It’s not over yet people (although this is the last week, I promise); Wildstar keeps rolling on with content. First the last of the classes and then some detail stuff, and finally a little surprise at the end of the week (chances are Wildstar fans already know though, but still). Anyway, the Stalker, basically your stealth class; that has gadgets, nanotech, combat stealth, and the ability to tank… Ok so it’s not your basic stealth class, watch the vids to learn more – as well as the thrilling conclusion of Team Frost v. Team Moore.
Now people, I’ll be honest with you I love the Engineer job set in MMOs. Now they’re not always called ‘Engineers’ in MMO’s, sometimes they’re called ‘Cybertech’, other times it’s called ‘Crafting’. Whatever the name it’s a job path that allows players to make cool stuff that explodes, shoots, or does something neat. However in some cases MMOs will make the Engineer job into it’s own class – with various degrees of success (honestly the best engineer class in my experience was the TF2 Engie). Wildstar’s take on the Engineer, I think, will be the one that will do the ‘class’ right. For one it has an all-purpose cannon that zap, burn, bomb, or shoot down enemies. Another thing is that this class has heavy armor (probably the first time for the class actually) so it can DPS or Tank. And of course players can rock bots which can off-tank, heal, DPS, and crowd control. So yeah Engineer is a one man army and yes, chances are I’ll be pick this class once the game comes out.
Just to be clear, not the medic from Team Fortress 2 (although that would’ve been awesome) but a futuristic sciencey version of a medic in Wildstar. Now sooner or later players always try a healer class once, and why not? It feels awesome to be the most important class in the group, that life and death begins and ends with me, and after a tough battle one person will always say ‘Nice heals!’ However most healer classes don’t have anything else outside of group activities and usually get slaughtered in PvP or bored in solo adventures. Wildstar’s medic will change all of that, not only does it multitask their abilities with the use ‘stations’ and ‘probes’ but they look awesome doing it. Also similar to the Spellslinger, they don’t just stand still but they move all over the field to best their skills. Finally – they can bring the pain DPS style to the enemies; hey you never took the Hippocratic oath. Now some might prefer the classic healer archetype, but don’t fear the unknown people, give this updated version a try you might like it.
Ladies and Gentlemen: South Park is an animated comedy TV show on Comedy Central. It is a revolutionary series that pushes the boundaries of political-social norms. It also has the unfortunate tendency to push the boundaries of good taste, seriously the things I’ve seen watching that show (and movie) really weren’t necessary to the overall episodes. Despite that fact though the show is funny, brilliantly written, and even have ‘moral’ lessons to them. Now I said all of that because the writers of the show also written the game, South Park: The Stick of Truth, and they did the impossible – they made the game just like the show. Warts and all, the show is a masterpiece and so is this game.
So the game take place in the town of South Park, uh, I mean the lands of Zaron, where the Stan & Kyle and Cartman & Kenny, uh, I mean the Elves and the Humans are locked in a bloody civil war for the fabled Stick of Truth, uh, I mean the Stick of Truth. Deadlocked, Cartman believed the only way to tip the war in his favor is to seek the aid of the new kid who moved into town: You, and thus the game begins. South Park: The Stick of Truth is the evolution of the classic turn based RPG, very similar to the Mario & Luigi RPG titles. Your basic and special attacks must be activated in a certain way otherwise they won’t be effective, or in Kenny’s case will completely backfire. Player’s weapons and armors will range from wooden swords and sweat bands to alien energy guns and mini SWAT uniforms. And trust me they’ll be put to work as you explore all over South Park (first time since the show’s creation that the town’s been mapped actually) in your quest for the stick, as well as doing side quests for some of the more familiar characters from the show. So after delay after delay after publisher going under after finding a new publisher after delay – does The Stick of Truth ring true?
