Star Wars: The Old Republic - Legacy of the Sith
As well as a new central story, Legacy of the Sith has also introduced some major system changes to the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic. From my own perspective as a returning casual player, these changes are measured and appropriate. Firstly, my Smuggler has had some of their skills rationalised. Some buffs which you previously chose to use, such as Smuggler’s Luck, are now passive skills. Other minor skills, such as Flash Grenade, have been removed. I don’t consider any of these changes to undermine the class and welcome the decluttering of my quickbars. Perhaps more advanced players may take a different view. Change is not always welcome, especially if it removes choice. I however approve of these alterations and the way the UI has been redesigned to display your gear, outfit, combat style, loadouts and companion details.
As well as a new central story, Legacy of the Sith has also introduced some major system changes to the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic. From my own perspective as a returning casual player, these changes are measured and appropriate. Firstly, my Smuggler has had some of their skills rationalised. Some buffs which you previously chose to use, such as Smuggler’s Luck, are now passive skills. Other minor skills, such as Flash Grenade, have been removed. I don’t consider any of these changes to undermine the class and welcome the decluttering of my quickbars. Perhaps more advanced players may take a different view. Change is not always welcome, especially if it removes choice. I however approve of these alterations and the way the UI has been redesigned to display your gear, outfit, combat style, loadouts and companion details.
Secondly, another major addition to SWTOR in this expansion is Combat Styles. Prior to Legacy of the Sith, each class had two advanced classes, with three disciplines to choose from as they progressed through the game. My primary character in SWTOR is a Smuggler that has chosen the Gunslinger advanced class. I have then selected a DPS focused discipline by allocating points into a skills tree. Now I can select a second Combat Style (the new term for an additional advanced class) and hot swap between them. There are some limitations. As a Smuggler I can only choose Combat Styles from the Trooper and Bounty-hunter and Agent class. Similarly Jedi and Sith characters can only choose from each other. This new system offers a great deal of flexibility and variety. Once a player has completed chapter 3 they are offered a second Combat Style. New characters are now offered this option upon creation.
At present I have decided not to rush into choosing a second Combat Style. I am still trying to refine my current default one and determine what is the optimal skill rotation. When playing MMOs I tend to focus on one task at a time. I recently completed the Makeb story arc from Rise of the Hutt Cartel. Although I accepted the Seeker Droid and Macrobinocular missions I have yet to undertake them as I find that travelling back and forth between multiple tasks detrimental to following the various narratives. I decided to do some solo Flashpoints but found accessing them a little confusing. I wasn’t sure where to find the appropriate NPC to bestow them but eventually discovered I could access some via the Groupfinder panel. I recently discovered the Swtorista website and it has become an invaluable resource. SWTOR, like many other MMOs, doesn't do especially well at providing essential information in-game.
From my personal perspective, I have chosen a good time to return to SWTOR. I have managed to refamiliarize myself with the game and my existing characters skills quite quickly. The latest expansion has rationalised those skills making combat easier. I have a wealth of content ahead of me. SWTOR is also a very solo friendly MMO which suits me as I do not have the time to join a guild and participate in social gaming. My next goal is to play through Shadow of Revan. I am currently level 63 and will see if I can reach the level cap just by playing through the main stories of the game. I am also trying to keep abreast of the lore, which can get confusing at times. My Gunslinger defeated Darth Malgus on Ilum but it would appear that he returns in later expansions. This is why I try to do content in chronological order to maintain narrative continuity.
Anthem Open Demo
Before I start with my thoughts on the actual nuts and bolts of Anthem, let me just say that it’s nice that the concept of “the demo” still exists. There was a time when I use to buy various computer magazines in the late nineties, and they would all have a cover disk filled with game demos. I discovered many great games that way (MDK, Hidden and Dangerous), simply by having access to a few levels of a new title. Game developers seem ambivalent towards the concept of “try before you buy” these days. More often than not we get early access instead, which is not the same thing at all. But a functional demo that gives you a decent representation of the full product is a far better proposition. For the gamer at least. Because if you play it and like it, then you are sold. Unlike early access where you may see a product with prospects but whether it comes to fruition is another thing entirely. However, demos are a double edge sword, because may also come to a clear and unequivocal conclusion that you don’t like the game in question, or that is simply not for you.
