The tactical shooter genre just received a hefty injection of fresh content thanks to the latest 2.15 patch for Black One Blood Brothers. This early access title continues to expand, and the most recent drop brings a solid chunk of gear, environments, and quality of life upgrades to the table. Let us break down everything you need to know about the new weapons, character customization options, and the brand new mountain map.
The core of any tactical military game is the gunsmithing, and the developers have added some heavy hitters this time around. The customization system remains highly detailed, allowing you to tweak stats like noise reduction, recoil, and weight by swapping out individual parts.
First up is the VK 416, a highly modifiable assault rifle clearly inspired by a famous real world counterpart. You can swap out everything from the handguards to the stock, slapping on a 60 round magazine, suppressors, and hybrid optics to fit any engagement distance. For close quarters fighting, the new R90 bullpup offers rapid fire devastation. Decking it out with a short barrel, a suppressor, and a laser makes it a monster for clearing tight rooms.
If you prefer a sidearm with a massive punch, the Manorin MH78 revolver has been introduced. Surprisingly, while you can attach lasers and sights to it, you cannot silence it so expect to wake up the whole neighborhood when you pull the trigger. On the opposite end of the spectrum, snipers get two new toys: the sleek, skeletonized HOR 7, and the massive Barrett M84. Be warned, firing this .50 caliber beast kicks like a mule. You absolutely need to bolt on a heavy anti tank muzzle and a bipod just to keep your crosshairs from flying off the screen.
Cosmetics and gear received a nice bump, stepping away from strictly standard issue military uniforms. Players can now equip civilian clothing, including casual jeans and shirts. If you want to give your operator a distinct look, there are new punk hairstyles and massive full beards available.
For those aiming for maximum intimidation, the new skull print balaclava pairs perfectly with the freshly added multi tube night vision goggles (quad nods) and thermal clip on sights. You can easily build an operator that looks like they stepped straight out of a premium tier one strike force.
The highlight of the playable content is a large scale map set in a rocky, mountainous region. Inserting via helicopter immediately sets the tone for a gritty mission. You can customize the difficulty before deploying, adjusting enemy accuracy, reaction speed, and overall population.
Squad management is crucial here. The new tactical phone acts as a real time tracking device for your unit. Additionally, the picture in picture body cam feature allows you to monitor exactly what your AI teammates are seeing at any given moment. If things go sideways, you can instantly swap control to another squad member with the press of a button.
You will need that swapping ability, too. The combat is unforgiving. If your primary operator takes a fatal bullet, they drop immediately. In the game's campaign mode, this features a brutal permadeath mechanic if a soldier dies on a mission, they are permanently gone from your roster. Keeping your team healed and fighting from a distance with the new rangefinders is vital for long term survival.
- Incredibly deep weapon modification system with noticeable stat changes.
- The picture in picture body cam feature is highly immersive.
- Excellent tactical freedom regarding insertion points and squad control.
- Very affordable price point for the amount of content provided.
- Enemy detection rates can occasionally feel sluggish or inconsistent.
- Campaign permadeath is highly punishing for casual players.
- Heavy weapons lack manageable recoil unless heavily modified.
"With an asking price sitting around the equivalent of $15 to $18 USD, this early access shooter offers a lot of bang for your buck. The development team is actively listening to the community and pushing out meaningful content."
