Team Fortress 2 meets Hi-Fi Rush in this rad deckbuilding shooter - Friends vs Friends Quick Review

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PLAY IT OR SKIP IT?

Play it! Friends vs Friends combines fast-paced shooting with roguelike deckbuilding elements, resulting in a game that reminds me of Hi-Fi Rush and Team Fortress 2. It’s incredibly addictive, and even after hours of playtime, it still leaves me exhilarated. There’s no tutorial to start things off, so it’s a little tricky at the start, but if you’re an experienced gamer, you should pick up the basics pretty quickly.

TIME PLAYED

I played Friends vs Friends for four hours, which was enough time to reach level six,  unlock six characters, and score a bunch of cards. Matches only take around five to twelve minutes to complete, so even short play sessions feel really satisfying.

WHAT’S AWESOME

• Runnin’ and gunnin’. Even though I’m a terrible shot, I still had an absolutely smashing time in Friends vs Friends. Combat is fast-paced and electric, similar to Quake Champions and Team Fortress 2. Friends vs Friends merges this explosive shooting formula with roguelike deck-building elements, creating a dynamic and intuitive combat experience. I had to use my cards and shoot like hell in matches, and I loved every minute of it.

• Roguelike deckbuilding. I could build my own deck to bring into matches, so I could approach combat any way I wanted. I did buy some booster packs with earnable in-game currency, but the game presented me with a full deck to use from the get-go. I really enjoyed having the freedom to customize my deck and try out new cards as I played.

• Characters. Each character has its own unique ability that can be used across different decks. For example, Spike Remington can deal more bullet damage, while Moose Salto starts each round with a double jump. It was interesting to pair characters with different decks to find the most effective combinations.

• Visuals. Friends vs Friends has a vibrant retro art style with bright neon colors and bold outlines. These unique visuals give characters and maps a cartoonish vibe. The card art and interface look really polished and cool too. 

• Music. One of the reasons that Friends vs Friends reminds me of Hi-Fi Rush is the way that music drives everything forward. The tracks are upbeat and incredibly catchy. The music always seemed to get me pumped for every battle that I faced.

WHAT SUCKS

• No tutorial. As soon as I launched Friends vs Friends, I was plopped into the game without guidance on what to do or where to go. I had to learn how to play by myself, which was a little frustrating. I wish there was an in-depth tutorial that explained the mechanics so that I could have picked up the basics more quickly.

💬 Are you going to play Friends vs Friends or will you pass on it? Let me know in the comments!