MAG Beta and PS3 Exclusives

This is my first post of 2010.  I spent roughly one week and a day with my family over the break.  I left my PC at my apartment and decided to take my PS3 instead.  But, now I'm back and I wanted to write about some of the games I've been playing.

I bought Uncharted 2 over the break and started playing it.  Without hesitation, I jumped straight into the multiplayer first.  It's a pretty fun experience and reminds me of a more polished version of Socom.  The multiplayer experience also has an unlock system attached to it, but it really only provides you with extra skill bonuses--no extra weapons.  Instead, all the weapons are simply scattered around the map for you to pick up and use.  It is a rather old school method of giving players a variety of weapons, but it doesn't decrease the fun factor.

After I had my fill of the multiplayer I decided to jump into the single-player that had reviewers throwing 10 out of 10s in every direction.  The game was fun, extremely well acted, and challenging.  It also provided a lot of really cool visuals and sequences that are sure to create fond memories.  It really is... like watching a movie.  I remember playing the first Uncharted briefly at a friend's house, but since I didn't have a PS3 at the time, I never got into it.

I also bought The Saboteur for the PC.  I've played nearly every WWII game on the market with the exception of all the flight simulators, and I haven't played very much of it yet.  I suppose it has to do with the fact that I was in the middle of Uncharted 2, I had just started Dead Space (PC), and the MAG beta has been running since January 4.

My initial impressions of it is that it is a cool game.  The shooter portion of it doesn't seem very tight as the controls can get rather complicated.  The voice acting isn't terribly great either, which wouldn't be so bad if the main character's Irish accent didn't seem fake.

The open world aspect of it is fun and really gives the game a Grant Theft Auto spin.  On the other hand, I've noticed that my current PC doesn't run it very well, but I'm doubting that is because of my hardware.  The Saboteur does feel like a console-to-PC port, but at least Pandemic Studios gave us mouse control over the menus.  In the end, I don't know if it is worth the current full price tag.  You'd probably be better off waiting until you can get it at a discount.

I'm also playing Valkyria Chronicles, an anime game for the PS3 that uses turn-based action as it core gameplay.  My favorite part of Valkyria Chronicles is its WWII style.  Europe is Europa...the Germans are the Imperials, Belgum is Gallia.  Considering most anime either embraces ancient time periods, modern periods, or futuristic periods, seeing one that puts a twist on a real-world location and time such as Europe, 1930-1940 is really cool.

The game itself, on the other hand, is fun, but lacks gameplay elements that would probably appeal to a majority of gamers.  This is not a game younger gamers would probably appreciate, as the turn-based action is more about strategy and planning than anything else.  Veterans of Final Fantasy, Suikoden, and games similar to them might find Valkyria Chronicles' gameplay to be excellent.

And, finally, the game that has soaked up nearly every evenings since I've returned from my break is the MAG beta on the PS3.  MAG is a first-person shooter game that features 256 (128 vs. 128) multiplayer.  It features an experience point-based system and a classless progression system.  The game is also highly team-oriented, as all players are placed into squads automatically, given objectives to complete, and VOIP to make it easier.  Each squad consists of 8 players, and there are 4 squads that make up a platoon.  That are squad leaders, platoon leaders, and then company leaders, all of which represent the command structure during larger games.

I'm loving this game.  The gameplay it provides more than makes up for its scaled-back visuals--a necessity given the scale that is present.  This game really isn't for the solo-gamer.  If you don't have a microphone for communication, it could very well lead you to being ridiculed by your squad mates, or even kicked from the game.  There is a huge focus on communication and teamwork, a refreshing combination for an FPS to have considering a lot of the one-man shows games like Modern Warfare 2 provide.

Today is officially the last day of the beta, at which point the servers will be shut down until it releases on January 26.  It will be interesting to see how this one is reviewed.  For me, however, it is a must buy.  The fact that it is a PS3 exclusive makes my decision even easier to make as I don't have to worry about which platform I'd rather play it on, unlike Bad Company 2, which I'll probably get for the PC.

Anyway, back to MAG!

Comments

[GeRshWIN]

Need....MAG....but....Beta....OVER