Blacklight: Retribution is an online free-to-play first-person-shooter.
Shooting
The game is 3D, and players are able to move by walking, sprinting, jumping, and crouching along the multi-level maps. Shooting can be down from the hip, which is less accurate but faster, or from the iron sights, which is much more accurate. The object of the game is to kill as many opposing players as possible without dying. Upon death, players are brought back to life at any available respawn point.
The game features a large variety of weapons, including assault rifles, combat rifles, sub machine guns, and pistols. Weapons are broken down into three categories: primary weapons, secondary weapons and gear. Primary weapons are things such as assault rifles, which serve as the player's more powerful default weapon. Secondary weapons include pistols and shotguns, and are typically used best for situational events. Gear includes throwing knives, grenades and mines. These are small, depletable weapons that can be used for tactical advantages.
This game introduces Hardsuits, which are large mechs that can be purchased and then driven. Hardsuits put the player into constant first-person mode and make them extremely powerful. The hardsuit is equipped with a minigun and a railgun, and can easily take down any other opponent except for another hardsuit. It also has afterburners, which allow it to move quickly while not shooting. However, running over players while using the afterburners will instantly kill them.
Combat Points
Combat Points are one of the main currencies of the game. Combat Points are acquired through various methods, such as killing opponents and performing mission objectives. Once enough are collected, the player can spend them at a weapon depot.
Weapon depots are located throughout all of the levels. Here, players spend their combat points to purchase heavy weapons, which will then be put into the secondary weapon slot. These weapons include flamethrowers and rocket launchers. However, unlike normal weapons, these do not respawn with the player after death. Weapon depots can also be used to purchase health and hardsuits.
HRV
Hyper Reality Vision (HRV) acts as a visor, which temporarily changes the player's view of the surrounding area. However, the player cannot shoot while HRV is active. HRV may only remain active as long as it remains charged, which can be monitored by the HRV Charge Meter.
When HRV is active, the player has the ability to see through walls. Enemies and allies will glow in this mode, allowing for a tactical advantage. Weapon depots also glow, making them easier to find. HRV can also be used against a hardsuit. It will make the hardsuits weak spot glow, making the mech much easier to destroy.
Customization
Every weapon in Blacklight: Retribution is customizable. Weapons are broken into various sections. Each section can be upgraded by purchasing parts from the marketplace. The customizable sections are as follows:
- Muzzle - changes the damage, recoil and spread
- Barrel - changes the range damage
- Magazine - changes the type of ammunition
- Scope - changes the accuracy and range
- Stock - changes run, spread and recoil
- Camo - changes the appearance of the gun
Parts can be purchased using either Gameplay Points or ZEN. Gameplay Points are similar to Combat Points, and can be earned through action such as killing enemies, completing objective and winning matches. ZEN is acquired through microtransactions using real-world money. Occasionally parts will be only attainable with ZEN, or may be only purchased with Game Points as a limited rental. In addition to parts, players can also purchase changes to base stats, possibly making them better at combat or more resiliant to damage.
Game Modes
- Deathmatch: This mode gives players the objective to kill all opposing players. The winner is whoever has the most kills within a set time.
- Domination: This mode scatters nodes thoughout the map, and tasks the player with locating and hacking them.
- Capture the Flag: This mode gives each team a flag, which the other team must find, take, and bring back to their side.
- Kill Confirmed: This mode is like deathmatch, but the points only count if you take the opponents dogtag off their body.
- King of the Hill: This mode also features nodes, and tasks the teams with finding them and defending them for the longest within a set time.
- Netwar: This mode features nodes and one flag. After capturing a node, the team must then take the flag to that node to score.
- Siege: This mode requires one team to maneuver a Scorpion Tank through enemy territory.
- Onslaught: This modehas players try to collect the most tokens.
- Search and Destroy: This mode requires players to plant or defuse a bomb.
- Last Man Standing: This mode is a deathmatch mode without respawns.
