yeah, I guess how you described the hub hopping is part of it. For me, I would rather, in this game, just run heroics, flashpoints and class quests and not have ANY side quests, the ones handed out by npcs. I just find their dialogue tedious to go through. Love class quest dialogue, so don't think I'm anti story, hehe. I do like the bonus quests you get, they just make sense since you are killing stuff to get to point A anyway, might as well make it worthwhile. I just felt it threw the pacing of leveling way off to have to focus on sidequests. It seemed to me to detract from my character's story.
Sorry, but you mentioned LotrO as a great example of interesting leveling, but that was far from my experience. LotrO's questing, and Rift's questing too for that matter I found to be far more boring and stale. As for the different leveling paths, that only applies to the first 15 or so levels. After that you basically have 2 options for leveling areas no matter what class or race you pick, and that's only because of the addition of extra zones in the past 3-4 years. So no, LotrO just didn't do it for me as you're saying it did for you.
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums: Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
yeah, I guess how you described the hub hopping is part of it. For me, I would rather, in this game, just run heroics, flashpoints and class quests and not have ANY side quests, the ones handed out by npcs. I just find their dialogue tedious to go through. Love class quest dialogue, so don't think I'm anti story, hehe. I do like the bonus quests you get, they just make sense since you are killing stuff to get to point A anyway, might as well make it worthwhile. I just felt it threw the pacing of leveling way off to have to focus on sidequests. It seemed to me to detract from my character's story.
Sorry, but you mentioned LotrO as a great example of interesting leveling, but that was far from my experience. LotrO's questing, and Rift's questing too for that matter I found to be far more boring and stale. As for the different leveling paths, that only applies to the first 15 or so levels. After that you basically have 2 options for leveling areas no matter what class or race you pick, and that's only because of the addition of extra zones in the past 3-4 years. So no, LotrO just didn't do it for me as you're saying it did for you.
Fair enough. However, consider the build and size of Lotro's zones and put them next to SWTORs. For me, the LOTRO zones win due to the sheer exploration factor and being able to traverse them in so many ways. In SWTOR, we are funneled many times into valleys or cul de sacs and it feels very claustrophobic. Again, I'm hoping that might change in the level 30+ planets, but I'm not touching the game again until after launch. Giving myself a nice month+ window of SWTOR free gaming so I can appreciate or not the game more.
I didn't play Agent or SMuggler but my bro did, he was confused/had some difficulty at first but then he figured out how/when to use cover effectively and simply said-
"I freaking love cover-based combat."
He is very much like me, so if he approves, I bet it's pretty awesome.
First off, I agree with BadSpock's assessment of the game. Good critique.
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I got into the last beta weekend and wanted to play all the four major classes from both factions -- eight total. I figured Jedi Consular would be my favorite, but when I got to the Smuggler the class really put the hooks into me.
I loved the style of combat, the blasters, the sabotage charge, the thermal grenade, the charged blast (works similar to the Agent's sniper shot) and especially the cover-based combat.
For a Smuggler, it just makes so much sense to "take cover" and it's very easy to use. As soon as you target an enemy, if there is cover available you see the crouched green figure and just hit "Take Cover" (which is bound to the keyboard). The green "cover" figure will appear in any direction you turn offering you different options. If there is absolutely no cover available, you can still take cover in the open using your energy shield.
When enemies miss you due to cover, you will see the floating text say *Cover* *Cover* floating up over your head as the shots miss you so you know whether or not you are effectively taking cover.
What I liked about combat was that whether you were a melee lightsaber user or a ranged blaster user the fighting felt very much like the Star Wars universe and it was very entertaining and fun. This is important since combat is something you are going to do over and over again.
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The voice acting was excellent and you shouldn't miss it. If you liked BioWare's Dragon Age:Origins you will soon realize that the voiceovers and your dialogue choices really give you an emotional feel for the game. When I heard my character talking in the game, I was like, oh, I totally get this, I feel who my character is and I can definitely get into this.
~~~
I'm glad I preordered this game and I can't wait for the next big weekend stress test.
I'm actually completely shocked at all the positive reviews here honestly. After being in beta for a few months, i fully expected the game to get ripped to shreads, especially on this board. I'm happy people are enjoying it but it's so "meh" for me, i don't even know what to say.
I'll probably play it for the story and take my time and level. Dunno if i wanna invest serious time into it though. Another rading game is not what i'm looking for at this stage.
wow star wars starter worlds are there smallest and i got tired of walking. I tired to play lotro and couldnt get into it sorry it was broing to me.
I played wow for 7 yrs. runes of magic i liked ok. ive treid many mmos and none gave me the same feeling i got playign wow.
that is till i played tor. I got the same feeling of fun and enjoyment i havent got in any other mmo ive tried.
the story took me over and kept me interested side quests included.
I liked the side quest dialouge and enjoyed most of it. The choices i got on side quests that would affect what id end up doing in the end was a nice twist.
