CrossPlanet Beta is a fast-paced, third-person arena shooter. This title is presented as a passion project that brings gunplay basics back again, freely released for the community. It focuses on fluid movement and satisfying action, serving as a love letter to a genre that has largely faded from the mainstream.

CrossPlanet Beta features mechanics like double jumping, jetpacks, and a grapple hook to outmaneuver opponents. It features a diverse arsenal of 11 unique weapons, each with distinct handling, and 15 unique multiplayer modes across 10 different maps. The game ensures there are no paywalls, microtransactions, or battle passes included in it.

Classic gun-wielding mayhem

CrossPlanet Beta brings a pure shooting experience that prioritizes skill. Players will appreciate the true weapon variety, where each gun feels genuinely different and requires a unique approach. The various movement options—from jetpacks to evading—also add a dynamic layer to combat, creating a flow that rewards mastering the controls. It feels like a breath of fresh air in a genre often filled with cloned mechanics.

A common point of praise is the game’s commitment to a player-first philosophy. With no microtransactions or pay-to-win elements, victory depends solely on a player's aim, timing, and strategy. This honest, straightforward approach to a free game is a pleasant surprise. The presence of a dedicated, albeit small, community and the developers’ transparency about the game’s unfinished state are also notable.

Despite its strong foundations and clear passion, the game is held back by its unfinished nature. It suffers from a lack of optimization, which can lead to poor performance, and is plagued by a variety of bugs. The unpolished user interface and issues with a high ping can make finding a playable match challenging, and some players report encountering lobbies filled only with bots.

Still needs polishing, but it gets there

CrossPlanet is an admirable project that offers a nostalgic, gameplay-first shooter experience. Its core mechanics and dedication to a fair play environment are commendable. While it's currently held back by a lack of polish, optimization issues, and a small player base, the game's potential is clear. It's a worthy free title for anyone who craves old-school arena shooter action of the good ol’ days.