My thoughts on APB

AIMonster · June 2010

I was worried about posting this earlier because of the NDA, but after checking it seems the NDA has been lifted since beta officially ended and the Key to the City event started (no mention of NDA in game or on forums), so here goes:

APB has fantastic customization options and the gameplay has it's moment, sadly though it falls short in a lot of areas.

1. Matchmaking is a complete an utter failure. So much so that I'm going to go into individual details on why it just flat out stinks.

You'll be matched up with players with far better gear than you. When you need to shoot someone 10 times and they need to shoot you 3 to kill you with a similar weapon something is seriously wrong.
You'll be matched against larger groups than you (sometimes 1 versus 4). You can call for backup, but I've gone through several games where even with a backup call as a solo player against 4 others, I never received backup. If you wind up fighting 4 other players against yourself solo there is almost no way you can win.
You'll often be matched into a game where the player is next to the objective on the final mission and you are all the way across the end of the map. Free win for the other player. Fortunately you still get some cash for losses, but this sure isn't fun.

2. No localized hitboxes (you can't shoot people through vehicles, no headshots, etc.) throws a lot of the "skill" involved out the window. The game feels more like a RPG where gear is more important than a player's individual skill level.

3. Because you cannot shoot while sprinting and the heal over time mechanic in the game, gunfights often boil down to taking pot shots and running for cover when you get low. Unless you were caught in close range or a position where you are open and gunned down quickly, this makes for a really slow boring pace of combat.

4. The game could have used more driving portions of the game. Shooting is pretty much necessary to complete a mission (aside from escape missions). It would have been nice if you could do more in a vehicle, such as destruction derby style deathmatches.

5. While you'll see people run around doing things within the world's instance, it doesn't feel like a MMO. In about 100 hours of beta testing the largest fights I've encountered were 4v4.

6. Missions are extremely repetitive. In 5 hours of play you'll probably encounter every mission type.

7. Chase/Escape missions simply don't work. It's nearly impossible to stop someone once they get away with an item or are far away during a chase. The only time they work is if the player actually WANTS to fight, or you have a fast car with a teammate with a weapon that can destroy vehicles quickly.

8. Most importantly the pricing scheme. It doesn't work for this type of game. I think APB could have made revenue through in game advertising, or even an item mall. Paying a monthly fee (or alternatively paying for hours of play) doesn't work in this type of game. It either needs a lot more content and a complete reworking or a new payment plan. It's worth the box price, but I can't see people sticking around long enough to warrent paying a monthly fee for.

I think the major problems with the game in general is it has trouble deciding whether it wants to be a RPG (with MMO mechanics) or a GTA style shooter. In both respects it has a few really great strengths, but the tug of war between RPG and shooter mechanics causes it to have loads of weaknesses too. I was honestly expecting something like Planetside in a GTA style setting when I first loaded it up and was pretty dissappointed.

Now, despite all of this, I'd still recommend picking up the boxed copy of the game if you enjoy a great deal of customization or GTA's gameplay. You'll probably get your $50 worth of entertainment. It's fun in short bursts, especially if you have a 3 other people to play. Still, there are some other options out there (that Realtime Worlds should have learned from) such as Crimecraft or Global Agenda.

Home15 · June 2010

For me it boils into a few things..

1. all objectives are just go there and click, where are the NPC guards/criminals, noone protects there stash/car/etc etc.

evrything is unprotected, a real sence of desolace desert..

2. Like you said 4vs4 is rarly happening I only had 3vs3, if this game is pay to play Then i rather do a quick match with GTA4 online where i can shoot trough car windows, or mount a helicopter, mayor fun there.

3. This game feels more like Second life, with a GTA function slapped on it with barly any content, no story, bland missions with no enemy npc's.

Did I already told there are no NPC enemies to fight with ANYWHERE ???? god..

Realbigdeal · June 2010

Originally posted by Magnum2103
I was worried about posting this earlier because of the NDA, but after checking it seems the NDA has been lifted since beta officially ended and the Key to the City event started (no mention of NDA in game or on forums), so here goes:

APB has fantastic customization options and the gameplay has it's moment, sadly though it falls short in a lot of areas.

1. Matchmaking is a complete an utter failure. So much so that I'm going to go into individual details on why it just flat out stinks.

You'll be matched up with players with far better gear than you. When you need to shoot someone 10 times and they need to shoot you 3 to kill you with a similar weapon something is seriously wrong.