Sorry i perfer tor to every other mmo ive ever played even wow. I havent gone past starter worlds but they say once u get to tatooine on the worlds become really huge.
Starter worlds are small and i still felt like i did alot of walking. and i played every starting world.
How do you feel about alt replayability? And I mean, minus the obvious difference in combat and class quests, the fact that you have to do the exact same quests/zones for every class per faction. For me it's the biggest issue with the game. The same issue Rift faces. lack of diversity in leveling paths. But I am curious to how you feel about it? maybe I can see how you are accepting of it and apply it to myself so that I can enjoy it just as well, because, for me, the best MMORPGs were the ones where I played 4 different classes/races and had a completely different leveling experience each and every time.
Otherwise, personally, I think the best part during beta for me, was doing things in a group. Groups make cutscenes more fun and Flashpoints are a blast. This is ironic coming from a mainly solo player myself.
Wait ....
This was your main reason you don't like the game? I don't mean to be antagonistic but you stated many times you wished the NDA was dropped so you could outline your complaints with the game. Am I to assume the alt replayability is your main issue with the game?
I am sorry in advance .... but ; the game is a themepark. I have played VERY few themeparks which offered completely different paths based on race and/or class. I seem to remember you stating you liked themeparks, but I'm not sure how you missed that aspect of almost every themepark made.
Then again .. i might be confusing a few points with you and other posters.
I have played WoW and had a different leveling experience across at least 5 different races. In Lotro I had 4 different leveling paths. EQ2, I had about 5+ different leveling experiences. Same with Vanguard and SWG. FFXI had different paths, but most people took the most traveled route due to party mechanics but at least the option was there. So, those are all themeparks that I've played and gave me vastly different leveling paths. I also never felt hemmed in while in each zone the way I do in the first 25 levels of SWTOR. Hemmed in by invisible walls, and funneling aspects to zone paths and questing.
I also stated twice, about a month ago that I wish I could say more but couldn't due to the NDA. A month has passed an my interest is waning and I just don't care as much now, mostly because after playing Skryim, SWTOR has dwindled to a small blip on my timeline. I already know this type of game won't be a major milestone on my MMORPG resume just another small one much like Rift. While not a horrible game, most assuredly not the next great best ultra MMORPG of all time, which is the way it's been touted for the last 3 years.
But then, that's just me. I'm also not afraid to change my mind or look at things from a different perspective in order to enjoy something I normally wouldn't. As is the case with SWTOR. I have quite a few friends who are going to play it and they are the ONLY reason I plan to buy the game at all(although I took it off preorder, but told the wife she could pick it up as a Christmas present since I collect and play all mmorpgs anyway and I'm not opposed to playing a game 2 years down the road to see how it's improved. It worked with LOTRO, that game was horrible up till Moria launched, then it became a good game to me.
Keep in mind i'm smiling while I reply, context is everything and I don't want you to feel like I'm attacking you.
In each of those themeparks you played, the leveling path was the same regardless of race or class. You had certain zones for your level bracket, granted WoW and Eq2 both offered alternate faction zones for the first few levels. You certainly didn't have five leveling experiences when Eq2 launched, you now have many different zones you can level in though. If you played all those games awhile after launch then you absolutely had different paths. At launch I think the exceptions would be WoW and Eq2. The only bit I will contend here is ... you still play threw most of those zones on every character, so in essence they weren't new paths, but different ways of following them.
I think I understand what your issue is though, the quest hub hopping? The being completely hemmed in, as you put it, from one area to the next which a pretty set path. Which is actually different than the previously listed themeparks, and the same. Different because you never felt the hemming and at times had other options, the same because while it wasn't forced down your throat ... the path was the same. I get why you don't like the game now I think , its actually one of the reason I felt Rift wasn't as enjoyable as it should have been ... and why I detested Warhammers PvE. I'm hoping its not as bad as Rift ; and if it is that the later levels (30+) open up.
--- Also : Aren't the starter planets unique for each race, as in two Ac's per planet per faction? I would equivocate that to the Alternate starter areas in Eq2's launch. Does the hemming come after leaving the starter planets? Are alternate factions questing side by side ? I've been lead to believe the Empire and Rebels have their own planetary quest hubs, seperate from the other faction. Which is basically exactly what WoW had. Its the hemming in which is the issue in this case , and not the lack of diverse leveling paths.
yeah, I guess how you described the hub hopping is part of it. For me, I would rather, in this game, just run heroics, flashpoints and class quests and not have ANY side quests, the ones handed out by npcs. I just find their dialogue tedious to go through. Love class quest dialogue, so don't think I'm anti story, hehe. I do like the bonus quests you get, they just make sense since you are killing stuff to get to point A anyway, might as well make it worthwhile. I just felt it threw the pacing of leveling way off to have to focus on sidequests. It seemed to me to detract from my character's story.
