A City on Fire or a Slow Burn?

Cinder City comes from the brains at NCSOFT and BigFire Games, who previously graced us with Project LLL (yes, the cryptic codename that nobody knew how to pronounce). Now with a flashy title and a 12-minute gameplay showcase, there’s a clear EPIC tone being set, but is there substance hiding under all the smoke and flames? Short answer? Sort of. Long answer? Keep reading.

Here’s the deal. The game’s set in a sprawling dystopian landscape that looks like a marriage between a Cyberpunk city and the rubble-strewn backdrop of someone else’s action movie. And sure, it’s a mecha-lover’s playground, complete with hulking robots and explosive battles. At first glance, you might think it’s the next Titanfall, but it doesn’t share much of that game’s finesse or focus, which brings us to the actual gameplay.

Gameplay Mechanics: Ambitious or Just… Overstuffed?

What Cinder City is trying to do is nothing short of Herculean. It shuffles between being a third-person shooter, an MMORPG, and a playground for mecha enthusiasts, while asking players to care about all these elements simultaneously. That’s not to say it doesn’t handle them with care—but calling it streamlined might be pushing it.

Combat

Picture yourself as a fully geared-up cyborg soldier, jumping into the fray with a dozen other players, all trying to mow down AI enemies and loot gear. The shooting mechanics are serviceable, but they’re not likely to redefine anything. The hit registration didn’t exactly scream “polished,” and melee attacks? Well, they feel a bit like flailing pool noodles in a fight for survival.

Traversing Cinder City’s Open World

Traversal, however, is where things get spicy. You’ve got verticality galore, from towering skyscrapers to chaotic alleyways. If movement and locomotion are your jams, this game brings some charm—even if it has an occasional “oops, I clipped through the wall” kind of moment.

Team-Based MMO Elements

While Cinder City likes to call itself an MMO for the mecha genre, the multiplayer system we’ve seen so far feels lacking in depth. Yes, you’ll sync up with teammates to down bosses and capture objectives, but if cooperative gameplay is the main attraction, we’re going to need more variety to stave off the grind.

Graphics & Design Choices That Make You Say “Hmm”

Here’s where things get divisive. The visuals are undeniably stunning in parts—lens flares, neon cityscapes, and explosions galore. But for every wow-inducing skyline, there are textures that look like someone copy-pasted them from 2015. The art direction feels like it couldn’t entirely commit to cohesive world-building. Are we post-apocalyptic? Are we cybernetic utopia? It’s hard to tell. But hey, shoutout to the massive robotic kaiju; that guy’s got some serious presence.

The Burning Question of Longevity

Will Cinder City hold your attention for more than a few sessions? That’s the million-dollar question. The developers are clearly banking on a live-service model to keep players engaged, with MMORPG-style progression systems and gear grinding. But the repetitiveness could set in faster than you think unless substantial updates keep the content fresh. And with a planned launch in the second half of 2026, there’s (hopefully) enough time to polish this gem in the rough.

Final Thoughts on Cinder City

Cinder City is as ambitious as it is uneven. Full of potential but equally full of question marks, it feels like a project that’s still sorting out its own identity. If you’re a fan of mecha, MMO hybrids, and meaty open-world environments, it might just scratch the itch. But if you’re looking for refined gameplay that doesn’t make you wrestle with its own mechanics, you might be… eh, left wanting.

There’s no denying that Cinder City will turn heads when it officially launches. Whether it ends up being the next big thing or just a “remember when?” footnote in gaming history is entirely up to the team at BigFire Games. Here’s hoping they deliver on its potential.

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