the finals season 5 check-in: quick take #14
Another season of THE FINALS is winding down which means it’s time for another M.O.B.G. seasonal check-in! I’ve admittedly not been as dialed in for this season as I have been for others owing to my decision to hit multiple 50-60 hour RPG’s back to back to start the year, but I still have some thoughts to share regardless. Embark Studios have stayed true to their typical update roadmap for season 5, but this time around they’ve introduced some new stuff that has me particularly excited: a test run of their take on team deathmatch and the new Bernal map. So, what do these updates say for this new shooter entering year 2 of its live service life lifecycle?
Team Deathmatch
I’ve been a contestant in THE FINALS since the open beta days back in late 2023. In fact, I still remember watching The Game Awards from that year and completely losing my mind when Geoff Keighley announced that the game would be officially launched into 1.0 that night. Ever since, I’ve been hoping that Embark would implement team deathmatch into their rotation of game modes, as I always felt a mode like that could really play to the strengths of the fast-paced, chaotic style that this game is built upon. However, given that each game mode is built on focusing on map objectives, something like a team deathmatch mode, which typically has no map objectives to focus on, wouldn’t really play to the strengths of the game’s design. However, it seems Embark have come up with a creative solution for that.
Team deathmatch in THE FINALS takes place between two groups of 5 contestants and is based on a best of three structure. Like the other existing game modes, the first team to reach a certain dollar amount, in this case $3,000, wins that match. You get a kill, you earn your team $100, simple as that. The normally very large maps are divided into subsections of smaller battlefields. In one round, you’ll fight in one section of the map, and in the next round you’ll be moved to another section and so on and so forth.
The decision to section the map off this way is what really makes this mode work. Think of it like a Call of Duty team deathmatch. What each of those maps lack in size, they make up for in density, with tons of corridors, hiding spaces, and mini battlefields within the maps to fight. When you die, your respawn is almost immediate, so it keeps the gameplay fast and tight. Embark have essentially reworked this formula to fit THE FINALS and in my opinion, it really works. The tighter versions of the typically much larger arenas, paired with quick respawn times have made the combat loop of this game feel totally refreshed. As of writing, the test period for this mode will go until March 5, and I hope Embark will consider keeping it around. The other game modes are great, but a team deathmatch mode would inject the type of variety into the game’s overall structure that players have been requesting for a long time now.
The New Map: Bernal
The thing I look forward to with each new season of THE FINALS is the introduction of a new map. In my season 4 check-in, I noted that while Fortune Stadium was designed really well for the type of battles that make THE FINALS great, it lacked the style and inspiration that maps like Kyoto and Sys Horizon had before it. In season 5, Embark introduced Bernal, a map bursting with style and charm. According to THE FINALS Wiki page, this map is based on the historic Mexican town of Peña de Bernal. However, you don’t need a Wiki page to see it’s influence, as this map is radiating with cultural style.
Bernal is comprised of old buildings teeming with historic and cultural charm seamlessly blending in with the ultra-modern structures consistent in every map of THE FINALS. It’s impressive how Embark are consistently able to balance this stylistic blend in each of their maps – something I simply have not seen done as well in any other game. Looking off in the distance, you can see beautiful mountain ranges that feel as if they go on forever adding to the immersive experience of battling in this arena. In addition to these flavorful designs, Bernal is packed with all of the traversal bells and whistles players have come to expect: suspended structures, giant jump pads, ziplines, and more! All in all, Bernal is bursting with style and has become one of my favorite maps to date.
Here’s the verdict: season 5 of THE FINALS is a homerun, and it shows that Embark have a bright future with this game. With consistent weekly updates dedicated to constantly balancing the experience, supported by larger seasonal updates that always consist of exciting new maps and features, this game does not show signs of slowing down. If Embark decides to fully implement team deathmatch, I think it’ll result in a more dynamic overall experience. If you were looking for proof that the developers and art team at Embark are constantly trying to push the game forward, look no further than Bernal – a masterpiece of a battleground that adds depth to an already impressive variety of maps. That’s it for now, see you in season 6!