The starter planets are unique for 2 classes per planet, I didn't mind that too much, but once you hit the level 10-20 planet, either coruscant(republic) or dromund kaas(empire/sith) you are funneled into the same zone. This is where my eyes glazed over in boredom, except for the class quests and Flashpoints. I literally felt like I was stuck in a Guild Wars zone the way the questing is set up. You HAVE to fight the mobs on the way to your quest destination and due to the very limited walking space it made this quite a chore.
Anyway...I stopped playing the game at about level 23, maybe it gets 10 times better after that? I don't know. I do know, that I rolled a character on the high level server to see what the mid 40s looks like and well...it was still the same and I lasted about a day on that character. The game just needs more...depth? Scope? Not sure what term I'm looking for, but it has the foundations it just needs to really go deep and expand into the mechanics and start giving us NEW mechanics to make the game stand apart.
To wrap this up, I will say, this is the main reason I love MMORPGs. Because they can, given enough time, actually implement new mechanics and deeper gameplay. Rift is doing it, EQ2 has done it, WoW has almost done it lol but they got to big for their breeches and now are just making more of the same to keep the pop massive. Who knows, mabye this Legacy system is the start of SWTOR doing new things.
I can understand where you are coming from, but in this case I have to say that the game does get a little better as far as zone navigation once you get your speeder. It also does open up quite a bit on the later planets. Probably not to a huge extent, but enough to not feel quite as claustrophobic. For me, leveling through the zones the first time is always enjoyable, regardless of the MMO, but I can see why someone would not enjoy the world arc quests in TOR due to the much stronger story of the class story counterpart. I don't find the side quest stories all that bad, but to each his own on that one.
I think for someone like you there are some options though. You can opt to skip the world quests in favor of doing Flashpoints and/or Warzones instead. You can also gain quite a bit of experience doing the heroics and space missions. I know you mentioned this earlier, but it is a good point to stand by. The game provides plenty of leveling options, which are normally omitted from recent MMOs. The main exception to this being the ability to que for Warzones/PvP scenarios/ect while leveling, but that is usually the only option. Most games (with the exception of maybe Warhammer) have really imbalanced and unenjoyable lower level PvP brackets, but I feel like they put fourth some extra effort to incorporate balance into the lower level stuff in SWTOR. This leaves a few nice options for leveling, which is one of the reasons WoW leveling is painless.
I agree totally with the new mechanics idea. At this point we have seen most everything and it is time to incorporate some new mechanics into some of these themeparks. Part of the problem with these games is that the developers are not bold enough to try out new things. I raise my glass to Trion for doing such a good job at that, but unfortunately the overall quality of the game leaves a stale aftertaste to warrant any lasting play. Bioware is a company that is bold enough to try new things, they do in almost every game they make...some for worse, (Dragon Age 2) and some for the better. Fan feedback has always been a huge part of their development cycle (Aka Mass Effect to ME 2 changes) and if they apply that to SWTOR we are in for a treat.
A couple of weeks ago I saw the email from BioWare, inviting me to participate in the stress test that took place last weekend. Confirmed my participation, I downloaded the client and patched it up. Friday rolled around, a few hiccups later and I was logged into the game and creating my Jedi, soon to be Sage. There were many moments during the journey to level 12 with my Jedi that gave me goosebumps & shivers.
While I enjoyed playing a Jedi, nothing got me going quite like being able to unleash holy hell with a Trooper. Man I love that class! Went with commando as my advanced class and am definitely looking forward to creating a Vanguard when the game goes live. I can't say this enough - blowing shit up with a big, BIG gun is too much fun!
SW:ToR provided an experience that I haven't felt in a very long, long time - one of grabbing you by the shirt collar and not letting go. A fulfilling, rewarding gaming experience with depth and heart. Needless to say I didn't get much sleep last weekend. And likely not again anytime soon once the game is live.
I'm actually completely shocked at all the positive reviews here honestly. After being in beta for a few months, i fully expected the game to get ripped to shreads, especially on this board. I'm happy people are enjoying it but it's so "meh" for me, i don't even know what to say.
I'll probably play it for the story and take my time and level. Dunno if i wanna invest serious time into it though. Another rading game is not what i'm looking for at this stage.
I have to agree with you about this board's feedback. I was quite surprised to see the amount of positive feed back here as well!
^^^Yup, I'm leaning towards Commando myself, because my guild is going to be going Republic, and I played Bounty Hunter last weekend and have to say it was hands down the most enjoyable class I've played in an MMO, at least from what I was able to experience of it. So I figure I'll just do the Republic version of the BH with the Trooper.
^^^Yup, I'm leaning towards Commando myself, because my guild is going to be going Republic, and I played Bounty Hunter last weekend and have to say it was hands down the most enjoyable class I've played in an MMO, at least from what I was able to experience of it. So I figure I'll just do the Republic version of the BH with the Trooper.
But damn, I'm going to miss Death From Above.