Before I start with my thoughts on the actual nuts and bolts of Anthem, let me just say that it’s nice that the concept of “the demo” still exists. There was a time when I use to buy various computer magazines in the late nineties, and they would all have a cover disk filled with game demos. I discovered many great games that way (MDK, Hidden and Dangerous), simply by having access to a few levels of a new title. Game developers seem ambivalent towards the concept of “try before you buy” these days. More often than not we get early access instead, which is not the same thing at all. But a functional demo that gives you a decent representation of the full product is a far better proposition. For the gamer at least. Because if you play it and like it, then you are sold. Unlike early access where you may see a product with prospects but whether it comes to fruition is another thing entirely. However, demos are a double edge sword, because may also come to a clear and unequivocal conclusion that you don’t like the game in question, or that is simply not for you.
Because so many gamers see criticism and analysis as a personal attack on their opinions and therefore an assault upon themselves, let me make this first point very clear. I do not think Anthem is a bad game (from what I have seen). At its core, it is a fun, exciting experience. It does exactly what it sets out to do and appears to do it well. Got that? Good. Because a lot of the other stuff, IE the story, the characters, and the overall aesthetic are arbitrary. Again, let me stress they are not bad, just adequate. Up to a standard to coin a phrase. But far from unique, not outstanding or in any other way exceptional. I have written in the past about the misrepresentation of the word “adequate” and that not every game has to be a genre milestone. But this is a BioWare game being published by EA. It’s got multimillion-dollar, big bollocks, in your face, hyped up bullshit written all over it in large neon letters. If you want the full experience (Legion of Dawn Edition) it will cost you £70, all but a penny. Call me old fashioned but if I part with that amount of cash, I want more than what I’ve described.
Earlier today, I fired up the demo and quickly got into the game. There were no logon or server issues this time round. I found myself in a Fort Tarsis and quickly got funnelled to the expositonary NPC and quest bestower. As Anthem uses the Frostbite Engine, everything looks fancy although I found a lot of the production design to be somewhat generic. As it’s a limited demo I repeatedly got onscreen messages telling me that I cannot interact with NPCs and items. Nope BioWare wanted me to go get in my Javelin exo-suit and sod off and start shooting stuff. Now I noted that this first part of the game was all in first person. Whether that is the case in the full release I do not know. Let it suffice to say that if all the RPG elements are conducted in such a manner, then that’s another stumbling block for me. So, I subsequently donned my fancy armour and found myself with three other random players out in the combat zone. Everyone promptly ran off in different directions and started experimenting with the game controls. I was hoping there would be some semblance of a tutorial but no, you just have to figure shit out for yourself. It is however very intuitive and easy to work out.
Well let me save both you and I a lot of time. If you played Destiny 1 or 2 then the combat is pretty much the same. The only difference here is that you have thrusters to fly for limited periods and you have the benefits of a third person view. You have two ancillary weapons, which on the ranger class javelin are explosive projectiles and you have a melee skill. The game is fluid, requires situational awareness and robust twitch skills. The added verticality adds to the challenge requiring you to get above and behind enemies and objects, hover, shoot and move on. If you are young with good reactions, have played other games that require you to interact with similar three-dimensional environments and are adept with keyboard and mouse, or a games controller, then the combat in Anthem will really appeal to you. If you are of an older group, you may find it harder to keep up with the game. I played overall for three hours and during that time quickly got the measure of the game. Because while everyone else was flying around, shooting mobs and efficiently traversing the environment, I was adjusting my pince-nez, sipping my Amontillado, trying not to be distracted by the garrulous in-game voice over and trying to determine which key did what.
The thing is with Anthem, a player such as I will probably have to work twice as hard to train myself not to over steer, get disorientated and fall behind the group. Because the combat is pretty much the foundation of the game experience, you need to be proficient to get the most out of the game. I don’t think its strength will lie with its narrative, characters and production design. As I said, these are all adequate (from what I could see) but nothing more. A decade ago I would have been happy to put in the time and the effort to improve my performance and prove a point. But not now. I play to have fun primarily and if I’m not up to the task, then I am happy to move on. I don’t blame the game or myself and I’m not under any obligation to “git gud” to embrace some spurious philosophy that the only good game is a competitive challenge. So Anthem is not for me. Let those who enjoy the demo, purchase the full edition and go have their fun. I’ll find mine somewhere else. As for those who are expecting the much lauded BioWare storytelling experience, I’d be interested to know in a few months from now as whether it’s there or not.
