Hands On: Highguard Feels Smooth and Solid on Xbox, but Lacks Ways to Play

Highguard launches on Xbox as a competent online shooter with clear pedigree. Developed by Wildlight Entertainment — featuring talent who worked on Titanfall and Apex Legends — the game delivers crisp gunplay, responsive abilities and a low‑friction tutorial that gets players into matches quickly.

Gameplay

The core combat blends elements familiar to fans of Apex and Destiny. Weapons feel snappy and satisfying; ability usage integrates smoothly with gunplay rather than interrupting it. Movement has enough polish to make engagements feel kinetic without becoming overwhelmingly chaotic, and the game's controls translate well to a controller‑first experience.

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Presentation and Design

Visuals and level design lean towards a modern online‑FPS aesthetic. Maps favour verticality and sightline control, which rewards positioning and team coordination. The tutorial is concise and effective, reducing early friction for newcomers and allowing matches to be the primary learning space.

Content and Modes

Highguard's biggest shortcoming is its mode structure. At launch the experience is anchored around one sprawling competitive mode, which limits the ways players can engage with the game. Solo players and those seeking more casual or varied play options will find little to draw them back between sessions. Social features such as private matches, co‑op modes or a looser arcade playlist are noticeably thin, and progression systems feel modest compared with rivals.

  • Strengths: tight gunplay, polished abilities, intuitive onboarding.
  • Weaknesses: single main mode, limited alternative playlists, shallow progression at present.

Verdict

Highguard demonstrates that Wildlight can produce a slick, controller‑friendly FPS with solid fundamentals. The immediate impression is positive when matches click among friends, but the game's long‑term prospects hinge on added variety. Additional playlists, social modes, richer progression and private/custom game tools would transform a promising shooter into a more sustainable service. As it stands, Highguard is enjoyable in bursts but needs more ways to play to become a lasting competitor in the crowded online shooter space.