Astronauts with guns? Okay...

 Why not, right?

Do you remember that scene in 'Call of Duty' Where they jumped the shark of the entire franchise? Hmm, not specific enough? It was in 'Ghosts'. Still not specific enough? (Wow, 'Ghosts' really sucked, huh...) I'm talking about the scene whereupon you hijack a space station in order to make use of their... you know what, it doesn't matter. Let's go back to the part where you HIJACK A SPACE STATION. Note; this was before the whole ill-advised jaunt into sci-fi that the series attempted to do for a couple entries, but rather back when there was some semblance of grounded 'realism' to the games. (Is 'realism' the right word? Sounds wrong.) So when you turned around and hijacked a space station WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPONS; even the diehards had to face palm for that one. Automatic weapons. In space? What kind of moron would come up with that plan? You'd have to be insane to ever think that was a good idea worthy of- they made a game out of it didn't they?

What really made the whole COD scene surreal was the way in which the actual attack happened whilst everyone was dressed in those bulky astronaut suits of today, rather than some sleek slim futuristic alternative that we may be in possession of a few decades down the line. Basically, the attire just highlighted the ludicrousness of the series' latest attempt to one-up themselves after the whole 'No Russian' thing. (They never did quite get there, no matter how provocative they wanted to be) As such, when I stumbled upon the gameplay trailer for the new FPS by Studio Surgical Scalpels (sick name, by-the-by) I couldn't help but be struck by a wave of Deja Vu over the whole affair. "Huh" I thought, "We're back here again" Although in hindsight I suppose there are some significant differences to note. 

First of all; although everyone does appear to be got up in the same modern astronaut gear, the actual weapon appears to have gone the safe route and taken a sci-fi remodelling. (That at least helps me make-believe that this isn't stupid) Secondly, there appears to be a consistent law of momentum rule actually being followed, so some laws of physics will remain untouched. And thirdly, the game isn't a semi-realistic formerly-grounded military shooter. (sorry, I'm still getting over that insult from Activision) Apart from those points, which I had to wrangle, this is another example in why video game developers are insane. And isn't that what we love about them, folks? The fact they have the gall to ask what literally no one was thinking, and actually turn that into a game? Beyond my instinctual incredulity there lies the slightest glimmer of respect for that.

But yes, Boundary is a space-based FPS game that seems to feature it's USP around astronauts gearing up for zero-g deathmatches around space stations orbiting the Earth. Seems so very simple when I just lay it all out like that, by the implications are mind boggling. For example; why are they fighting around normal looking space stations? Shouldn't there be some sort of space-arena for these battles? Aren't those stations built for scientific observation over tactical advantages? Why are these people fighting? What gripes could these astronauts possibly have which can only be solved with bullets? And, last but not least, why can I hear the guns? How is the sound travelling? Where have the physics gone and why won't they answer my calls?

I scream into the void, evidentially, because this is the world of video games and games are inherently ridiculous. Or so I am told. In full honesty, nowadays it can take just the slightest bit of oddity to your game model which can set it apart from competition and really do wonders for how you're game is picked up by a community. Any community. (Even the wierdos like me) Boundary offers online zero G showdowns, and that's something that isn't offered from any other game that I can think of. I mean, I think 'Lawbreakers' might have had something to do with breaking the laws of physics, but no-one played that game so I couldn't really say. Perhaps the sheer spectacle alone can win this game an audience, because even I have to say; the view of the Earth from space never really gets old for a backdrop. Does that ethereal beauty fit the high-octane action of an online deathmatch, however? Well, who can say for certain...

After watching some six minutes of gameplay I will say that, visually, what the team has done does look impressive. Although I seriously do wonder about how much mileage anyone can really get out of the gameplay. As I understand it, and this is fuelled partially by my own FPS faze about half a decade back, half of the fun of FPS games comes from positioning and getting to learn angles, new maps and really learning the weight of the gameplay. I don't really see any great level of potential in a game which, by it's very nature, doesn't really make use of it's environment. The space station I saw was more in the way for the floating combatants, it obscured sightlines but only in the most rudimentary manner. I can't imagine other maps being all that more different unless the team has some surprises up their sleeves, like perhaps some indoor sections, to spice things up. But even then the static-nature of the concept will surely get in the way of any burgeoning highlevels of play.

Then again, perhaps that's just my fleshy meatslab overthinking things, I have to admit that I would never have thought of this concept to begin with, so heck if I know how to make it work. And whatsmore, maybe the team behind the game aren't even worried about fostering some big playerbase with sweaty diehards sticking to it; maybe this is all just some elaborate farce that ended up staying with the team long enough to actually get made into a game. Or perhaps, third option, maybe this is the new age of FPS' the destined to really go off for the VR audience. Think about it; no lateral movement needed, no picking between teleporting or jarring movement, it's all just smooth gliding and shooting. Heck, this could be the perfect VR online shooter just waiting to claim it's crown of glory.

I love just bumping into these crazy games out of nowhere; it reminds me how big the world of gaming is and how it's always still just growing. Everyday there's cool new ideas that twists concepts and ideas you think you know wildly on their head, or just visions that shoot far beyond the scope one might expect. It's a crazy train to keep up with as a consumer, I can only imagine what things must be like on the development floors! Today it's a game about astronauts with guns, tomorrow it's a game about a slap of anthropomorphised meat. (Oh wait, they already made that.) It just reminds me that, at the end of the day, no matter what you think of games and how you approach entertainment; there's something out there for you. And that's kinda beautiful, in a way.