Starsiege: Tribes spawned a new breed of multiplayer shooter back in 1998. Instead of focusing on weapon pickups and personal glory, it was a class-based, team-focused affair that had you jet-packing your way across open terrain to disable the bases of the opposing side. The action was always frenetic, and everyone had to constantly focus on the well-being of their team if they wanted to come out on top. TimeGate Studios’ Section 8 is a branch off of the same tree. This class-based sci-fi shooter is just as team-focused as Tribes, and contains a number of new and exciting features to breathe some fresh air into this tired genre.

The differences from Tribes become apparent as you begin a match. Instead of randomly appearing on the battlefield, your soldier will drop from the sky onto any position that is not currently controlled by the other team. This adds a lot of unpredictability to the action, as you never know when another player is about to pop into the fight. The classes are completely customizable, so you will be able to choose exactly what your player is carrying to fit each situation. You can also purchase a number of auxiliary items—like turrets and health regenerators—which allow you to play specific roles in the battle. No matter what class you choose, you will always have a massive jetpack strapped to your back so you can soar over the terrain in short rechargeable bursts. There is also a ton of vehicles around, many of which are built to hold multiple players.