[quote name='Matt Young']I just played my first 2 games. The first was standard deathmatch, and the second involved capture points. In the second, i ran into Chase Murata on the other team and we concluded the game by simultaneously killing each other. That was pretty sweet.
I'm actually halfway decent from what I've played so far, getting 1st and 2nd place on my team in kills. My experience with 3rd person shooters is limited to Gears. I had never played a RF game, but I'm really, really liking the game so far, though. Seems like a buy.[/quote]
I was ninja and didn't expect to see anyone I knew. However, it was entertaining to try to hunt you down.
A positive is how buildings can be demolished. It is a useful feature that some games should emulate. For instance, I collapsed a building onto an opponent; which killed them. That was neat. Another time, I used a sledgehammer to break through a wall and clobber another opponent. Also neat.
The pack gimmick is unique and each pack functions to what its name would have you think. The Rhino pack allows you to charge through walls and into foes; sending them flying. The Jet pack's primary function is to reach high places and snipe opponents. Otherwise, you're a sitting-- err, floating duck. A clay pigeon to be picked off by someone's Zapper. I found enjoyment equipping the Concussion pack, enabling its feature which knocks an opponent around, and finishing them off Shao Kahn style with the sledgehammer.
Now, the beta was not without its flaws. The objective in the objective mode, repairing various bases, does not seem compelling enough to work towards. In small games, like four-on-four games, it made more sense to ignore playing maintenance and simply kill the opponents. This way, you earn more experience points, and die far less.
Also, I do not like how Volition, Inc. chose to handle experience and points. The experience system reminds me of Grand Theft Auto 4's multiplayer in that it's simple and useless. There is nothing rewarding about getting a new, higher number. Why am I even earning experience points when there are no rewards? It is good this is a beta test and not a demo.
The game also lacked sound. It would be nice to hear footsteps. Perhaps catchphrases associated with certain actions, like how one's troopers yell out "Reloading" or "Frag out" in Call of Duty 4. It would add voice to a pretty bland atmosphere. Surely, this isn't a game about mute warfare.
What really bothered me is how Volition, Inc. chose to handle the post-match screen and statistics. So far, at least. Just to acknowledge that I recognize this is a beta test. It seems the game only keeps track of experience points, deaths, and kills. That's it. No record keeping or acknowledgment of assists, head shots (the "user used the zoom function" icon does not count), or any other special statistics (like Battlefield: Bad Company's various bonuses; Savior bonus, etc.). Surely they could at least acknowledge and give points for assists. What year is this, 1999?
Once again, I recognize how this is simple a beta test. Positive and negative aspects may be altered, added, or removed. This is simply a summary of my first-impressions.
