Embark Studios is “glitching” things up in Season 2 of The Finals, and we were given an early look at the upcoming content, including a new 5v5 mode that brings a twist to escort missions. Read on for our The Finals Season 2 hands-on preview before it starts tomorrow, March 14.
A Payload Wrecking Machine
The new mode, which Embark calls “Power Shift,” is, at its core, an escort mission where players must capture, defend, and escort a moving platform. Reaching the destination will win the match, though some added twists make the mode stand out.
For starters, rather than four teams battling it out on the field, Power Shift instead only has two teams consisting of five players each. Power Shift isn’t round-based either, where one team takes a turn at defending while the other attacks, but instead, you’ll be doing both, depending on whether you have the capture point or not. Thus, the name “Power Shift” is used as teams constantly battle for control of the platform, shifting between attacking and defending.
As with any escort mission, the point you’re trying to capture and transport moves around the map in a set path outlined on the field. This is a circular floating platform that players can stand on, allowing them to set defensive points. But if you know anything about The Finals and the dynamic gameplay provided, not just from the player builds but also the levels themselves, then you can probably guess that this platform isn’t just for escorting.
As you defend the moving point, it slowly makes its way through buildings and demolishes everything in its path. This creates chaos, as those on the platform now not only have to deal with enemies but also potentially a building falling on them.
On the attacker side, the destruction caused by the moving platform also creates unique opportunities, as you can now use those new paths to your advantage. The platform doesn’t just stick to one elevation, as it will slope up and down around the pre-designated path. That gives you access to some verticality around the map that would have needed the players to create themselves. You can even use the platform as cover as an attacker by hiding underneath it, only to pop up for a surprise attack during the entire demolishment.
There’s even some physics tied to the platform, as covering it with goo will slow it down and cause it to be unbalanced to stand on.
We recorded plenty of gameplay (admittedly, we suck at playing, but we had loads of fun!), showcasing all of this during our play session.
As I said, we aren’t the best players when it comes to The Finals, but we can fully understand the sheer amount of fun a mod like this provides. Granted, you need a good team for this mode, and it may be wise to play in parties rather than solo and with randoms. Not that it’s impossible to play solo and with randoms, but you’ll have a better time with friends on the mic in this mode.
But compared to the other modes available in The Finals, Bank It, and Quick Cash, Power Shift is quite a shake-up and fun spin on traditional escort missions. Of course, this being a closed session and all, things could be different once it gets into the hands of the public, but I have a feeling this mode will quickly become one of the go-to, especially for those looking for a more competitive side of the game.
Power Shift will be available in The Finals on March 14 as part of the Season 2 update.