If you're looking to spice up your gaming collection, ROUNDS on PlayStation is a thrilling addition that brings remarkable changes to traditional battle games. Ditching the popular battle royale setup, the game revolves around one-on-one matches, providing a tense and exhilarating confrontation. This new title emphasizes strategy and quick thinking rather than mass eliminations, illustratively bringing a new wave of multiplayer fun.

Gameplay

Unfolding with a simple premise, players are transformed into armed orbs going head to head in fast-paced duels. Just a quick note: the performance of ROUNDS on PS4 is incredibly smooth, with no signs of lag or frame drops. There is a balance between skill and randomness, given the fact that after each round, the losing player gets access to new random upgrades to balance the rounds, which adds significant depth to every match.

Sound Design

The combat sounds in this game, both for gunfire and impacts, offer a satisfying punch. The music also compliments the intense gameplay, providing dynamic tracks that pick up as fights get more heated. If you're wondering about the sound design on ROUNDS on PS5, it's essentially the same as the PS4 version, only with the added bonus of 3D audio support, which amps up the immersion factor.

Level Design

• Terrain advantage. The stages in ROUNDS each present unique challenges, as the terrain can greatly change the dynamics of the fight, offering a constant rotation of environments to avoid repetition.
• Upgraded system pack. There are also a few level-specific features for each stage, like falling debris or hazards that can affect the duel.

Graphics

The visual style of the game is very minimalistic, employing a simple geometric aesthetic much like the previous titles in the series. There's a good reason this approach works so well- it ensures that players are never distracted from the fast-paced gameplay. With the power of PlayStation's next-gen console, the visual appeal only gets better. The textures and particle effects are much smoother and more immersive, demonstrating the graphical prowess of the ROUNDS on PS5 platform.

Comparison With Other Titles

A quick comparison to other games in the genre demonstrates that ROUNDS brings a fresh perspective to multiplayer confrontations. It does bear a certain resemblance to the series' previous instalments, markedly keeping the 'easy to learn, hard to master' concept and minimalistic aesthetic. However, the one-on-one multiplayer system and the game's progression system make it stand out.

Progression System

Last but not least is the addition of the new progression and growth system in the game. After every game, whether you win or lose, you gain experience that helps you unlock new things in the game. The rewarding progression system is a marked evolution from the series' previous installments, enticing players to indulge in one more round.