You'll be matched against larger groups than you (sometimes 1 versus 4). You can call for backup, but I've gone through several games where even with a backup call as a solo player against 4 others, I never received backup. If you wind up fighting 4 other players against yourself solo there is almost no way you can win.

You'll often be matched into a game where the player is next to the objective on the final mission and you are all the way across the end of the map. Free win for the other player. Fortunately you still get some cash for losses, but this sure isn't fun.

2. No localized hitboxes (you can't shoot people through vehicles, no headshots, etc.) throws a lot of the "skill" involved out the window. The game feels more like a RPG where gear is more important than a player's individual skill level.

3. Because you cannot shoot while sprinting and the heal over time mechanic in the game, gunfights often boil down to taking pot shots and running for cover when you get low. Unless you were caught in close range or a position where you are open and gunned down quickly, this makes for a really slow boring pace of combat.

4. The game could have used more driving portions of the game. Shooting is pretty much necessary to complete a mission (aside from escape missions). It would have been nice if you could do more in a vehicle, such as destruction derby style deathmatches.

5. While you'll see people run around doing things within the world's instance, it doesn't feel like a MMO. In about 100 hours of beta testing the largest fights I've encountered were 4v4.

6. Missions are extremely repetitive. In 5 hours of play you'll probably encounter every mission type.

7. Chase/Escape missions simply don't work. It's nearly impossible to stop someone once they get away with an item or are far away during a chase. The only time they work is if the player actually WANTS to fight, or you have a fast car with a teammate with a weapon that can destroy vehicles quickly.

8. Most importantly the pricing scheme. It doesn't work for this type of game. I think APB could have made revenue through in game advertising, or even an item mall. Paying a monthly fee (or alternatively paying for hours of play) doesn't work in this type of game. It either needs a lot more content and a complete reworking or a new payment plan. It's worth the box price, but I can't see people sticking around long enough to warrent paying a monthly fee for.

I think the major problems with the game in general is it has trouble deciding whether it wants to be a RPG (with MMO mechanics) or a GTA style shooter. In both respects it has a few really great strengths, but the tug of war between RPG and shooter mechanics causes it to have loads of weaknesses too. I was honestly expecting something like Planetside in a GTA style setting when I first loaded it up and was pretty dissappointed.

Now, despite all of this, I'd still recommend picking up the boxed copy of the game if you enjoy a great deal of customization or GTA's gameplay. You'll probably get your $50 worth of entertainment. It's fun in short bursts, especially if you have a 3 other people to play. Still, there are some other options out there (that Realtime Worlds should have learned from) such as Crimecraft or Global Agenda.

From your post, il post the point i disagree or agree with you and a reason to it.

1: Yes, match making is shit. They should had drop the damn chaos server so i could kill anyone i want. Lack of friendly fire is a stupid decision. IF i am a police and i kill an other police, i should become a criminal. Simple. Doing mission simply by waiting for a call is stupid. Not what i expected. I wanted full freedom and do any task i want without waiting for a call. IF a police see me do something wrong on the spot, then he may try to stop me.

2: Disagree, Head shot and mmo dont fit. Trust me on that. Also, the less hitbox, the more players can play in the same server. What you can do in a single player game or a multiplayer with not more then 16 players cannot be easily done in a mmo with large amount of players over 80-100. For the car also find it stupid that you cannot kill the players in the car. Instead, you have to desotry the car before.

3: Shooting while sprinting? I disagree. You cannot do that in real life. Healing mechanism is great, i dont see the problem. Since its a team base game, you can easily gun down a player without giving him the time to breath.

4: Yeah... you might aswell wait for the full game.

5: Lol, check my point on number 1. And i agree. I dont want to see anymore grey players. we should be able to kill any one when ever we want with the apropriate penalities and reward for each actions.

6: APB should not even had been about missions. IT should had been about freedom. If i want to spray to place my mark, i should be able to do it when ever i want. IF i want to kill a police, i should be able to. IF i want to hold an area on lock, give me the freedom to do it. All should be about freedom. Police do their job as the enforcers. Leave these damn missions away and letting be chaos and freedom over the place.

7: You are wrong. Chase escape is possible. I did it all the time. Also, if you get to the drop place before them, you can camp with your team teal the time is over. You only need to be better as a player, but again, missions that you get when you receive a call ruined the game. Criminal are the only one who should try to run away only to hide in safety.

8: Well said. Something like Planet side(Never played it, but know what it is) Would had made the game perfect and addictive for ever. Freedom is the key if they want their game to succeed.

