A battle royale filled with classicUbisoftcharacters does not seem like a bad idea. However, based on the fan backlash on its new trailer,Ubisoft All-Star Blastis clearly not what fans wanted.
Ubisoft has infamously retired characters or taken its franchises in directions that seem like the opposite of fan desires. The greatest example is theSplinter Cellfranchise and its protagonist Sam Fisher, now being relegated to multiplayer spin-offs and Netflix shows. Other series like the upcomingRainbow Six Quarantineplan to take the grounded, tactical FPS gameplay ofSiege, and dramatically shift it with zombie-like enemies. FromAssassin’s CreedtoFar Cry, to evenPrince of Persia, there are many classic characters and franchises that Ubisoft could represent in a crossover game, but this latest development is one that fans could not have predicted.
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Ubisoft recently dropped the trailer forUbisoft All-Star Blastand fans are already voicing their disappointment. The game is 99-player battle royale featuringBomberman-like gameplay, where players control iconic Ubisoft characters while trying to explode others players in grid-like arenas. Featuring fan favorite characters likeSplinter Cell’s Sam Fisher, Rayman, Jade fromBeyond Good & Evil, and The Prince fromPrince of Persia,Ubisoft clearly dove into its rich historyof franchises for characters to draw from, but to feature them in a game like this has lead to unrest in fans. On YouTube, the trailer is sitting at 12,000 views, with 847 dislikes and only 438 likes, the hate being practically double the praise.
Scrolling through the comment section reveals some more precise opinions about the game. Many are pointing out the game’s apparent cheapness, with its off-putting artstyle, its “knock-offBomberman” gameplay, and the fact that it is a mobile game, not something with a greater budget or ambition. Others are calling out Ubisoft’s audacity to once again revive Sam Fisher and Rayman in a new game that is not new entries in their respective franchises. It might have been too much to expect aSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatestyled crossover game, like therecently announcedNickelodeon All-Star Brawl, but to many,Ubisoft All-Star Blastis about as bad as it can be.
In one hand, from Ubisoft’s perspective, this is a cheap game that will potentially get players to drop their money into upgrades or unlocking their desired characters, and it certainly has that potential. On the other hand, though, from the player’s perspective, this is just another example of the company being unsure of what to do with its franchises outside of its current heavy hitters likeAssassin’s Creed,Far Cry, andRainbow Six. There are only so many times that fans are going to be drawn in by seeing Rayman or Sam Fisher before not even those characters inclusions are enough to do so.
Ubisoft All-Star Blast!is available now on mobile and PC.
