Bodycam Early Access Review: A Fast Follow with Critical Flaws
In business, there’s a concept known as “fast follow,” where one company quickly imitates another’s product to capitalize on its buzz and potentially beat the original to market. The game “Bodycam,” developed by the two-person team at Reissad Studio, seems to be doing just that by fast-following “Unrecord,” a first-person shooter from the perspective of a police bodycam that gained attention for its exceptionally lifelike graphics. While fast-following can sometimes be advantageous—as seen with Fortnite’s successful adoption of a PUBG-style battle royale—Bodycam falls short. Though it’s an intriguing proof of concept in its early access phase, it suffers from critical design flaws that prevent it from being a solid shooter.
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Bodycam
The idea behind Bodycam is creative. The mix of a rounded lens, dust on the glass, and rough movement effectively mimics the vibe of actual police footage. High-quality textures, dense debris, and lush foliage contribute to a visually impressive game. The lighting effects are particularly excellent, with a broad range from pitch-black hallways to blindingly bright flashlights, heavily influencing strategy in team-based modes.
However, the concept doesn’t translate well to a competitive first-person shooter. The restricted view provided by the bodycam perspective makes locating and shooting enemies awkward, detracting from the gameplay experience. Moreover, this perspective doesn’t add any thematic depth. Unlike real police officers, players aren’t looking through a camera during shootouts, and since players aren’t actually portraying law enforcement, the game doesn’t comment on the state of policing. Additionally, aiming down sights involves the character lifting the gun to their chest to align with the bodycam rather than their eyes, which feels unnatural.
This perspective might work well for a horror game, where stalking through the dark and deciding when to risk revealing your position by turning on a flashlight can be genuinely gripping. In Bodycam, however, it feels more like a gimmick than an immersive element. While the game shows potential, its current execution leaves much to be desired for a competitive shooter.
