FBC: Firebreak is a game that I don’t feel was entirely necessary, and even at the discounted price, I don’t think it’s worth it.
Story
Set six years after the events of Control, you play as a member of the Federal Bureau of Control’s “Firebreak” containment team. You are sent into the Oldest House to eliminate the enemies brought on by the Hiss.
That is about as far as the story goes. FBC: Firebreak feels like a weird mix of Rainbow Six: Siege and Evolve (props if you remember that one). Playing in teams of three or solo, you tackle jobs within the Oldest House while also taking on enemies that vary in difficulty.
These jobs are some of the most mundane tasks I have ever been assigned. When I started the game, I thought it would tackle some tasks based on the psychological nature of Control. I couldn’t be more wrong. The first task my friends and I had to take on was repairing fans. How thrilling. This mission path follows the same trend of fixing the fans and sealing a furnace.
There are some more quirky jobs in other missions, but again, they all fall flat and are not up to the normal Remedy standard.
Gameplay
What Remedy is known for, as well as kickass stories, is solid gameplay. Unfortunately, seemingly like everything else in FBC: Firebreak, it falls incredibly flat.
Yes, you can pick from a number of classes, and you can chop and change the individual weapons, grenades, etc., but honestly, the gunplay is so bland and lifeless, you’ll be bored after playing for 30 minutes.
Each weapon feels like an absolute peashooter, and given how many enemies are normally appearing on your screen at once, which can be a lot, especially towards the end of a job, say, when you’re waiting for the lift to get out of the area, you run out of ammo super fast, and you’re essentially snookered.
The movement system is also something that leaves a lot to be desired. I know you are playing as more bulky characters, but moving from point A to point B feels so slow that it makes some of the missions feel like massive drags.
On top of this, if you are downed and aren’t revived in time or decide to respawn, you are sent back to the very beginning of the map, unless you have found the mid-point safe room. If, for whatever reason, you haven’t, this can make the game an absolute slog as it adds an extra three or four minutes onto an already laborious task.
I do not know what Remedy were thinking by creating this game. Yes, when played with friends, it can be moderately entertaining, but I think even with my group of friends, we could only muster a few missions before we got way too bored.
Additionally, I found the use of the showers to be more annoying than anything else. These replenish health over time the longer you stand in them, but they are so inconveniently placed and need repair more often than I would like to actually find them useful.
A real disappointment in the gameplay department and a real misstep from those who are almost the kings of solid gameplay.
Graphics and Sound
Now, possibly the only plus point I found in the game: the sound design. Like other Remedy titles, this game’s quirky dialogue often makes it a laugh at times. From almost nonchalant chat in the menu screens to some of the dialogue heard during missions, it does something to liven up the bland gameplay.
Additionally, the enemies make quite gruesome noises that complement their similar appearances. The only negative aspect of the sound are the gun noises, which, as I mentioned earlier, sound like you are firing a dart gun rather than an SMG or shotgun.
On the graphics side, some of the levels are bland and not what you would expect from the developer, which seems to be a running theme in this review. There are some levels that are exceptions, but when you start the game in a sort of factory-style setting, you know you’re not in for a good time.
Conclusion
FBC: Firebreak is a game Remedy needs to scrub from existence and chalk up as a massive L. Mildly fun at times with friends, but beyond that, an absolute slog to play.
As soon as I finished playing this game for the review, I deleted it from the PS5 storage for good.
Please, Remedy, go back to what you do best, and also hurry up with the Max Payne remaster, please and thank you.
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Publisher: Remedy Entertainment
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date: 17th June 2025
Gaming Respawn’s copy of FBC: Firebreak was provided by the publisher.