If it makes you feel any better morter strike is pretty badass.
^^^Yup, I'm leaning towards Commando myself, because my guild is going to be going Republic, and I played Bounty Hunter last weekend and have to say it was hands down the most enjoyable class I've played in an MMO, at least from what I was able to experience of it. So I figure I'll just do the Republic version of the BH with the Trooper.
But damn, I'm going to miss Death From Above.
If it makes you feel any better morter strike is pretty badass.
After using mortar strike, with my character for the first time, I was giggling like a giddy school boy. It is a pretty badass skill.
Please don't take this the wrong way BadSpock, but I'm a bit apprehensive when an individual gives such a glowing review.
I mean I really can't find anything in your review that was at all negative or disappointing to you. You seemed to enjoy everything you talked about. Come' on man, not one thing was bothered you? Or you thought needed a bit more improvement? If so you need to elaborate on that. After all it benifits everyone when you give pluses and negatives.
Hey if you totally enjoyed the game, well great, but try and be a little more unbias in a review. Just saying is all.
How can you be "biased" when giving your own opinion? It's his opinion, you either agree with it or you dont that simple. Me? I'm with spock on this one. I loved every moment of the game and could give a damn if others think me biased for that or not. This is the first mmo I've ever played, and I started before WoW was even a rumor, that gave me CHOICES in how I wanted to play it. Here's a somewhat generic example of how this works. Kind of a spoiler but I'm not gonna give any actual quest line settings or names here.
The story is the key and the best part its my story, how I choose to make it. Some lowlife doctor has a vaccine that can save lives but also needs it to help save the lives of his crew, I can....
A. Just kill him and take it
B. Threaten him to force him to give it to me
C. Find out where he got it and let him keep his so he can still use it to help his people while I can still help mine.
And thats just some of the ways Bioware has given me choices I have in just DOING the quest. I still have multiple choices ahead of me when I turn it in. I've never played any game that gives me that much freedom. It's always been go do "X" with no say in the matter at all. The crafting, questing, story, grouping, I have yet to find anything about this game I dont love. Thats just my thoughts on it, take it or leave it.
-Space combat is very much just a mini game, which is kind of sad panda but it is fun and nice distraction and change of pace mechanic.
Omg, omg, they got pandas in ToR as well??
Good write-up, however, I feel on the fence about this game still. I didn't doubt for a second that it wouldn't be polished and in a highly playable state, and that it would have good storylines. Those are pretty much Bioware staples for a long time. But the features just get me down.
I guess I preferred the idea of a Star Wars world that existed in Galaxies pre-NGE to the idea of having a heavily architectured storyline more like in KotOR for an MMO. Is there any chance of not doing storylines and just roaming around doing your own thing? I get the impression that it is impossible sort of like in post-Cata WoW. Galaxies was always a highly flawed and buggy game, but the idea of the player community and how it was integrated into the Star Wars world was awesome.
ToR to me seems like participating in an interactive movie, whereas the old Galaxies was like having a virtual persona in a different world all together. Am I wrong about this?
I am usually one of the first to say that story in MMOs is crap because EVERYONE is the "hero" and EVERYONE is the exact same special unique snowflake, just like everyone else.
Even though I saw other SI running around with the same companion, and even though I knew they had done the same story quests I had done...
I STILL felt like, in this game, that my story and my struggles and choices were unique and mine and only mine.
Even though I was the chosen one and this special hero, just like every other SI was the choosen one etc.
In this game, some how, for some reason, I still felt that connection to my character on their story that you get in a really good single player game.
I don't know how they managed to marry that feeling and that level of story and characters to what is very obviously and fully a MMO game, but some how they have.
High praises indeed.
But justified.
So you know you're basically constantly lying to yourself, but it still works for you, ok great game.
I STILL felt like, in this game, that my story and my struggles and choices were unique and mine and only mine.
Even though I was the chosen one and this special hero, just like every other SI was the choosen one etc.
So you know you're basically constantly lying to yourself, but it still works for you, ok great game.
How is that lying to myself?
I'm simply saying that I know it is a MMO and I know every other SI is on similar path and every other Empire player is on a similar path in the open world stuff...
but it FEELS like it is MY story and is unique to me because of the quality of the narrative and the characters.
When you play a single player game do you think you are lying to yourself when you say that it is YOUR story and YOUR character?
Even though you know there are X number of people around the world doing the exact same thing?
I've been playing MMOs for 12 years and I have been playing single player RPGs for even longer -
Is TOR the best MMO? Nah, I'm a big UO fan in terms of "pure" MMO.
Is TOR the best RPG? Nah, I'm a big ME and Skyrim fan.
Is TOR the best MMORPG? Well.. so far from what I have seen it's got all the MMO of WoW which I played on/off for 7 years and all the RPG of a AAA single player RPG....
Bioware was 100% right when they said after playing this you will NEVER be able to go back to MMO that doesn't use full VO.
