Quake Wars Beta [Info & Impressions]

[Mattc0m]

Sign up here: http://www.fileplanet.com/promotions/quakewars/static/

As of Thursday it is still Fileplanet subscribers only. Keep an eye on the community site (link below) for when they open it up to everyone.

http://community.enemyterritory.com/


First impressions: Love it.

To get a general feel for the game, I've told people they need to check out Enemy Territory, because the gameplay would be similar. Then I get told they think it's like Battlefield. I mean sure, it's got vehicles. But it plays like Enemy Territory, with vehicles, in the Quake universe. And it works great.

Now, it's a beta. Animations are clunky, the servers feel bumpy, and overall vehicles are the worst part. The physics just feel very off at this point, I hope that gets addressed. To be honest, I'm surprised this game was slated for a 2006 release, and that at E3 2006 they said this game is nearly ready to be released. Because as of right now, 12 months later, that's still not the case. For a beta, it definitely lives up to it's name. Not disappointed, but just saying that it is still off from being a finished product. Polish needs applied, and a far amount of it, too.

Now, onto the game. It's clear they've struck a very delicate balance between longevity & ease of use. The HUD and Limbo system seem very nice & polished, and a solid step up from people familiar with Enemy Territory or Battlefield. It is a little bit overwhelming a first, but luckily things are fairly streamlined even if you are confused. Even if you don't really know what's going on, you'll be told to "Defend the EMP Disruptor!" by the game, and off you go to defend the big ole EMP Disruptor (marked on your map, your 3D hud, and generally obvious due to the big structure outline).

Weapons - fantastic. I love how the handle, how they shoot, everything. The Rocket Launcher (the soldier's Anti-Armor weapon) is very effective. It can take out groups of enemies who aren't moving well (such as at an objective or reviving a teammate) but can also lock on to vehicles and take them down with relative easy. Even the strongest enemy vehicles won't last very long out in the open, especially against tiny, fast moving infantry targets at long distance that they can't hit accurately. The other weapons balance nicely, giving the game a nice rounded feel to it.

Balance between vehicles is also very nice. Vehicles don't own up like they usually do, as both teams have the same relative firepower. It's further balanced out by a good anti-armor gun, as well as options for anti-vehicles on other classes - like calling down air strikes or artillery right on top of enemy positions. They'll decimate armor and infantry alike. For an infantry suited guy like myself, this balance with the game makes it far more fun to play. No more armor whoring like Battlefield, at least not yet!

Balance is key here. Not just balance between vehicles & infantry, but there is a remarkable balance in classes & weapons as well. You really need a well balanced team to get the full firepower available, and an unbalanced team won't even be able to complete objectives. In fact, the dominance in certain classes (such as in BF2) seems to be a thing of the past. Outdoors you'll need:
- Field Ops to deploy artillery pieces & call in their deployed artillery for devastating results.
- Covert Ops for sniper cover or to hack certain objectives.
- Soldiers for their powerful Rocket Launcher or Machine guns, or to use their explosives to take our primary or secondary objectives.
- Medics to keep everyone alive by reviving and giving them health packs, or even calling in a supply drop to refuel ammo.
- Engineers to repair vehicles, build objectives, deploy turrets, and defuse bombs.

For me, this game has turned out to be a lot of fun, even for a Beta. Hopefully the game is far more polished for the retail release, but where it stands they know how to make a fun, balanced game for everyone.

Despite most of my impressions based on GDF, I actually play and enjoy Strogg a lot more. The differences are really key, and make both teams fun and different to play.

I could go on for ages about fireteams, objectives, missions, XP, ranks, vehicles, flying, controls, console commands, Strogg differences, etc - but I want to get back in the game.

[Jarrodhk]

If my computer were more up to date... I'd be all over this.  As it is.... maybe in the spring I'll update the computer.

[Calvin]

As soon as its open to non subscribers I will be in.