Rating
To take from Daniel Bryan: YES! YES! YES! This game is creative, innovative, and entertaining as any last generation or current generation (so for) game. Customizing your character doesn’t end at the beginning of the game. In addition to the unique looking weapons and armors you find throughout the adventure; players can also collect wigs, facial hair and make-up to configure your character look any way like. You gear can also be configured with different ‘stickers’ to improve their functionality or give an edge in combat. And speaking of which, the combat is glorious and well designed, if anyone thinks that turn based combat can’t be challenging should park this title for quite a surprise. Finally the level of writing and animation to make this game as close to the show as possible is so good it’s almost 1 to 1. Seriously Matt, Trey, and all of the staff that worked this game put in 150%; everybody in the industry should take notes and notice what gaming could become with effort. Sadly this doesn’t earn the long awaited triple platinum rating for only one reason, the same weakness that the show has honestly: it’s raw. South Park has never been a show to play it safe, and the game follows suit: certain things and images, are not for kids (heck I think I’m too young for their content half the time). It doesn’t happen often but every once in a while some explicit scene will appear and you’ll say: “I really wish I didn’t see that…” Stuff like that keep this game from true greatness, but hey art’s in the eye of the holder and all that. South Park: The Stick of Truth on a storytelling and mechanical standpoint is pure dynamite and is the last great game of the PS3/Xbox 360 era. If you’re over 21 and still have those systems I strongly suggest you pick up this game and play it with vim and vigor; it is truly the game we’ve been waiting for.
Magic + Guns = class type? Apparently so since the next class in Wildstar is the Spellslinger, which is a lightening fast DPS masta. Armed with dual mag pistols, sigils, and the ability to teleport between dimensions this class is perfect for players who don’t like to take damage but sure love to give it. Also they can heal like crazy so in the event of them actually getting hurt (or their allies) they can break out the ol’ healing shots and get back into the fight. Finally, heavy armor might save your life, but the slingers gear looks several times cooler than any other class. Having magical six shooters, pain inducing sigils, healing, and short range porting alone makes it an inventive, awesome class – looking cool doing is just icing on the cake.
Now here’s a question a lot have asked: Can you be a mage/wizard in a sci-fi game. I generally lean to yes because hey – why not? However I do understand how an ultra-futuristic tone of sci-fi would clash with mystical elements of magic and wizardry. Carbine Studios and NC Soft also agree, and to that effect their Esper class is not magic but a mentalist that uses the power of the mind to create psychic images, metal shockwaves, and healing auras. Sure the Esper still have the glass jaw of glass cannons but as a class that can heal as well as bring the pain it is more likely you’ll go down before the Esper does. Watch the videos and see if the Esper can’t turn you into a believer too.
You thought it was over didn’t you, sorry but no. The awesomeness of WildStar can’t be contained into one week but, at least, two. This week will feature the classes that players will have the options of playing. First up, the main stay of any MMO: the Warrior. Now don’t me wrong; the warrior is, as it always shall be, a highly armed & armored tough guy/gal. But WildStar decided to give your basic warrior class some much need upgrades like an arm cannon for long distance enemies, and array of snares, tethers, knockdowns to keep other pesky classes on the defensive. Oh and one more thing: nuclear-powered Greatsword, I don’t care who you are, if you get hit will anything nuclear-powered you’re going to feel it. But enough of me explaining the Warrior when I can show it in video forms. Enjoy!
Well people that takes care of the Wildstar factions, with no loose ends or missing elements to addresss… Huh? What? They left out something? Both of them? Hold on.
*watches video again*
You know, you are right, they did snub two races didn’t they? That won’t do, I’ll send out a camera crew and have them start over… Huh? They already addressed this and have a video on the missing races? Right on top of this very post in fact? Well then hit play and find out those missing races right now, you did already? Then never mind…
Now today people we talk about The Dominion, who aren’t evil – but misunderstood D-bags. See in order to bring order to the chaotic galaxy the Dominion has warred, forced, and manipulated many different worlds into following their rule. If people didn’t like it then they have two choices run or die, so many did and formed the Exiles, but until recently the Dominion didn’t care – after all they were just scum. Well as it turned out the Exiles was able to do something the Dominion have been trying to do since its foundation: find the planet Nexus. The planet was home to a hyper advanced race that gave the Dominion all their technology in the first place; and even though they mysteriously disappeared the planet is chock full of their stuff all over the place. So if you think they are going to let some dirty group of space hobos claim what rightfully belong to them, then you don’t know the Dominion.
Ok now where’s getting into the good stuff people: the factions, starting with The Exiles. Not the Alliance or the Republic of the Wildstar universe; they are more like a rag-tag bunch of races that come together after the Dominion (tomorrow’s faction) ran them off their collective planets (in one way or another). Well things get interesting when they find the planet Nexus, but so does the Dominion, and not wanting to lose another home those imperial scumbags they decide its all out war. Can they fight a galaxy wide empire full of trained soldiers, deadly war-machines, and limitless resources; only the Exile players can determine that.
Video Game Armada 