Citizen Conflict is making waves in the Web3 gaming world, following in the footsteps of action-packed titles like Valorant and Cyberpunk 2077. This ambitious hero shooter, crafted by European developer QORPO Game Studio, encompasses all the hallmarks of competitive gameplay: dynamic heroes, advanced equipment, groundbreaking game modes, and arenas built for esports. Garnering praise from individual gamers, gaming guilds, and game researchers, Citizen Conflict continues to make a mark in 2024. But the question remains: will it endure as a staple in the Web3 gaming landscape?
Approaching with a mix of curiosity and a hint of skepticism, I boldly ventured into the realm of another dystopian hero shooter, diving into Citizen Conflict’s alpha 4.0 release. After thoroughly exploring and engaging in its battle arenas, here’s my takeaway from the experience.
Citizen Conflict review highlights
- Competitive gameplay
- Outstanding graphics
- Compelling storyline
- Engaging NFT implementation
- Esports-positive game design
Citizen Conflict background and gameplay overview
Set in the year 2101, Citizen Conflict paints a vivid picture of a post-apocalyptic world, immersed in the neon-drenched aesthetics of cyberpunk. Humanity is on the edge of collapse, plagued by widespread greed and reckless abandon. To establish order amidst chaos, the global Terra government creates Sphere, a parallel digital realm promising peace. Yet, this shimmering virtual world conceals a darker truth, with its beauty masking the tight control exerted by the Terra authorities.
In this setting, diverse resistance factions emerge on the Ether Islands, challenging Terra’s dominance. These include KORPO, representing the elite class; Hackhunters, who are the ingenious, tech-forward thinkers; and Midnight, a group of gritty, street-hardened fighters. While the storyline is captivating, weaving a rich tapestry of intrigue and conflict, it primarily sets the stage for the game’s main attraction: the intense, strategy-driven multiplayer battle arenas. These arenas are where the narrative threads intertwine, allowing players to immerse themselves in the game’s lore while engaging in high-stakes combat.
Upon entering Citizen Conflict, players are greeted by a polished and intuitive lobby interface. Here, you can select from a variety of heroes, each belonging to one of four distinct classes: Assault, Support, Medic, and Specialist. Players form groups called Syndicates, which align with one of the three factions: KORPO, Hackhunters, or Midnight. While the choice of syndicate primarily serves to enrich the game’s lore and doesn’t directly influence gameplay mechanics, it adds an extra layer of depth to the player’s experience.
At the heart of Citizen Conflict is the classic Conquest-style mode, reimagined as “Takeover.” In this mode, teams battle to gain points through controlling strategic points on the map and eliminating opponents. To keep the gameplay fresh and engaging, special events such as Airstrike, Portals, and Low Gravity periods are intermittently introduced, ensuring that each match remains unpredictable and thrilling.
The game features a suite of five distinct maps, each with its own set of challenges and environmental quirks. These diverse landscapes range from futuristic cityscapes to ravaged battlefields, providing a varied and adrenaline-pumping experience for players. The combination of strategic gameplay, dynamic events, and immersive maps makes Citizen Conflict a standout title in the realm of hero shooters.
Thought-out use of NFTs in gameplay and beyond
Citizen Conflict stands out in the crypto gaming landscape with its seamless integration of NFT technology, showcasing an innovative blend that they term a Web2.5 game. This approach skillfully caters to both traditional gamers who may be indifferent to the Web3 revolution and those who are already immersed in the Web3 space.
For players not keen on delving into Web3 elements, Citizen Conflict offers a pure, unadulterated gaming experience. Yet, for enthusiasts of the crypto world, the developers at QORPO have crafted an engaging system that deepens the gameplay.
One of the game’s standout features is its unique loot box system, which intertwines the excitement of NFT collecting with gaming. These loot boxes yield a variety of items such as exclusive hero and weapon skins, avatar icons, and sprays, elevating the personalization and excitement within the game. This vast collection of skins and equipment allows players to express their individuality and style in the game’s universe.
Adding to the excitement, Citizen Conflict has forged cross-IP collaborations with prominent names like Crypto.com and Magic Eden. These partnerships bring exclusive, themed hero skins into the game, injecting an additional layer of variety and allure for players.
Citizen Conflict also introduces an element of chance with its loot box system, categorized into Common, Rare, and Epic tiers based on the rarity of contents. These boxes, which can be opened using in-game Shards, add a thrilling dimension of luck and strategy to the player’s experience.
Interestingly, QORPO Game Studio is charting a unique course in the debate over single-token versus dual-token economies in gaming. Rather than choosing either path, they’re pioneering a new direction.
Citizen Conflict is poised to become a key part of QORPO’s holistic ecosystem, which encompasses games, NFTs, and esports activities, all powered by a singular ecosystem token. This token is designed to be the lifeblood of all studio IPs, providing a unified currency across their diverse offerings. While the future of this ecosystem token is yet to be fully realized, its innovative nature and potential for simplifying in-game economies is a bold and intriguing move in the gaming and crypto spaces.
Esports-tailored battle arenas
Citizen Conflict goes beyond just delivering dynamic gameplay and an immersive storyline; it’s reshaping the Web3 gaming landscape. QORPO Game Studio isn’t just content with creating a game; they’re aiming to revolutionize esports through the equitable environment of Web3, making what was once an exclusive domain more accessible and democratic. This ambition positions Citizen Conflict not just as a game, but as QORPO’s entry ticket into the fiercely competitive world of esports.
QORPO’s initial dive into the esports arena has already shown promising results. The first major Citizen Conflict tournament, with a generous $10,000 prize pool sponsored by the renowned Qtum Foundation, significantly boosted the game’s visibility and appeal. Following this, QORPO hosted several smaller-scale tournaments, each contributing to the game’s growing esports presence, though none quite matched the splash made by their latest event. This event uniquely offered whitelists for the coveted Citizen Conflict’s Founder’s collection as part of a free mint, merging the worlds of competitive gaming and NFTs in an unprecedented way.
The combination of esports and substantial prize offerings has had a tangible impact, as seen in the increased player involvement in the Alpha 4.0 release. A standout moment in this trajectory was a recent tournament that offered not just traditional monetary rewards, but exclusive access to the upcoming Founders’ collection NFT mint, named Citizen Zero. This innovative approach to prizes underscores QORPO’s commitment to intertwining the realms of gaming, esports, and the burgeoning world of NFTs, setting a new standard in the industry.
Final Verdict: A Diamond in the Rough
Amidst the bustling arena of shooters and crypto-based games, I’ve found Citizen Conflict to be a standout, particularly for its sensible approach to monetization through tournaments and NFT trading. The game’s fusion of intense competitive matches with extensive customization options has kept me thoroughly engaged. Yet, it’s worth noting that in its current alpha stage, there are some limitations, like the presence of only a single game mode. Also, certain elements, such as repetitive voice lines and the seeming overpowered nature of the AK, can be a bit irksome.
Putting these minor gripes aside, I see Citizen Conflict as a strong competitor in the gaming world, possessing all the right elements for success. I’m quite excited for what the Beta version might bring. Given QORPO Game Studio’s track record, I’m anticipating that they might unveil even more innovative features in this captivating dystopian hero shooter.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