[ROTC1983]

I agree with all that was been said by Matt.  Just too lazy to write everything down again.  I am having a blast with this game and I am definitely going to purchase it day one.

[unbreakable]

OMG, I want this game!!!  AARRRGGHH!!!

But not enough to sign up for FilePlanet 

[edit] BTW, I always knew QW and HL2ep2 were going to come out right around the same time.  Damn. It.

[ROTC1983]

OMG, I want this game!!!  AARRRGGHH!!!

But not enough to sign up for FilePlanet 

[edit] BTW, I always knew QW and HL2ep2 were going to come out right around the same time.  Damn. It.

Last I heard, I thought the release date was July   Darn it

[unbreakable]

That wouldn't be too bad, but HL2ep2 is due out in early October.  So either way, I'll end up having to decide between playing QW or TF2.

I'm guessing QW is going to capture my heart with online play, however.  I was a huge ET fan.

[weeskwee]

agreed with everything said so far. it's a great game. amazingly fun and addictive. they have about a month before it goes gold so lets hope it's polished up a bit more.

[Harkonis]

I'm having a blast, add Harkonis to your friends list in game

[Turtle]

Anyone know what the fireteams do?

[ROTC1983]

I'm having a blast, add Harkonis to your friends list in game

My name is Adramalech

[Mattc0m]

Anyone know what the fireteams do?

All I can see right now is they offer icons above other members of your Fireteam's head. Helpful for people who want to keep track of eachother. Besides that, not too useful.

My in-game name is Mattc0m - Feel free to add me!

[corruptrelic]

Is the bot AI any good?

[Turtle]

There is no bot AI in the beta, it's all MP.

[Calvin]

When are the open invitations coming out!!! For the love of god.

[Mattc0m]

Free keys being released today!
http://community.enemyterritory.com/index.php?q=node/64

Probably going pretty fast, make sure you grab one while you can.

[Knightshade Dragon]

I'm in as Knightshade

[ROTC1983]

I'm in as Knightshade

ZOMG KILL!!!!!1111@!

[Calvin]

Who is in? WHO IS IN? ME, thats who. Waiting in line then a long ass download, but I want to play tonight. FO SHO. Mark it. I will be CalvinGT, duh.

[ROTC1983]

Who is in? WHO IS IN? ME, thats who. Waiting in line then a long ass download, but I want to play tonight. FO SHO. Mark it. I will be CalvinGT, duh.

Oh boy...they let Mr.  Game ADD in

[Atragon]

Maybe tomorrow.

Though TBH I'm not really that focused on FPS games right now, so I wouldn't be heartbroken if I don't get in.

[raydude]

anyone got any tips for how to be better than a rank noob in this game? I still haven't figured out how to get into vehicles   

[Mattc0m]

Definitely up for a game whenever. Just message me on xfire, add me in-game, whatever! Username is always Mattc0m. I can throw you a few tips, too.

Here's a couple to get you started:

- Use Spawn Hosts (Strogg only) by going up to them and press Use (F or Mouse4 by default). You're next spawn will be on the spawn host.
- Use disguises as Field Ops / Infiltrators by going up to an enemy corpse and press your Use key. It'll take a couple seconds to steal it, but once you do it's great for running right past enemy defenses!
- As Field Ops / Oppressor you can call in artillery strikes by first using your deploy tool in friendly territory to set down one of three turrets. Artillery is best used against infantry, as it hits a large area for a period of time; Rocket Artillery is best used against vehicles, and can actually LOCK ON to enemy vehicles and track them; Finally the Hammer has a very powerful blast - decimating infantry and vehicles alike, however it easier to see and avoid, and it does not attack an area for a duration (it's a huge explosion, instead of a prolong artillery strike).
- Medics for GDF can call in supply drops for extra ammo and health - very useful as long as the battle remains outdoors. GDF seems to always run out of ammo, at least I do.

