FAU-G: Domination first impressions: Decent gameplay haunted by the lack of immersion

FAU-G makers nCore Games have arrived with yet another ambitious title in FAU-G: Domination published by Nazara Publishing, the publishing arm of Nazara Technologies. The military first-person shooter (FPS) surely looks to give tough competition to the games in the genre. After getting my hands on the early access version, I couldn’t wait to dive in and see how it stacks up. After spending some time with the game and diving into its action firsthand, I thought I’d share my first impressions of FAU-G: Domination in this space.

FAU-G: Domination brings decent gun-based first-person gameplay to the table

The early access version usually has a finalised yet unpolished gameplay since it is still in the testing phase, but in FAU-G: Domination I seemed to find it otherwise. Playing on my iQOO Neo 7 Pro powered with an Android 14 OS, it was clear that I would run this game smoothly, but the gameplay itself was pretty neat and bug-free. The game ran smoothly with Ultra GFX and 90 FPS frame rate, while auto frame didn’t make much of a difference.

Performance, I have no complaints. Didn’t see any frame drops or lag in the UI, which was also very neatly put in. The graphics are decent, and the maps are somewhat you believe to be similar since there are so many FPS out there, they have their unique charm. We have four maps currently in the game, and a couple of them, especially Basti and Surang give you that Indian feel. The shadows and the overall setting are well done, so no complaints about it.

Coming to the core mechanics, there isn’t something that is a game changer or a new addition. You have almost everything you need for a shooter title in this game, be it Gyro or ADS to mention a few. The three game modes: Arms Race, Deathmatch, and Sniper are something you’ve already seen in other games, and here it isn’t different.

In guns, again all familiar ones, but the knives collection is pretty awesome. Cosmetics, in-app purchases, and the battle pass are included as well, with the Cosmetic collection being already massive, you will surely enjoy it. It would be unfair if I compare this to the first release in the franchise, FAU-G because Domination knocks it out of the park.

The lack of immersion disrupts the game’s flow, making it hard to maintain interest

Now, I would like to share some of the improvements that should be made. Many players, myself included, crave an environment where you can truly feel the game. In some games, when you plug in your earphones, you find yourself getting lost in the immersive experience, fully hooked and leaving your stresses behind. Well, FAU-G: Domination lacks massively in this regard.

Why is that? Well, while there might be some complaints about the game not being graphically vibrant or feature-packed compared to others in the genre, my immersion largely hinges on the music and sound effects. FAU-G: Domination doesn’t have good music to boot the game with, right off the bat, it loses a point there. On mute, you see this very creative loading screen with good detailing, but the experience is marred by a single, non-changeable 10-second music loop that fails to capture the mood.

Now, let’s talk about the sound effects. The gunshots, reloading, and melee combat have decent SFX (sound effects) attached to them, but that’s where the effort seems to stop. There’s a noticeable lack of attention to detail when it comes to player actions. For example, say if you’re jumping or climbing stairs, the same running sound persists with no variation, making it feel lazy. This was a concern in the original game too.

Another lack of immersion can be attributed to the gameplay itself. Of course in games like these, you often tend to be low on health and that might give you a signal to slow down. Here, unless you’re actively checking your health bar, you won’t even realize you’re low on health. There’s no exciting visual or audio cue to alert you, no tension to make you feel the urgency of the situation.

Final Thoughts

Since these are first impressions, you can have a difference of opinion, surely. While I had the opportunity to play an early preview build, it’s important to note that the final version will likely differ in terms of polish and features. Yes, from early access to the final stage, there can be upgrades, and hence it’s best to consider the final build reviews. On the other hand, some improvements can be looked at.

As I mentioned earlier, immersive elements are what draw players in, making the experience feel more alive and captivating. Without them, even the most visually stunning game can fall flat. FAU-G: Domination can look into this aspect and work on this, polish the game even further and go with the release.

FAU-G: Domination is open for pre-registration, slated for a release this 2024

The game is tentatively slated for release in 2024, with the date not confirmed yet. The game is currently available for pre-registration on Android via the Google Play Store, offering exclusive bonuses for those who sign up early.

The collection includes limited edition “Beast” themed items such as frame, banner, avatar, sticker, spray, and charm being the six accessories and a set of gun skins for various weapons like Sawed Off, USP, Kabar, Scout, M4, and Uzi.

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