# Highguard - Angry Review Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AEuIcAdn30 Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/9AEuIcAdn30 Generated: 2026-02-06T21:04:23.193+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The reviewer gives the PvP raid shooter Highguard a low score of 4/10, concluding that despite having potential and cool aesthetics, it suffers from a lack of content, poor matchmaking, and baffling design decisions like overly large maps and overly strong raid mechanics, leading to a boring and frustrating experience. **Key Points:** - Highguard receives a final rating of 4/10 due to fundamental design flaws and lack of content. - The game launched with only one core mode (Raid Mode) and only eight characters, which felt too small for a free-to-play title. - The Raid Mode is criticized for its convoluted mechanics, such as requiring players to destroy walls twice to complete objectives and the shieldbreaker mechanic being too easy to exploit. - The maps are considered too large for the player count (5v5 in Raid Mode), resulting in boring downtime and empty lobbies, as evidenced by rapidly dropping player counts post-launch. - Cosmetic monetization is aggressively priced, with an exotic mount skin costing $22.00, highlighting a disconnect between content value and cost. - The developer's communication was poor, with no updates or engagement on social media between the Game Awards reveal (December 2023) and the January 2026 launch. - The game copies derivative elements from other successful titles like Apex Legends, Titanfall, and even involves characters cosplaying as Ken from Street Fighter and a generic space man during the review. ![Screenshot at 00:26: The host displays two GFUEL energy tubs while promoting a discount code, a common segment in his reviews, immediately preceding the main critique of Highguard's launch state.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9AEuIcAdn30/00-00-26.jpg) **Context:** The video is an 'Angry Review' by content creator AngryJoe, focusing on the early access or launch state of the PvP raid shooter Highguard. The review critiques the game's design, content offerings, monetization practices, and overall player experience shortly after its release. The reviewer is joined by friends/co-reviewers, including one dressed as a knight and another as a Viking holding a modern assault rifle, to satirize the game's confusing mixture of fantasy and sci-fi elements. ## Detailed Analysis The reviewer begins by expressing frustration over the lack of substantial content at launch, noting only one core mode (Raid Mode) and only eight playable characters. He criticizes the Raid Mode's design, pointing out that mechanics like destroying reinforced walls require hitting them twice, and the Swordbreaker mechanic is too easily exploited, leading to frustratingly one-sided matches (as shown in gameplay clips where the reviewer's team wins 10-0 in 15 minutes). The game's lack of content is further evidenced by quickly declining Steam player counts, dropping from a peak of 97,249 to around 6,000 players shortly after launch. The monetization is also slammed, specifically an exotic mount skin costing $22.00, which the reviewer finds outrageous given the game's sparse content. He highlights the poor communication from the developers, Wildlight Entertainment, who went silent after revealing the game at The Game Awards in December until the January 26, 2026 launch. The reviewer also expresses disappointment with the game's aesthetic, finding the character and weapon designs generic (like the 'Sand Viper' skin) and noting a lack of any meaningful narrative or unique vision beyond derivative elements from games like Apex Legends and Titanfall. The review concludes with a low score of 4/10. ### Review Conclusion - The game receives a 4/10 rating due to being too much derivative content (Apex Legends/Titanfall DNA) with poor execution, lack of content, and aggressive monetization, resulting in a bland and ultimately frustrating experience. ### Raid Mode Critique - The core mode is criticized for being too slow, featuring excessively large maps for 5v5 play, and having repetitive/exploitable objectives like requiring players to destroy walls twice or relying solely on the Sword Breaker mechanic. ### Poor Player Retention - Steam charts show a massive drop-off in concurrent players immediately following launch, falling from a peak of 97,249 to consistently low numbers (around 6,000-15,000), indicating immediate player dissatisfaction. ### Monetization Issues - The game features high-cost cosmetics, such as an exotic mount skin available for $22.00 (2200 Gold), which the reviewer argues is not justified by the game's current content offering. ### Developer Communication - The developers at Wildlight Entertainment failed to communicate updates or engage the community between the December reveal and the January launch, further souring the reception. ### Character Roster & Content - The game launched with only eight characters and one primary mode, which the reviewer felt was insufficient, especially when the core gameplay loop felt repetitive (e.g., destroying crystal nodes). ![Screenshot at 00:00: Three main reviewers/personalities opening the video with energetic, welcoming gestures in their respective studio setups.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9AEuIcAdn30/00-00-00.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:24: The host humorously points out the generic nature of the game's character concepts by presenting a character model that looks like an AI prompt result.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9AEuIcAdn30/00-00-24.jpg) ![Screenshot at 01:09: A skit segment where characters in costumes \(Ken, a knight, and a Viking\) react to the perceived poor design choices of the game.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9AEuIcAdn30/00-01-09.jpg) ![Screenshot at 04:04: The official title card for 'Highguard' appears amidst fiery visual effects, concluding the review segment.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9AEuIcAdn30/00-04-04.jpg) ![Screenshot at 07:50: YongYea displays the Steam charts showing a dramatic and sustained drop in concurrent players immediately following the game's launch.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/9AEuIcAdn30/00-07-50.jpg)