[Turtle]

The game is a bit annoying in that each class has way too many items to use, and often too many steps too.  This makes teamwork somewhat annoying, and often causes support classes to have to hold still and get left behind while they do their thing.  It just seems like they learned nothing from the Battlefield series.

The healers, for example, have to toss out health which remains on the ground for a bit.  Whereas in BF2, they learned it's more effective to let players simply hold out the healing device and slowly heal teammates in a small radius.  There's also two "Weapons" a healer class has to constantly switch between to do his job, they could have folded it into one that brings people back to life with the left button, and tossed out health with the right.

[Harkonis]

Mattc0m = good player

[Mattc0m]

Mattc0m = good player

Thanks man!

[ROTC1983]

Mattc0m = good player

Thanks man!

Mattc0m = Hax

[unbreakable]

I was kinda kicking myself for not getting a FilePlanet account to join this, but it's just as well: I don't have time right now to play it.  I could have played this weekend, but that's about it (and I'll be away from home for two weeks after this weekend).

Blah.

Any estimates of when this will be released?

[Calvin]

I was kinda kicking myself for not getting a FilePlanet account to join this, but it's just as well: I don't have time right now to play it.  I could have played this weekend, but that's about it (and I'll be away from home for two weeks after this weekend).

Blah.

Any estimates of when this will be released?

Octoberish.
I am inthe beta, but have only played a very, very little bit. Nice graphics.

[raydude]

There's also two "Weapons" a healer class has to constantly switch between to do his job, they could have folded it into one that brings people back to life with the left button, and tossed out health with the right.

I have this very strong feeling that the game is context sensitive when it comes to reviving teammates. I just played a game as the strogg where I was the medic and had my main gun out. I ran to a fallen teammate, pointed at him, and before I realized I had the wrong weapon the game switched to the syringe and I was able to revive him.

I didn't switch back to my normal weapon when I was done, however. That I still had to do manually. But try to revive people as the medic without switching to the appropriate item first and see if the game 'auto-switches' for you.

[unbreakable]

Octoberish.
I am inthe beta, but have only played a very, very little bit. Nice graphics.

I must be the new and improved Nostradamus.  Oh well, I guess it won't kill me to buy HL2 and QW in the same month.

[Turtle]

Actually you press the use button to auto switch, otherwise if you just click fire well you've just executed your downed teammate.    But even then, it doesn't switch you back to your previous item after you're done reviving.

Simply put, if the game is going to be faster paced than the battlefield series, you can't afford

Also, anyone know what happened to the commander role?  Early previews had each side with a commander-like role, where that commander logged in at a terminal.

[Jarrodhk]

I was interested... but from what I'm hearing I am much less so now.  I'd have to get it on the 360 anyway so I guess it isn't a big deal.

[Calvin]

I finally had a chance to play a real game yesterday, even if it was an abbreviated match. Impressions are-I like it-a lot. Its quite a bit faster than Battlefield, but its also tighter and easier to control. The weapons currenly seriously lack punch-the audio is awful and they feel weak-also, the variety is quite limited. The graphics at this stage are excellent though, and the one level we get is very solid and well designed. The campaign style multiplayer with easy objectives, experience to be gained (although what this does for you I do not know yet) from the objectives, etc. is a great, great feature. Its very nice to drop into a game, have no idea what is going on, yet be able to choose the mission "destroy sewer grate", see the icon highlighted on your minimap and know you can go do that and get 5xp if you succeed-it doesn't necessarily encourage teammwork so much that it funnels you into the battles and the right places and gets you around your team. I don't know that I would want to play any other style than "campaign" after seeing how it works.

All in all, even in beta form, I think they have done enough to make me think this is going to take over Battlefields dominance. The emphasis on infantry battles with weaker vehicles and the added tactical options and special abilities of each class makes this look intriguing. I really hope I get to experiment with it more soon.

[raydude]

Played a really great game on the Strogg side last night. We lost the first two matches and then won the next one. In the first match our side was clearly fighting as if we were all Rambos and not focusing on the objectives.

