Blacklight: Retribution is a first person shooter formerly developed by Zombie Studios and published by Perfect World Entertainment and Red Stallion Interactive. As of January 1st, 2015, ownership and development of the game shifted entirely to Hardsuit Labs, a studio formed primarily out of former Blacklight developers. The game is available on PC and Playstation 4.
Overview
The game features a variety of different game-modes, including classic Game Modes such as Capture the Flag, Team Deathmatch, and Deathmatch. There is also a PvE mode, called Onslaught, which pits the players against hordes of AI-controlled opponents.
Also within the Customization Menu, players can choose from a wide variety of parts to customize both their Primary and Secondary Weapons. Players can customize the Muzzle, Barrel, Scope, Ammunition, and Stock.
Blacklight: Retribution also includes an in-game Depot system, which allows players to purchase special items using Combat Points, that are earned while playing in a match. Items in the depot range from a basic health refill to powerful armored hardsuits.
In addition to a vast array of customization options, Blacklight: Retribution is also unique in that every player is given access to the Hyper Reality Visor or HRV in-game. When HRV is used (default in-game key is 'v') players are able to 'see' through walls and can identify friendly and enemy player, objectives, and Depots.
Maps
The game currently contains the following maps:
- Centre (only for game mode Onslaught)
- Containment
- Convoy
- Deadlock
- Decay
- Dropzone
- Evacuation
- HeloDeck
- Heavy Metal
- Metro
- Nuken (only for game mode Siege)
- Offshore
- Outpost
- Piledriver
- Rig
- Safehold
- SeaPort
- Trench
- Vertigo
- Vortex
Free to Play
As Blacklight: Retribution is free-to-play, monetization of the game happens through the Customization Menu where players can buy items to use in-game. To purchase items, players can use two different currencies: ZCoin and Game Points (GP). ZCoin can be bought from Perfect World for real money, while Game Points are earned for playing the game. Most items can be bought permanently or available as a 'rental'. All items that affect game play (weapons, parts, gear, etc) can be purchased with GP, while all cosmetic items can only be purchased with ZCoin.
While playing in a match players earn Combat Points which can be used to purchase refills and Heavy Weapons from Depots in-game. Combat Points can be earned for completing objectives, killing enemy players, getting assists, etc. With these points, players can visit nearby Depots and buy the items they have chosen in the Depot section of the Customization Menu. Items purchased at Depots include the Ammo Refill, the powerful FT18 Flamethrower, the Hardsuit, and many more.
Story
Not a lot is known about the background of the game. It plays in a near future, about 50 years from now, where mainstream society has for the most part collapsed with gameplay centering mostly around inner city areas of Asian metropolises. In one of the Developers Diaries videos, one of the developers referred to a map as a "Neo Tokyo". Those cities are deserted, and signs of an epidemic outbreak are visible in many maps, in form of abandoned quarantine installations and medical waste. Signs of this Infection are also visible on the "Patient Zero" skin of the hero Viper as well as the Helmets used by Agents as a means of limiting contact with the infection itself when out in the field. While civilans have fled the cities, the global arms corporations are fighting over the remaining resources and for domination over what is left of the world, sending out teams of agents against each other. These corporations themselves have seemed to have stepped into the role of standing authority, acting as surrogate governments to scattered pockets of survivors, from which they use as a source of recruits and labor. It's implied that national regimes still exist albeit only in name as their political and social influence have been severly diminished in the wake of the rise of corporate substitutes.
The game does not connect directly to the story of its predecessor, Blacklight: Tango Down. On a time line, Blacklight: Retribution may be several years after the events of Blacklight: Tango Down, as technology seems slightly more advanced.
PS4
In addition to the PC version of the game, a Playstation 4 version is also available. This version contains several notable differences from the original, including the absence of certain game modes.
Localized Versions
Besides English, the game is available in French and German. Both those localized versions use, per default, the European server, but also have access to the servers in the US.