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Ambition's great. We all want game developers to be ambitious, to push hardware, to try new things, to have a stab at doing something that's never been done before. But sometimes, ambition alone isn't enough. Sometimes you need more than ambition to make the magic happen. Take, for example, my ambitious attempt to get up at seven am this morning in order to get a head start on the day's backbreaking gaming. Did it work? No. No it did not.
And with MAG, Zipper Interactive's online-only FPS, it's the same. The game is hugely ambitious: it's a 256-player shooter. But ambition alone isn't enough to make it a must buy. Indeed, MAG is fatally flawed.
What is MAG? It's a near future military FPS in which players assume the role of a soldier in one of three private military corporations: S.V.E.R., Valor and Raven. You begin by creating your operative via a limited character creation tool (no girls allowed), then join one of the PMCs. This decision affects the maps you play while defending, and the weapons and gear available to you as you level up (Modern Warfare's influence rearing its head again), but that's about it. There's little, really, to distinguish between the three factions.
From there, you fight in online matches across four game modes, gaining experience points for completing objectives and killing other players. When you level up, you gain a skill point, which is spent on improving your load out and character statistics. MAG's persistent "Shadow War" keeps tabs on each faction's performance, granting bonuses over 24 hour periods and, theoretically at least, keeping players engaged in the fight.
256 players sounds like chaos, and so it often proves. Zipper's way of managing that chaos is to divide players up into squads, platoons and companies. Eight players make up a squad; four squads form a platoon and four platoons form a company. This is the way it's done in real life, apparently. Ooh-Rah.
Each squad has unique objectives, as well as secondary objectives set by the OIC (the player who assumes command of the entire company). But you can dabble in MAG's leadership system at lower levels, by taking charge of a squad and, later, a platoon. The abilities that are available to those who lead make them pretty important on the battlefield., but none are more key than issuing FRAGO commands, which grant experience point bonuses to squad members who complete them.
It's a cool set up – certainly unique - and a perfect fit for the kind of sprawling, almost MMO-style game MAG is. The Leadership system in particular sets MAG apart from its peers: Modern Warfare 2 and the upcoming Battlefield Bad Company 2. The idea of leading an entire company, coordinating mass scale assaults on enemy defences via private chat channels and the like, is something we haven't really seen supported properly in an online FPS. This is MAG's strength. This, Zipper can be proud of.
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» Go to 's original post
» Go to 's original post
It works just as it should, I played 5 games last night, after every one I felt a sense of achievement some thing games have not had in a long time from an FPS, Frustrating and uncoordinated? So like every game where you rely on other people?
Graphics
What did you expect? killzone 2 or some thing. if you game is Technically impressive Ie the game is on a big scale and their is not a single FPS hick up that i'v seen yet and with that many people tanks explosions etc you still give it a 6....
Sound
Sound is fine, its war the bullets sound a bit weird I must say probably the games weakest point, but the music at the enar end of each round gets the blood going as you know its almost over
all in all, I dont think you got this game, but hey. For me this is a game that the media cant review, Iv looked at indie sites where the normal gamer review it, and we dig it.
Yeh I know its your opinion but like those that think the bible is fact, some times opinions are wrong.
Sadly im not surprised by the VG scores these days
It works just as it should, I played 5 games last night, after every one I felt a sense of achievement some thing games have not had in a long time from an FPS, Frustrating and uncoordinated? So like every game where you rely on other people?
Graphics
What did you expect? killzone 2 or some thing. if you game is Technically impressive Ie the game is on a big scale and their is not a single FPS hick up that i'v seen yet and with that many people tanks explosions etc you still give it a 6....
Sound
Sound is fine, its war the bullets sound a bit weird I must say probably the games weakest point, but the music at the enar end of each round gets the blood going as you know its almost over
all in all, I dont think you got this game, but hey. For me this is a game that the media cant review, Iv looked at indie sites where the normal gamer review it, and we dig it.
Yeh I know its your opinion but like those that think the bible is fact, some times opinions are wrong.
Sadly im not surprised by the VG scores these days
» Go to renegade's original post
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Nice comprehensive review as usual.
» Go to Karlius's original post
If some one came out and said Gears of War is for Girls I'd be a rage.
However my point still stand, this game is great I like it
I also dont think it's as "Teh Hardcorz" as you all think. Its not CS:S but then its not as Casual or pick up and play as CoD maybe, thought it does connect you to a game faster
» Go to Karlius's original post
I still love you though.
» Go to 's original post
I still love you though.
» Go to Rickitis's original post
» Go to renegade's original post
» Go to 's original post
I mean unlike most games this one does not have a Multiplayer on it, it is the Game :P. And some sites seem to have the reviews up way to early xD
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» Go to Karlius's original post
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p.s. I only own a Wii and a PC
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You must go through gallons of Windolene each month.
7/8 is a fair score I think. Won't appeal to everyone but I think it's good and will get a bit of enjoyment out of this once I get used to it.Last edited on Fri 29 January 2010 by El-Dev
You must go through gallons of Windolene each month.
7/8 is a fair score I think. Won't appeal to everyone but I think it's good and will get a bit of enjoyment out of this once I get used to it.
» Go to El-Dev's original post
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