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After two successful seasons, developer Embark Studios has proved it knows how to make a destructive shooter that masterfully folds all-terrain combat with meaningful abilities. Season 3 keeps The Finals’ adrenaline rush going with a trip to 1568 Kyoto, complete with new gadgets and weapons. While swords might not strike your fancy against turrets, mines, and rocket launchers, Embark has done a good job of balancing ancient and modern gear.
We got to go hands-on with Season 3 at a preview event and were impressed by how its new melee weapons coexist with old favourites. In Season 3, players get access to bullet-deflecting dual katanas, a satisfying recurve bow, and a spear with a large sweep attack. As for gadgets, the Heavy’s Winch Claw can pull enemies towards them Scorpion-style and the Light’s Thermal Bore can breach walls from a distance. The players I got to play with had an unspoken rule of trying out these new weapons, making for some delightful medieval mayhem.
I’ll admit that picking the Heavy’s Spear didn’t go in my favour. But I wasn’t completely outmatched by the occasional turret or shotgun despite my outdated gear. Switching to the Medium class’ dual katanas made things interesting as I could now deflect bullets and move in for the kill. You’re not invincible while blocking though and stray damage can disorient you enough for a foe to finish you off.
The new Kyoto 1568 map is another showcase of The Finals’ calibre when it comes to verticality and mass destruction. Pagodas provide vantage points to knock foes down as they sprint through bamboo forests and temples. Some buildings have paths underneath them, rewarding well-versed players with quick escape routes or sneaky garden flanks. These ideas are put to the test in Terminal Attack, a game mode that has been made a permanent part of The Finals.
Think of Terminal Attack as Search and Destroy with teams taking turns to defend or attack two bomb-sites. Healing and revives are off the tables and your gadgets have limited uses, making each decision count. Your weapons and abilities still function as expected so every bit of damage can tip the balance of a match. You’ll have to think twice before tossing mines or grenades without assessing the risk. And you can’t wade through gas or flames without suffering a permanent drop in your health. These constraints make for some distilled competitive chaos. Thanks to the round-based setup, you don’t wait for revives, letting you get back into the action more often.
In Terminal Attack, healing and revives are off the tables and your gadgets have limited uses, making each decision count.
Season 3 is also bringing a new World Tour series, with unique Tournament modifiers, badges and a challenge system that can hand you Multibucks. The Finals has earned a reputation for intense matches where each moment leans into its game show ambitions. World Tour is a good step in the opposite direction as it encourages casual play (limited revives aside) and rotates rules to keep things fresh.
With more Career challenges and a fresh battle pass, there are plenty of neat cosmetics for newcomers and returning players to earn. The new weapons alone warrant some experimentation with class builds and I’ve only got a brief taste of cloaked archers and charging Spear wielders. The Finals Season 3 drops on Thursday, 13 June 2024.
