung-ho shoot-em-up adventure, and yet that's what this game evokes as soon as the tutorial ends: no subtlety, no intrigue, no story, no plot, no character development.”
- optimization155 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and lag, particularly during fast-paced gameplay. While some users note improvements over time, the overall consensus is that the game still requires substantial optimization to enhance performance and address netcode issues. Many players express frustration over the lack of attention to these problems, which detracts from the overall experience.
“The game is highly optimized and is just beautiful in general.”
“Game is awesome but needs a lot of optimization in the main menu.”
“It's pretty well optimized and feels great in all honesty.”
“So Neople completely changed the game in ways that nobody in the community requested, and then chose to ignore the issues that the community has been screaming to fix such as server performance, lag, and hit registration.”
“I've seen some significant stuttering during some matches, which is a real problem in such a fast-paced shooter.”
“The game is total un-optimized!”
- stability96 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting various glitches, freezes, and crashes, particularly in its early access state. While some users acknowledge that bugs are to be expected during this phase, the frequency and severity of issues like lag spikes, broken mechanics, and inconsistent hit detection have led to mixed feelings about the overall experience. Despite these problems, a few players have noted improvements over time and still find the game enjoyable, suggesting that ongoing development may address these stability issues.
“Game runs great.”
“Pretty fun shooting, runs great on my machine.”
“The graphics are good, they lack some shadows, but it runs great.”
“The game is a buggy mess even for early access.”
“Lot of client freezes and crashes, server errors, and in-game issues like blocked menus, skills not working, etc.”
“My PC rig is above and beyond the requirements and suggested builds, and it's made it nearly unplayable without rage quitting because the game freezes on you.”
- monetization95 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 56 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" due to the heavy emphasis on microtransactions, particularly for cosmetic items and character unlocks. While some users noted that the game is not pay-to-win and that in-game currency can be earned through gameplay, the overall sentiment reflects frustration over the perceived prioritization of profit over game development and community feedback. Despite some players finding the monetization fair, the negative reputation of the publisher, Nexon, looms large, leading to skepticism about the game's long-term approach to monetization.
“You can get almost everything with in-game money, and microtransactions are just here to buy some skins.”
“There is in-game monetization; however, unlocks come quick even without additional spending, and the game does not feel pay-to-win at all.”
“Unlike most free-to-play Korean shooters, the microtransactions are mostly fair.”
“The game was fun but flawed, and way too focused on trying to get you to buy microtransactions.”
“This game was a licensed piss poor cash grab.”
“Logged in to see if much has changed and the same issues still exist, Nexon simply trying to make a quick buck off the Ghost in the Shell name via microtransactions.”
- grinding66 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest dozens of hours to unlock weapons and upgrades. While some players appreciate the grind as part of the gameplay experience, many feel it detracts from enjoyment, especially given the limited rewards for the effort and the presence of a pay-to-win model. Overall, the consensus is that the game leans heavily on grinding, making it a significant barrier for those who prefer a more balanced progression system.
“Somebody says to me: this game is not grindy at all.”
“It's a Nexon game, so it's grindy as hell to get anything unless you pay, and the DLC is the price of two full AAA games for a skin and some weapons.”
“So far, this game can be fun, but the grinding is awful. You basically need to play around 30-50 matches to get to the next weapon or level, and you earn so little money per match that it would take you at least double that, around 60-100 matches, to buy something around 50k credits.”
“It's a painfully grindy game that starts you off with weak weaponry, has a giant wall of XP/money to reach the next weapons, and is by Nexon, a company notorious for its pay-to-win games.”
- music58 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and thematic relevance, enhancing the overall experience and immersion. Many players appreciate the soundtrack and sound effects, noting that they align well with the game's aesthetic and the original anime. However, some users have pointed out issues with the volume levels and repetitiveness, suggesting that the music can sometimes hinder gameplay by overpowering important sound cues.
“Great graphics, amazing music and soundtracks, and incredible character dialog certainly make this feel like a true Ghost in the Shell title.”
“The music and atmospherics make you feel you're more a part of the anime than just shooting aimlessly.”
“The audio is fantastic, between the music and the voice acting (most of the actors actually voiced the English dub of S.A.C.), it puts a smile on my face.”
“However, the music is too loud and the anime clips they play in the lobby are not muteable. They need to make it so you can turn the clips off or mute them, please.”