The thought of playing any other theme park MMO with quest text makes me cringe...thank you Skyrim lol
I completely agree. I would very much like to play SWTOR but can't afford to. So I play gw2 which also doesn't throw walls of texts on you, it's all VO. This feature will be one of the main things, imo, that will separate high quality (or at least high budget) mmos from mediocre ones in the future.
You know that is one thing I haven't yet said that I probably should-
Does Star Wars: The Old Republic live up to the hype?
From my play time with the game, yes indeed it does.
It is not going to live up to some unrealistic fantasy some over-hyped people may have dreamt this game to be. No game ever does.
But if anything I expected TOR to be a lot more WoW like then it actually is, I expected the story and characters to be a lot more generic and uninteresting...
But Bioware and EA truly did raise the bar in terms of quality.
I've been trying to take off the rose colored glasses and look at things objectively - I got burned by the hype for WAR and I got burned by the hype for Rift, so I am really trying to bury my excitement for this game and look at it with objective, logical and analytical perspective.
TOR is a theme park quest based MMO with instanced dungeons, raids, and PvP as well as some open world grouping/PvP options, some mini games, a unique yet fairly standard take on crafting, and gear based class/trinity progression game play.
But at the same time, Bioware was right - the "4th pillar" of Story really, really, really does change everything...
Full voice over + story makes what would otherwise be a good yet nothing-special game into something truly unique and amazing.
If you don't care about VO and story in your MMOs, please, look else where this game is not for you. But if you still like the "standard" MMO formula and want something that is the same but in every way better - TOR is your game.
That's about as 'bottom line" as I can get for ya'll.
You know that is one thing I haven't yet said that I probably should-
Does Star Wars: The Old Republic live up to the hype?
From my play time with the game, yes indeed it does.
It is not going to live up to some unrealistic fantasy some over-hyped people may have dreamt this game to be. No game ever does.
But if anything I expected TOR to be a lot more WoW like then it actually is, I expected the story and characters to be a lot more generic and uninteresting...
But Bioware and EA truly did raise the bar in terms of quality.
I've been trying to take off the rose colored glasses and look at things objectively - I got burned by the hype for WAR and I got burned by the hype for Rift, so I am really trying to bury my excitement for this game and look at it with objective, logical and analytical perspective.
TOR is a theme park quest based MMO with instanced dungeons, raids, and PvP as well as some open world grouping/PvP options, some mini games, a unique yet fairly standard take on crafting, and gear based class/trinity progression game play.
But at the same time, Bioware was right - the "4th pillar" of Story really, really, really does change everything...
Full voice over + story makes what would otherwise be a good yet nothing-special game into something truly unique and amazing.
If you don't care about VO and story in your MMOs, please, look else where this game is not for you. But if you still like the "standard" MMO formula and want something that is the same but in every way better - TOR is your game.
That's about as 'bottom line" as I can get for ya'll.
Same I was thinking. It's basically an evolved version of WoW crossed with Dragon Age and with some unique twists.
I do hope they expand on mini-games (space combat especially, but also adding some race game with speeder etc.) and PvP Open World.
Bioware always stated theyd use familiar ui and mechanics and combat. They wanted to add the 4th pillar. I guess what most people need to realize is to me and to the others raving about this game that 4th pillar makes all the diffrence.
I personally like mmo combat and mechanics the way they are so not changing them by no means makes me get a bit off put.
The story and choices dragged me in and made me care about my character and the choices i made in a way no mmo has ever done with me. I loved wow and played it 7yrs so far. still playing at this tiem. That said i never got trully invested in who my characfter is . that changed in tor beta as i played my guys i started to make chocies based on who he was not necessarily what id do.
I found myself totally drawn into the story so that none of the quests seemed to be a grind or leveling. I never really paid attention to my level progress. id lok down after an hr or2 and go oh thats what level i am. it may have gimped me a bit as i didnt always train as i leveled but i was having to much fun to care.
Ill admit i dont judge games on the same criteria most do the most important thing to me is did i have fun and for every class i tried no matter if i got to leel 4 or 10 the answer was hell yes.
Force leap made the jedi knight a blast.
I truly belive for me the choices i made and the story were the innovation ive been wanting in mmos. It made a big diffrence to me really did as biowre has said make the quests seem more heroic even if they were simple fetch quests or find lost padawans quests.
the fact my choices influenced some of the things i did on my quests also was a thing i didnt expect on side arcs and was amazing to me. The choice to destory the stuff flsh raiders were using to make themselves stronger or to deliever it to the leader of the twiek defenders so he could use it made my choices feel like they mattered.
Alll I took from that hard to read OP was "It's a Bioware Game."
Still not convinced that it has anything that will keep my attention past the first few story missions.
You do know that there's a Beta Key Giveaway on this very website, right? Instead of funneling your perspective of something you haven't even tried, give it a fair shot. I can almost guarantee you will be positively surprised.
