# Highguard Could Be The Start of a Whole New Thing | Hands-On Preview Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgFJDIhj6ls Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/xgFJDIhj6ls Generated: 2026-01-26T18:41:07.886+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Highguard is a novel first-person shooter that combines structural elements from games like Rainbow Six Siege, Valorant, and Star Wars Battlefront 2, featuring an upgradeable armament system reminiscent of Apex Legends and Call of Duty zombies, creating a unique, exciting, and potentially genre-inspiring 'raid shooter' experience despite some early balance issues. **Key Points:** - Highguard comes from Wildlife studio, comprising over 100 employees, including more than 60 former members of the team behind Titanfall 2 and Apex Legends. - The core gameplay structure blends the attacker versus defender format of Rainbow Six Siege, the lane-focused bomb planting of Valorant, and the large-scale objective scope of Star Wars Battlefront 2's base destruction. - Matches involve two teams of three Wardens defending one of four randomly selected bases, with map layout informed by the chosen base endpoints, creating a battleground larger than Halo Infinite's High Power but smaller than Apex Legends' King's Canyon. - Objective completion centers on using the map-revealed 'shield breaker' sword to breach the enemy base shield (dealing 30 damage) and then planting bombs on generators (35 damage each) or the 'anchor stone' (instant base destruction). - Movement maintains the quality pedigree of Respawn titles, described as fast and fluid via running, mounting, or ziplines, and the game offers a novel sensation similar to the first time playing a battle royale or looter shooter. - Some Wardens, like the stealth-focused Scarlet and support-focused Mara, feel strong, while others like the recon specialist Condor have ultimate abilities deemed 'extremely precarious' and easy to counter in fast-paced combat. - The game hints at deep lore suggesting a former technology-dependent society now relying on recently discovered magic, a narrative structure the developers have a track record of prioritizing. **Context:** Highguard is a new free-to-play first-person shooter developed by Wildlife, a studio composed of many former Respawn Entertainment developers known for Titanfall 2 and Apex Legends. Although the reveal trailer suggested a fantasy setting with horses and magic, contradicting the developers' sci-fi history, the hands-on preview reveals a complex hybrid shooter. The game is described as a 'raid shooter' where teams of three Wardens battle across large maps to destroy the opposing team's base objectives within short match times ranging from 8 to 30 minutes. ## Detailed Analysis Highguard defies easy classification, presenting itself as a chimera of established shooter mechanics: it adopts the tactical structure of Rainbow Six Siege, the lane-based planting of Valorant, and the base destruction scale of Star Wars Battlefront 2, all overlaid with an Apex Legends-style looting/upgrading system combined with Call of Duty zombies' shopping mechanic. Gameplay involves two teams of three Wardens reinforcing their chosen base, exploring a map formed by their base selections, and gathering Vesper minerals for upgrades. The core objective is to secure the 'shield breaker' magical sword to breach the enemy base shield, allowing attackers to plant bombs on generators or the crucial anchor stone for an instant win; defenders attempt to disarm bombs or hold out until the attackers run out of limited respawns, with failed assaults still inflicting base damage on the attackers. The reviewer finds the experience exciting and fresh, evoking the novelty of early genre-defining games, though noting current balance issues with some firearms and underpowered Wardens. Movement is fluid, matching the pedigree of its creators, but the feedback for hitting enemies with firearms is weak compared to Apex Legends, making firefights occasionally confusing. The world-building suggests an intriguing reversal where magic is newly adopted after a technological collapse, a narrative thread the reviewer hopes the developers will pursue through serial content. ### Game Identity and Development - Highguard is a 'raid shooter' from Wildlife studio, featuring many former Respawn developers - It intentionally mashes up elements from Siege, Valorant, Battlefront 2, Apex Legends, and CoD Zombies - Matches are short, lasting 8 to 30 minutes, and the game is free to play. ### Core Match Flow - Two teams of three Wardens vote on one of four bases to defend, shaping the map landscape between them - Teams reinforce defenses for one minute before venturing out to mine Vesper or find loot - The primary offensive tool is the 'shield breaker' sword, required to damage the base shield (30 damage). ### Base Destruction Mechanics - Bases start with 100 health; generators yield 35 damage when destroyed by planted bombs, while the anchor stone grants an instant win upon destruction - Defenders can disarm bombs, and attackers have limited respawns per assault phase. ### Movement and Gunplay Assessment - Movement speed and fluidity match the quality expected from Respawn alumni - Melee timing allows for efficient harvesting and a supercharged fifth swing attack - Gunplay is generally good, though some weapons like the full-auto SMG feel too powerful, and feedback for breaking enemy shields is unsatisfyingly weak. ### Warden Character Balance - Scarlet (stealth/invisibility) and Mara (support/team spawn point) are highlighted as strong picks - Kai (ice powers/damage-soaking transformation) was the meta for the preview event - Recon specialist Condor suffers due to a precarious ultimate ability that leaves her vulnerable while controlling a slow drone.