Ubisoft advertised For Honor, released yesterday, as a game about skewering enemies with medieval weaponry. Man, did they bury the lede on this one. A few days in, I’ve discovered what For Honor really is, and it is undoubtedly a game about pushing people off ledges and laughing.
I actually learned this last night, when several challengers I encountered in 1 vs. 1 Duel Mode made it their mission to shove me off bridges, cliffs, stairs and precipices of all shapes and heights. Afterward, they’d invariably fall to their knees cackling and spam “Thanks!” in chat. It was a mortifying, sad night.
Ledge-throws aren’t something For Honor teaches in the tutorial, but it was easy enough to pick up: lure enemies to an unguarded edge, guard break, grab and attack. My fatal flaw was always taking enemies’ bait. In 1 vs. 1, nothing happens if both players are camping. Impatient, I’d always give up and pursue them, confident I’d maneuver them to an edge first. Nope. Nope.
Another thing I’ve learned about For Honor is that effective gameplay is fueled exclusively by spite. The more you feel like a piece of flaming trash, the more you want to inflict that feeling on others. This morning, I fired up a 4 vs. 4 elimination match with the specific intent of pushing anybody I could get my hands on off the nearest ledge. In case you’re wondering, yes, I am doing well, thank you.
The results were mixed, but generally quite positive. Whenever I encountered another human, I’d get up in their face and then run away to a bridge. If they chased me, I’d swing around behind them and make sure they suffered the same, mortifying fall I’d suffered a dozen times the previous night. I didn’t emote afterward. I didn’t spam “Thanks!” in group chat. I just stood there and watched them fall, feeling very pleased.
Already, I can tell that For Honor has a high skill ceiling. It’s about mastering the basics of blocking, dodging, guard-breaking and attacking and then combining them in surprising and creative ways. Pushing people off ledges truly is neither surprising nor creative. It is malicious and fun. With that said, please, do not follow my example, because I don’t want to be pushed off ledges anymore.
[Correction—6:30 PM EST]: The piece originally referred to “Duel Mode” as “Brawl Mode.” We regret the error.