LAst comment, this is not a joke. I had more fun playing GTA free roam online. Full freedom there. I can kill who ever i want. We can be only 16 online and it still really chaotic. There is no mission, no what ever. You have have the liberty city, 16 players, guns around the liberty city, 1st aid box around the city, some helicopters and thats it. Few things + freedom = epic win.

AIMonster · June 2010

Originally posted by Realbigdeal

From your post, il post the point i disagree or agree with you and a reason to it.

1: Yes, match making is shit. They should had drop the damn chaos server so i could kill anyone i want. Lack of friendly fire is a stupid decision. IF i am a police and i kill an other police, i should become a criminal. Simple. Doing mission simply by waiting for a call is stupid. Not what i expected. I wanted full freedom and do any task i want without waiting for a call. IF a police see me do something wrong on the spot, then he may try to stop me.

2: Disagree, Head shot and mmo dont fit. Trust me on that. Also, the less hitbox, the more players can play in the same server. What you can do in a single player game or a multiplayer with not more then 16 players cannot be easily done in a mmo with large amount of players over 80-100. For the car also find it stupid that you cannot kill the players in the car. Instead, you have to desotry the car before.

I think it takes a lot of skill away when you don't have it. Weapons have way too much spread too and the game is more about what your gear is compared to others. It trys to be a RPG and a shooter and doesn't hit on some of the good aspects of either (though it hits on a few of them). It also trys to be a MMO, but doesn't really give the player freedom and doesn't really feature larger battles than any typical lobby game.

3: Shooting while sprinting? I disagree. You cannot do that in real life. Healing mechanism is great, i dont see the problem. Since its a team base game, you can easily gun down a player without giving him the time to breath.

I can shoot while sprinting in real life, just wouldn't be able to aim well. I should elaborate more on this. The fact that sprinting is unlimited coupled with the healing mechanism (which is usually fine in and of itself, lots of great shooters use it nowadays) and the ridiculous amount of shots it takes to kill someone firefights are extremely slow and boring. It's literally go find cover, take potshots all damn day, and try to run the clock down till someone gets desperate and runs out of cover.

4: Yeah... you might aswell wait for the full game.

5: Lol, check my point on number 1. And i agree. I dont want to see anymore grey players. we should be able to kill any one when ever we want with the apropriate penalities and reward for each actions.

6: APB should not even had been about missions. IT should had been about freedom. If i want to spray to place my mark, i should be able to do it when ever i want. IF i want to kill a police, i should be able to. IF i want to hold an area on lock, give me the freedom to do it. All should be about freedom. Police do their job as the enforcers. Leave these damn missions away and letting be chaos and freedom over the place.

I completely agree. I was looking for something more along the lines of Planetside. A lot of the problems (probably ALL except the gear gap) of the game would have been solved by making everything free for all.

7: You are wrong. Chase escape is possible. I did it all the time. Also, if you get to the drop place before them, you can camp with your team teal the time is over. You only need to be better as a player, but again, missions that you get when you receive a call ruined the game. Criminal are the only one who should try to run away only to hide in safety.

You are talking about a drop off mission. I'm talking about escape missions you usually get when you receive a 4 or 5 in Notoriety where players need to hunt you down and kill you within a timeframe. Everyone I've gotten except ones where I've actually went looking for a fight I've been able to drive around and run the clock out resulting in an easy win. Even if a player does manage to stop your vehicle somehow, you still have plenty of time to run the clock down on the other 2 or 3 lives you have. The only way you can possibly win these is with a team member (especially one with a launcher) who can gun down the vehicle if you manage to actually catch up with the person, which is damn near impossible if they keep moving.

8: Well said. Something like Planet side(Never played it, but know what it is) Would had made the game perfect and addictive for ever. Freedom is the key if they want their game to succeed.

LAst comment, this is not a joke. I had more fun playing GTA free roam online. Full freedom there. I can kill who ever i want. We can be only 16 online and it still really chaotic. There is no mission, no what ever. You have have the liberty city, 16 players, guns around the liberty city, 1st aid box around the city, some helicopters and thats it. Few things + freedom = epic win.

I really don't understand why they made everything mission based. They had GTA IV online to go off of, and knew about all the negatives from Global Agenda and Crimecraft.

Replies in yellow.

APB is by no means a bad game, I was just really dissappointed it wasn't a free roaming true MMO. I'm considering preordering it still, but I'll probably pass.

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