I think big thing for me is how solid the game is? So far what I seen and heard it seems pretty solid. I remember playing AoC and thinking this was epic, but then I got out of Tortuga were it all went down hill. Someone who played WoW from begin enjoying until totally giving up after playing Catalysm for few months, Swtor might be perfect game.
Comments
Sorry, but you mentioned LotrO as a great example of interesting leveling, but that was far from my experience. LotrO's questing, and Rift's questing too for that matter I found to be far more boring and stale. As for the different leveling paths, that only applies to the first 15 or so levels. After that you basically have 2 options for leveling areas no matter what class or race you pick, and that's only because of the addition of extra zones in the past 3-4 years. So no, LotrO just didn't do it for me as you're saying it did for you.
The ACTUAL size of MMORPG worlds: a comparison list between MMO's
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums:
Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
Fair enough. However, consider the build and size of Lotro's zones and put them next to SWTORs. For me, the LOTRO zones win due to the sheer exploration factor and being able to traverse them in so many ways. In SWTOR, we are funneled many times into valleys or cul de sacs and it feels very claustrophobic. Again, I'm hoping that might change in the level 30+ planets, but I'm not touching the game again until after launch. Giving myself a nice month+ window of SWTOR free gaming so I can appreciate or not the game more.
First off, I agree with BadSpock's assessment of the game. Good critique.
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I got into the last beta weekend and wanted to play all the four major classes from both factions -- eight total. I figured Jedi Consular would be my favorite, but when I got to the Smuggler the class really put the hooks into me.
I loved the style of combat, the blasters, the sabotage charge, the thermal grenade, the charged blast (works similar to the Agent's sniper shot) and especially the cover-based combat.
For a Smuggler, it just makes so much sense to "take cover" and it's very easy to use. As soon as you target an enemy, if there is cover available you see the crouched green figure and just hit "Take Cover" (which is bound to the keyboard). The green "cover" figure will appear in any direction you turn offering you different options. If there is absolutely no cover available, you can still take cover in the open using your energy shield.
When enemies miss you due to cover, you will see the floating text say *Cover* *Cover* floating up over your head as the shots miss you so you know whether or not you are effectively taking cover.
What I liked about combat was that whether you were a melee lightsaber user or a ranged blaster user the fighting felt very much like the Star Wars universe and it was very entertaining and fun. This is important since combat is something you are going to do over and over again.
~~~
The voice acting was excellent and you shouldn't miss it. If you liked BioWare's Dragon Age:Origins you will soon realize that the voiceovers and your dialogue choices really give you an emotional feel for the game. When I heard my character talking in the game, I was like, oh, I totally get this, I feel who my character is and I can definitely get into this.
~~~
I'm glad I preordered this game and I can't wait for the next big weekend stress test.
~ Ancient Membership ~
I'm actually completely shocked at all the positive reviews here honestly. After being in beta for a few months, i fully expected the game to get ripped to shreads, especially on this board. I'm happy people are enjoying it but it's so "meh" for me, i don't even know what to say.
I'll probably play it for the story and take my time and level. Dunno if i wanna invest serious time into it though. Another rading game is not what i'm looking for at this stage.
wow star wars starter worlds are there smallest and i got tired of walking. I tired to play lotro and couldnt get into it sorry it was broing to me.
I played wow for 7 yrs. runes of magic i liked ok. ive treid many mmos and none gave me the same feeling i got playign wow.
that is till i played tor. I got the same feeling of fun and enjoyment i havent got in any other mmo ive tried.
the story took me over and kept me interested side quests included.
I liked the side quest dialouge and enjoyed most of it. The choices i got on side quests that would affect what id end up doing in the end was a nice twist.
Sorry i perfer tor to every other mmo ive ever played even wow. I havent gone past starter worlds but they say once u get to tatooine on the worlds become really huge.
Starter worlds are small and i still felt like i did alot of walking. and i played every starting world.
I can understand where you are coming from, but in this case I have to say that the game does get a little better as far as zone navigation once you get your speeder. It also does open up quite a bit on the later planets. Probably not to a huge extent, but enough to not feel quite as claustrophobic. For me, leveling through the zones the first time is always enjoyable, regardless of the MMO, but I can see why someone would not enjoy the world arc quests in TOR due to the much stronger story of the class story counterpart. I don't find the side quest stories all that bad, but to each his own on that one.
I think for someone like you there are some options though. You can opt to skip the world quests in favor of doing Flashpoints and/or Warzones instead. You can also gain quite a bit of experience doing the heroics and space missions. I know you mentioned this earlier, but it is a good point to stand by. The game provides plenty of leveling options, which are normally omitted from recent MMOs. The main exception to this being the ability to que for Warzones/PvP scenarios/ect while leveling, but that is usually the only option. Most games (with the exception of maybe Warhammer) have really imbalanced and unenjoyable lower level PvP brackets, but I feel like they put fourth some extra effort to incorporate balance into the lower level stuff in SWTOR. This leaves a few nice options for leveling, which is one of the reasons WoW leveling is painless.
