Massive multiplayer role playing games (MMORPGs) aren’t games that usually play. The interface always feels too complicated. My demo of TERA at Game Developers Conference showed me that using a controller to perform actions can make the experience a lot more friendly for the console player.
En Masse Entertainment plans on releasing TERA on May 1, 2012 and, for once, I might take a chance on a MMORPG.
Developer, En Masse, is taking a lot of time to adjust and fine-tune the game for Western players. In their closed beta testing, they’ve taken a lot of the comments and added gameplay elements focused on what experienced players want.
New changes
- Achievements
- Rest XP (earn small amounts of XP while resting)
- Broker system without private stores
- Daily quests
- North America specific quests
- Reputation system between the six different in-game forces
- Tuned level curve
- Bonus group XP
- Bind-on pickup weapons
Nexus System
En Masse also revealed the Nexus System at GDC 2012.
Occurring in-game, TERA opens a portal between the enemy forces into the player’s world. It’s open as a public quest dependent on a minimum level. The basic design is that TERA sends out waves of enemies at players, who have to complete specific quests. As time goes on, the enemies released are higher level creatures requiring a lot of work to defeat them.
Hands-on
En Masse let me try a Nexus quest called the Temple of Temerity. I played the Berserker class, who was actually a petite female with a gigantic battle axe, and attempted with three others to complete the quest. I didn’t expect to get addicted to the gameplay of TERA, but the gameplay quickly became really tense as the group tried to survive 20 minutes while trying to defend a glyph in the middle of a dungeon.
I had a chance to play this mode twice. Using a Microsoft Xbox PC controller, I can admit that the gameplay was a lot more intuitive and easy to digest. Controls to perform normal and special attacks are mapped to the controls very well. The controls also have layers, so it’s possible to select from two sets of special attacks.
I freely admit that I’m a MMORPG novice, but during the two rounds I played, I can say that the experience was really positive. The gameplay works well with groups and playing in a team is probably the best way to experience the game. It is possible to play solo, but I don’t think it’s possible to succeed in any Nexus missions.
TERA is an impressive looking game with a lot of detail in both the characters and environments. There are a lot of fine detail on all the characters in the game, but the perspective of TERA is free-control third person. Also while playing the Nexus quest, there were so many spells and attacks flying across the screen, it was difficult to see much more than bright color animations. I do believe the demo was played on high-spec PCs, so individual experiences will probably differ.
The game has been in development for a while; they last showed the game during GDC 2011. Since my experience of the game was with a high level character and significantly tailored demo, I can’t say if TERA will speak to all MMORPG players, but it may be a good place for new players.
