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Originally Posted by -Total-
Disclaimer – I write my review as a player of FPS games. Not as a forum moderator, nor as a PC gaming advocate.
Let’s face it, for all of the advancements made in graphic’s detail, physics, and animations – FPS gaming has degenerated to the most of simplistic of concepts: React and Aim.
In 1997 and 1998, the FPS gaming on the PC market saw the introduction of two ground breaking games. The first was Starseige:Tribes and the other was Unreal (not UT which was released later in 1999).
Starseige:Tribes, while not graphically intense, introduced a game style that added the vertical axis to the fray, different roles that had to be filled for a team to be successful, and a focus to maintaining team assets. All of this taking place on a fast-paced battlefield where constant adjustment in personal tactics and team strategy were required.
Unreal introduced a graphical environment that was virtually unsurpassed by any other game in the genre while not compromising game play. Each weapon held a special strength and it took many hours upon hours of practice just to master the techniques utilized by that weapon. Combined with the diverse layouts of the maps, it proved to be a daunting challenge to become a successful player and even more of a challenge to become a successful team in the game.
Fast forward to 2001. Tribes 2 was released. It furthered the strategic elements of it’s predecessor while adding more depth and challenges to the individual’s game play.
2002 saw the release of another historic title in the FPS genre: Battlefield 1942. Conquering entire islands from air, land, and sea was a seemingly impossible task. Each player would work to find their niche. If any could compete on the level of teamwork and player effort Tribes 2 took to succeed, it was Battlefield 1942. Even in small elements such as artillery strikes, it took two people. It took one with a sniper scope or binoculars to sight in on the target and call out for the strike while the other player manned the cannon. The cannon gunner was not guaranteed their shot would hit the mark either. They had to adjust their aim based upon where the first projectile hit.
Fast forward to 2008.
The learning curve of a game has become linear. The curve has disappeared all together. Games are developed so anyone can load them, go into a server, and start shooting other players. Run, shoot, explode, die, wash, rinse, and repeat. Players rarely, if ever, try to find an empty server or open a map in single player mode just to practice one specific skill. Current FPS games are primarily focused on a never ending rotation of repetitive action. The only resemblance to a curve is learning where to spam and what corners to prefire around. Thinking on not only a personal level, but also a team scale has become a forgotten attribute.
Enter Frontlines: Fuel Of War
While many argue it could be improved in different areas, I see many of these arguments are based on the characteristics of other games released within the past 3-4 years. The same games that help obliterate the learning curve.
No longer is every player equivalent in their loadout. No longer can a player just jump into a server and be well-polished force within a couple of hours of playing.
Frontlines introduces five specific loadouts and four specific roles. While players can choose any combination of loadout versus roles, they cannot cross loadouts or roles. This leaves many players caught up in the current genre of gaming at a frustrating crossroads. They have become used to unlocks and perks that available at almost any given time. If they do not like their weapon, they could simply pick another one up off the field.
Not in Frontlines. Players must experiment with each loadout and each role to find their own niche. Then they must find a secondary niche they can fill. Atop that, they have to pay attention to their team so they fill the right niche to help the team succeed. Who can use the EMP role to it’s fullest? Who can use the Spec Ops loadout to it’s fullest? Why does a team need people in the ground support role? How many snipers and Drone Techs are really needed? When to use the airstrikes? When is using the heavy assault gun effective?
All of these questions and more, plus more on a battlefield where the combat line is defined not by the players, but by the Frontline. This element requires more on the fly strategy and tactical adjustments by the players.
For the first time in almost half of a decade, a game is being introduced that requires actual thinking in the heat of gameplay and not just reaction. It is being met with open arms by some and scowls by others.
My opinion?
KAOS, don’t give in. Keep pushing to put more curve into the gaming industry. It needs it.
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02-13-2008, 12:07 AM