“Finally, the second most important thing to fix is the music in-game. While I'm playing bomb, there's this music in the background that makes it hard for me to listen to footsteps because all you hear is this music playing.”
“Demolition mode has a very awful sound/music when the bomb has been deployed, which can't be lowered or turned off. It breaks immersion and doesn't let you hear steps for around 3-5 seconds.”
- humor28 mentions
- 93 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often highlighted through its chaotic gameplay and unexpected moments, such as players spawning behind each other or simultaneous assassinations, which lead to amusing situations. Reviewers appreciate the lightheartedness of the community, with many finding joy in the absurdity of certain mechanics and weapon effectiveness, despite some frustrations with game balance. Overall, the game provides a fun and entertaining experience, filled with laughter and camaraderie among players.
“The game is funny to play and gunplay is very good.”
“I've seen 2 people assassinate each other at the exact same time; it was quite a hilarious sight.”
“I also find it hilarious that the one game where a quick melee hotkey would actually make sense is the one game that forces you to switch to it before swinging.”
“While this may not seem like such a big problem, it's still not funny when all you see are Togusa, Motoko, and Maven in every team.”
“Moving through the map and suddenly a whole team spawns behind you is not funny at all.”
- atmosphere26 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, effectively capturing the essence of the anime it draws from, particularly in its character design and ambient music. While many players appreciate the techy and cyberpunk vibe, some express a desire for a more relaxed and enjoyable environment, as the competitive nature can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a strong point, though there are calls for improvements in graphics and map design to enhance it further.
“The atmosphere and the weapons feel very satisfying.”
“It's a game that has good aspects and is dripping with atmosphere.”
“The music and atmospherics make you feel you're more a part of the anime than just shooting aimlessly.”
“Bad graphics, very ugly & monotone colors & atmosphere.”
“If the maps were actually fun to play I could forgive them looking terrible and having no atmosphere but sadly they play badly too.”
“-graphically, I'd like to see slight improvements to the lighting/contrast of the game areas to really flush it out and cement that GITS atmosphere.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about its nostalgic ties to the "Ghost in the Shell" universe and the heartache of its impending shutdown. Many feel a sense of helplessness and frustration due to gameplay mechanics that hinder their character's abilities, leading to moments of emotional distress. Overall, the game evokes strong feelings, ranging from joy and nostalgia to disappointment and sadness, highlighting its impact on players' experiences.
“It's really touching to know that 'Ghost in the Shell: First Assault Online' will be disappearing forever.”
“This is heartbreaking as you watch your character helplessly jump at a ledge that could easily be grabbed and fail to do so.”
“I was emotionally moved to see a first-person shooter based around the world of 'Ghost in the Shell' (Masamune, you’re my hero).”
- replayability9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as lacking, with several users expressing a desire for improvements to enhance long-term engagement. While some players rate it positively (8/10), they note that current issues, such as a low player population and the need for more content, hinder its potential. Many hope that future updates will address these concerns and increase replay value.
“Remove cheaters and add lots of replayability and your game will have a long life.”
“Replayability 8/10”
“The company has treated the source material with great respect and I'm hoping that with time it will become smoother and more playable.”
“This game does not have any replay value whatsoever.”
“This game is in beta, and the devs seem to be listening to some of the player's feedback, but the low population goes to show that it's not there yet in terms of replay value.”
“Replay value is the same as previously stated for a CS skin, but with fewer people on a team.”
- character development8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the character design as faithful to the anime and visually appealing, while others criticize the lack of depth, story, and intrigue, suggesting that it feels more like a generic shooter than a narrative-driven experience. The inclusion of original voice actors and iconic elements from the series adds a nostalgic touch, but overall, the game falls short in delivering meaningful character growth.
“As a GitS fan, I love the character design of Motoko and the others.”
“Faithful to the Stand Alone Complex iteration of the series, the world and character design is great (maybe only Batou should be adjusted a bit to be more buff). All the series voice actors are here (in English, but sometimes you can also hear them speaking Japanese), and the Tachikoma think tanks make an appearance in all their cute-machines-of-death glory.”
“Ghost in the Shell was never a gung-ho shoot-em-up adventure, and yet that's what this game evokes as soon as the tutorial ends: no subtlety, no intrigue, no story, no plot, no character development.”
“Character design is a bit odd.”
“Character design is A+ and lives up to their anime counterparts.”