I agree totally with the new mechanics idea. At this point we have seen most everything and it is time to incorporate some new mechanics into some of these themeparks. Part of the problem with these games is that the developers are not bold enough to try out new things. I raise my glass to Trion for doing such a good job at that, but unfortunately the overall quality of the game leaves a stale aftertaste to warrant any lasting play. Bioware is a company that is bold enough to try new things, they do in almost every game they make...some for worse, (Dragon Age 2) and some for the better. Fan feedback has always been a huge part of their development cycle (Aka Mass Effect to ME 2 changes) and if they apply that to SWTOR we are in for a treat.
A couple of weeks ago I saw the email from BioWare, inviting me to participate in the stress test that took place last weekend. Confirmed my participation, I downloaded the client and patched it up. Friday rolled around, a few hiccups later and I was logged into the game and creating my Jedi, soon to be Sage. There were many moments during the journey to level 12 with my Jedi that gave me goosebumps & shivers.
While I enjoyed playing a Jedi, nothing got me going quite like being able to unleash holy hell with a Trooper. Man I love that class! Went with commando as my advanced class and am definitely looking forward to creating a Vanguard when the game goes live. I can't say this enough - blowing shit up with a big, BIG gun is too much fun!
SW:ToR provided an experience that I haven't felt in a very long, long time - one of grabbing you by the shirt collar and not letting go. A fulfilling, rewarding gaming experience with depth and heart. Needless to say I didn't get much sleep last weekend. And likely not again anytime soon once the game is live.
I have to agree with you about this board's feedback. I was quite surprised to see the amount of positive feed back here as well!
^^^Yup, I'm leaning towards Commando myself, because my guild is going to be going Republic, and I played Bounty Hunter last weekend and have to say it was hands down the most enjoyable class I've played in an MMO, at least from what I was able to experience of it. So I figure I'll just do the Republic version of the BH with the Trooper.
But damn, I'm going to miss Death From Above.
If it makes you feel any better morter strike is pretty badass.
After using mortar strike, with my character for the first time, I was giggling like a giddy school boy. It is a pretty badass skill.
How can you be "biased" when giving your own opinion? It's his opinion, you either agree with it or you dont that simple. Me? I'm with spock on this one. I loved every moment of the game and could give a damn if others think me biased for that or not. This is the first mmo I've ever played, and I started before WoW was even a rumor, that gave me CHOICES in how I wanted to play it. Here's a somewhat generic example of how this works. Kind of a spoiler but I'm not gonna give any actual quest line settings or names here.
The story is the key and the best part its my story, how I choose to make it. Some lowlife doctor has a vaccine that can save lives but also needs it to help save the lives of his crew, I can....
A. Just kill him and take it
B. Threaten him to force him to give it to me
C. Find out where he got it and let him keep his so he can still use it to help his people while I can still help mine.
And thats just some of the ways Bioware has given me choices I have in just DOING the quest. I still have multiple choices ahead of me when I turn it in. I've never played any game that gives me that much freedom. It's always been go do "X" with no say in the matter at all. The crafting, questing, story, grouping, I have yet to find anything about this game I dont love. Thats just my thoughts on it, take it or leave it.
Omg, omg, they got pandas in ToR as well??
Good write-up, however, I feel on the fence about this game still. I didn't doubt for a second that it wouldn't be polished and in a highly playable state, and that it would have good storylines. Those are pretty much Bioware staples for a long time. But the features just get me down.
I guess I preferred the idea of a Star Wars world that existed in Galaxies pre-NGE to the idea of having a heavily architectured storyline more like in KotOR for an MMO. Is there any chance of not doing storylines and just roaming around doing your own thing? I get the impression that it is impossible sort of like in post-Cata WoW. Galaxies was always a highly flawed and buggy game, but the idea of the player community and how it was integrated into the Star Wars world was awesome.
ToR to me seems like participating in an interactive movie, whereas the old Galaxies was like having a virtual persona in a different world all together. Am I wrong about this?
Playing MUDs and MMOs since 1994.
So you know you're basically constantly lying to yourself, but it still works for you, ok great game.
Why would that be? Bioware always released quality games, ever. The opposite would have been surprising, actually...
EDIT: directed to those who claim to be "surprised".
Executive Editor (Games) http://www.wccftech.com
You need 11 - 12 Days to 50?
Sorry then you watched Story are you was just to stupid to reach 50 in 5 Days
As Vanguard I could easly Solo all Quests including the Quests with Hero 2+. So far Leveling has not taken this long as you told
I also killed some Outdoor Minibosses solo
-> Took about 20 Minutes but was a lot of fun.
How is that lying to myself?
