I want to give some background about my experience with first-person shooters before getting into this. The first FPS I devoted so much time to was Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. I put more than a thousand hours into it and its sequels like Black Ops and Modern Warfare 2. After the Call of Duty phase was over, I was entranced into various Battlefield installments, then Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and its esports scene. When Blizzard announced Overwatch at BlizzCon, I was all over it since its announcement and never left. First-person shooters are a staple in my gaming life.

As for Riot Games, I was a fan of League of Legends since Season 3. Even though I am hard stuck in bronze, I am still having so much fun with the game. When Riot Games’ announced their plethora of games coming out next year, one game stuck out to me, Project A.

From the Project A trailer, my initial reaction was like everyone else, it had the Counter-Strike mechanics mixed with abilities from Overwatch. I have the feeling that this new game had potential, just like how I felt about Overwatch. Here are my thoughts on what I want from Project A.

Leveling System

In Counter-Strike, you have a buy system where you buy equipment like bullets and armor before the start of one round. Project A implies that there are rounds in its game by the trailer saying “WON! Team Eliminated”.


Before the start of each round, instead of purchasing equipment, I want to see some sort of leveling system in matches. Skill points can be acquired through kills or assists, let’s say 5 points per kill and 3 points per assist.

Depending on the number of points you accumulate in the match, you can level up. Upon leveling up, you acquire new abilities that will help your team in the match, for a max of 2 abilities per player. The more you level up, better abilities are unlocked. However, you are only allowed to equip only 2 abilities before each round starts.

Of course, this requires some sort of comeback mechanic. An easy way is to implement a similar mechanic to CS:GO, where losing teams have a choice to save up and sacrifice rounds for better guns. Indeed it may sound like going all-in, but there is a strategic aspect to put all your eggs in one basket in a desperate plan.

Limited Crowd Control

A problematic issue in Overwatch is the amount of crowd control in the game. From shields, stuns, and knockbacks, the Overwatch community yearns for hitscan heroes like McCree and Soldier: 76 to play a dominant role in the meta. Project A might be the game that satisfies the itch for hitscan Overwatch players and Counter-Strike veterans to come together.


From the sneak peek in Project A, players are rewarded for skill. It also looks like you are able to solo carry a game, something that is almost improbable to do in Overwatch. However, you can 1v5 in CS:GO. 

A degree of CC should be welcome to Project A, but should not be the main focus of the game’s mechanics. A way to limit CC is to have it as one-time use per round. It will welcome a more tactical approach and a more strategic way to come up with exciting plays.

More and More Content

Something that various shooters does well is the variety of modes from Call of Duty, gun and knife skins in CS:GO, and hero skins in Overwatch.

League of Legends itself does not contain a variety of modes. However, the game is kept fresh because of constant patch updates and new content like skins and champions. For Project A to keep thriving, the League of Legends formula can work with constant patch updates, sprays, emotes, UI skins, gun skins, and character skins.

One thing that most shooters do not do well is have the community come up with custom modes. Overwatch recently implemented their workshop into the game but there is a lack of spotlight and demand to play these custom modes.

One of Riot Games’ core values is “Player Experience First”, in which they state their focus on players inspire the most meaningful and lasting game experiences. They can tap into the community to come together with more unique content like what other games have done in the past. For example, CS:GO’s community designing gun skins for the next case, or you may see a mod for the next trendy genre in gaming like auto chess.

In Conclusion...

Riot Games has brought the best out of the MOBA genre with League of Legends and ready to dip their toes to compete with the best out there in other genres. Project A is ready to take on the best of all FPS worlds wrapped into one game. It is time for the renaissance of shooters in gaming.