In fact, a lot of my teammates were still in their vehicles trying to shoot people AFTER the EMP generator was down. This lead to the GDF destroying the grate and then lead to 10 minutes of frantically trying to defend our last objectives. I think we lost the first game with about 8 minutes left.

The 2nd game I decided to try being the Strogg Aggressor with the hyperblaster, which is the Strogg equivalent of the heavy MG. I only did average while defending the EMP generator, as I didn't seem to get more hits than I normally would. The GDF again managed to construct it within about 3 minutes.

All that changed, however, after the EMP generator was constructed and we had to defend the sewer grates. I noticed that in order to get to the grates the GDF had to go through a hallway. Its a  ry long hallway, such that I could set up on the extreme opposite end. I went prone and used the weapon zoom on my hyperblaster. It was awesome! I mowed down about 10 GDF men at least, and they went down within 1-2 seconds of my putting the pipper on the target.

Luckily most of my team had switched to medics and so in two key presses ("I need a technician!") I could get healed whenever I got hit by a grenade or enemy fire. I even got revived about 3 times to boot! But it still wasn't enough. We had to hold them off for 10 whole minutes, and with only 1 Strogg agressor using the hyperblaster (ME!) and the rest cowering in the final objective room it was not enough. Not to mention the medics were NOT converting dead bodies to Strogg spawn points at all! It was a better showing than our first game though, and we held them off for about 5 minutes more in our second.

Still, the 3rd game was my high water mark. I was going to use the same tactic - Strogg Aggressor w/ Hyperblaster. This time though I decided to hop into the Strogg mech (Cyclops). I took it out to just beyond our base where the road slopes down a hill. I made a 45 degree turn to the right and from there I could just walk forwards and backwards to shift my mech and avoid tank fire. This way I could also use buildings and trees as cover to block the aim to enemy vehicles. From here I was able to take down several tanks, a humvee, and even enemy soldiers as they came across the little hill on their way to the EMP generator.

It was here that we stopped them cold. They never even got that damn EMP generator built.

Now, if they could just add more oomph to the sounds, slow down the foot speeds a little, and give more bonuses to firing while crouched or prone (giving more incentive to fire THEN maneuver) it would be perfect.

[Mattc0m]

For those in the Beta, there's an update today with adds bots, fixes some server issues, and adds in some "anti-lag" technology with makes for more fluid infantry play. Haven't tried it yet, but sounds fun!

[Daehawk]

Im terrible at this game. I can use a whole ammo clip and not kill the guy while I can get shot 2 times and die. Tonight I emptied a clip at a guy and he killed me then two teammates came around the corner and he killed them too. It just not fair to me. I can hardly kill anyone yet I die so fast and easy.

[Turtle]

Well, are you any good at FPS games?

This isn't an insult.  I'm just asking how skilled are you at FPS games?  Not just aiming mind you, but thinking tactically in FPS games.

For example, I've got a friend who treats these MP games like SP games, running straight at the enemy and firing his gun, which usually gets him killed as he steps out right into the open.  Not to mention a target running straight at you is not a moving target from the firer's vantage point.

[ROTC1983]

For those in the Beta, there's an update today with adds bots, fixes some server issues, and adds in some "anti-lag" technology with makes for more fluid infantry play. Haven't tried it yet, but sounds fun!

Hmm, thanks Matt...gonna download that right now.

[Daehawk]

Well, are you any good at FPS games?

This isn't an insult.  I'm just asking how skilled are you at FPS games?  Not just aiming mind you, but thinking tactically in FPS games.

For example, I've got a friend who treats these MP games like SP games, running straight at the enemy and firing his gun, which usually gets him killed as he steps out right into the open.  Not to mention a target running straight at you is not a moving target from the firer's vantage point.

Ya Im the best at FPS game...usually. Always first place or top 3. MAybe Im just getting old