I'm simply saying that I know it is a MMO and I know every other SI is on similar path and every other Empire player is on a similar path in the open world stuff...
but it FEELS like it is MY story and is unique to me because of the quality of the narrative and the characters.
When you play a single player game do you think you are lying to yourself when you say that it is YOUR story and YOUR character?
Even though you know there are X number of people around the world doing the exact same thing?
I've been playing MMOs for 12 years and I have been playing single player RPGs for even longer -
Is TOR the best MMO? Nah, I'm a big UO fan in terms of "pure" MMO.
Is TOR the best RPG? Nah, I'm a big ME and Skyrim fan.
Is TOR the best MMORPG? Well.. so far from what I have seen it's got all the MMO of WoW which I played on/off for 7 years and all the RPG of a AAA single player RPG....
So maybe it is the best modern MMORPG?
I completely agree. I would very much like to play SWTOR but can't afford to. So I play gw2 which also doesn't throw walls of texts on you, it's all VO. This feature will be one of the main things, imo, that will separate high quality (or at least high budget) mmos from mediocre ones in the future.
Guild Wars 2 Youtube Croatian Maniacs
My Guild Wars titles
You know that is one thing I haven't yet said that I probably should-
Does Star Wars: The Old Republic live up to the hype?
From my play time with the game, yes indeed it does.
It is not going to live up to some unrealistic fantasy some over-hyped people may have dreamt this game to be. No game ever does.
But if anything I expected TOR to be a lot more WoW like then it actually is, I expected the story and characters to be a lot more generic and uninteresting...
But Bioware and EA truly did raise the bar in terms of quality.
I've been trying to take off the rose colored glasses and look at things objectively - I got burned by the hype for WAR and I got burned by the hype for Rift, so I am really trying to bury my excitement for this game and look at it with objective, logical and analytical perspective.
TOR is a theme park quest based MMO with instanced dungeons, raids, and PvP as well as some open world grouping/PvP options, some mini games, a unique yet fairly standard take on crafting, and gear based class/trinity progression game play.
But at the same time, Bioware was right - the "4th pillar" of Story really, really, really does change everything...
Full voice over + story makes what would otherwise be a good yet nothing-special game into something truly unique and amazing.
If you don't care about VO and story in your MMOs, please, look else where this game is not for you. But if you still like the "standard" MMO formula and want something that is the same but in every way better - TOR is your game.
That's about as 'bottom line" as I can get for ya'll.
Same I was thinking. It's basically an evolved version of WoW crossed with Dragon Age and with some unique twists.
I do hope they expand on mini-games (space combat especially, but also adding some race game with speeder etc.) and PvP Open World.
Executive Editor (Games) http://www.wccftech.com
Bioware always stated theyd use familiar ui and mechanics and combat. They wanted to add the 4th pillar. I guess what most people need to realize is to me and to the others raving about this game that 4th pillar makes all the diffrence.
I personally like mmo combat and mechanics the way they are so not changing them by no means makes me get a bit off put.
The story and choices dragged me in and made me care about my character and the choices i made in a way no mmo has ever done with me. I loved wow and played it 7yrs so far. still playing at this tiem. That said i never got trully invested in who my characfter is . that changed in tor beta as i played my guys i started to make chocies based on who he was not necessarily what id do.
I found myself totally drawn into the story so that none of the quests seemed to be a grind or leveling. I never really paid attention to my level progress. id lok down after an hr or2 and go oh thats what level i am. it may have gimped me a bit as i didnt always train as i leveled but i was having to much fun to care.
Ill admit i dont judge games on the same criteria most do the most important thing to me is did i have fun and for every class i tried no matter if i got to leel 4 or 10 the answer was hell yes.
Force leap made the jedi knight a blast.
I truly belive for me the choices i made and the story were the innovation ive been wanting in mmos. It made a big diffrence to me really did as biowre has said make the quests seem more heroic even if they were simple fetch quests or find lost padawans quests.
the fact my choices influenced some of the things i did on my quests also was a thing i didnt expect on side arcs and was amazing to me. The choice to destory the stuff flsh raiders were using to make themselves stronger or to deliever it to the leader of the twiek defenders so he could use it made my choices feel like they mattered.
Alll I took from that hard to read OP was "It's a Bioware Game."
Still not convinced that it has anything that will keep my attention past the first few story missions.
"The problem with quotes from the Internet is that it's almost impossible to validate their authenticity." - Abraham Lincoln
You do know that there's a Beta Key Giveaway on this very website, right? Instead of funneling your perspective of something you haven't even tried, give it a fair shot. I can almost guarantee you will be positively surprised.
I think big thing for me is how solid the game is? So far what I seen and heard it seems pretty solid. I remember playing AoC and thinking this was epic, but then I got out of Tortuga were it all went down hill. Someone who played WoW from begin enjoying until totally giving up after playing Catalysm for few months, Swtor might be perfect game.
Really, after all the info he gave out, that's all you took from it?