Fans of Remedy Entertainment’s Crossfire series will fondly remember the franchise’s multiplayer component being reminiscent of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, with others calling Crossfire a neat alternative to the global hit. As such, it came as quite a surprise for Crossfire to reveal CrossfireX, the third installment of the franchise, this time with improved graphics and more gameplay modes.
While CrossfireX doesn’t hit the caliber of big-budget AAA FPS titles in terms of both gameplay and storyline, its multiplayer component still hits that sweet nostalgia spot for players looking for quick, and fast gunfights without the hassle of loading screens and extremely advanced mechanics. And regardless of its straightforward controls, CrossfireX still demands a particular learning curve for newcomers before they become masters of the craft. To those new to the game, just what are beginner tips for CrossfireX they should know?
9 Warm Up With Practice Rounds
Players of FPS titles might think they can easily get into CrossfireX if they’ve played a couple of FPS games on the console already, and this mentality makes sense. However, CrossfireX has animations that are much more fluid and slightly slower than faster-paced FPS such as CS:GO and Valorant, making the gameplay different from other mainstream titles. As such, it wouldn’t hurt for newcomers - both experienced and new to FPS - to get a few practice rounds in, especially in various modes. Here’s a rundown of the modes in the game:
- Team Deathmatch: The most traditional mode in the game, this pits teams of players against each other in a no-holds-barred match.
- Search and Destroy: The traditional plant-defuse setup in multiplayer shooters, this mode will have teams plant and defend a bomb or defuse and destroy it in a more tactical, no-respawn mode.
- Point Capture: This mode needs players to scour the map for points to control and defend, with additional quirks such as sprinting and sliding as well as a Tactical Growth system that gives players perks as the match progresses.
- Spectre: A twist on the Search and Destroy mode, this mode will have players become Spectres that become invisible whenever they stand still, adding a new layer of thrill to matches.
- Nano: A zombies mode, players either become Infected that hunt down players or Mercenaries that hunt down zombies.
8 Mastering The Controller Wins Half The Battle
A lot of FPS games rely on player skill to dominate matches, but what newcomers often forget is that their mastery over the controller dictates how well they can play around with their character in a match. This principle is important in CrossfireX, as its Controller Options also allow players a lot of freedom with their controller mechanics. Players need to tinker with these mechanics to better control their characters:
- Stick Sensitivity, Vertical Sensitivity: This affects general movements within the game, and around 45 should work for most players.
- ADS Sensitivity, AVD Vertical Sensitivity: This affects how characters move when aiming down sights, with around 50 being the safe range.
- Crosshair: Players need to adjust their crosshairs in order to know exactly how they can identify their targets. Players can adjust size, thickness, spacing, and even colors to ensure their crosshairs let them spot targets faster.
7 Communication Make For Smarter Decisions
Given how most of CrossfireX’s game modes are built around teams, it makes sense for players to turn on comms in order to tell the team what they’re planning to do and what their situation is in the game. This is especially helpful for teams of friends who are accustomed to communicating with each other.
Using comms properly in a fast-paced game like CrossfireX allows players to approach situations smarter and with a particular degree of finesse. They can proceed to objectives knowing the team is aware of their actions and may have their back, and vice versa.
6 Take Time To Pursue Objectives
Fans of more action-packed FPS games like Call Of Duty might think that most other FPS titles like CrossfireX work in the same capacity. However, the slight fluidity and “weight” of character movement can make it detrimental for sweaty gamers to get in the heat of combat immediately. Going Call Of Duty in CrossfireX can lead to unnecessary gunfights and player deaths.
To avoid these unsavory situations, players should instead approach combat with a better degree of subtlety in order to be more sure of attacks. This actually applies to all game modes, not just no-respawn modes like Search And Destroy. In essence, the more time a player is absent (e.g., dead), the better chances opponents have of wiping them and securing more points.
5 Unlock All The Weapons For Loadouts
While CrossfireX immediately unlocks a number of firearms for players to tinker with and create loadouts with, it’s important to remember that more firearms actually exist and remain unlockable in the game. It may take time to earn enough GP to purchase all the available weapons in the game, but the time investment will be worth the while considering the flexibility this offers players.
If possible, players should consider creating multiple loadouts depending on the situations they come across in the game. Aside from a frontline Assault Rifle build, a close-quarters Shotgun build and a long-ranged Sniper build wouldn’t hurt players looking for flexibility. Of course, this also means spending more time tinkering with these weapons in practice modes.
4 The Pistol Is A Friend
Fans of Counter-Strike know that Sidearms such as the pistol are almost always there simply for display, but CrossfireX actually offers quite a lot of uses for their Sidearms despite their limited numbers. While the game simply offers three Sidearm choices so far (i.e, the Eagle 50, the AP18, and the Double Barrel Shotgun), they can be investments for players in matches.
At its core, players out of luck in a match can switch to their Sidearm as a last resort. Even the Eagle 50 packs a mean punch when aimed properly, making it perfect for close quarters. However, an FPS strategy applicable to CrossfireX is to actually switch to the Sidearm whenever they need to reload their Primaries. Chances are, switching at the right moment can have the Sidearm finish the opponent off, giving players the necessary room to reload without the risk of a counter.
3 Camping And Peeking Are Effective Strategies
A lot of FPS fans aren’t necessarily fond of camping and peeking as strategies in their respective games, especially when one side has already secured an efficient position. However, in a more tactical shooter like CrossfireX, securing the advantage is a must in any game mode.
Players should always try to secure whatever blind spots they see in order to secure the defense against enemies. Optimal strategies include:
- Secure the High Ground: Players who secure the high ground will force attacking opponents to look upwards, leaving the lower part of their vision exposed. This also makes it much harder to aim toward the defenders in general.
- Secure Corners and Turns: Players who can anticipate enemy movement from a corner or a turn have an extreme advantage when starting a firefight.
2 Get Smart With Gunfights, Always Get Cover
However, attacking players aren’t always at a disadvantage against peekers and campers, either. With the right offensive strategy, an aggressive team can make any defense useless. Against stationary defending opponents, players can utilize a number of strategies to secure the win:
- Take Cover: Instead of attacking a defending team head-on, players should always attack from cover to increase natural defenses on their end. This makes it much harder for defenders to kill them.
- Take the Flank: Defenders too occupied to defend a particular position leaves them open to attacks from the flank.
1 Optimize The Knife For Speed, Quick Kills
Similar to other FPS titles, knife kills do exist in CrossfireX. However, the Knife does have more uses than executing flashy kills against unsuspecting foes. Primarily, there’s a weird “speed buff” that happens when the Knife is unsheathed, as though the lesser weight from the weapons makes players move much better on the battlefield.
Moreover, players shouldn’t hesitate to use the Knife whenever they find themselves too close to an enemy. Sound still works as a conflict finder in the game, and not causing a fuss when killing enemies up close can make it much easier for players to consistently secure kills.
CrossfireX was released on February 10, 2022, exclusively for the Xbox One and the Xbox Series X/S.