First impression after launch

Maidere · 2012-11-27, 05:57 PM

First of all - I'm not PS1 veteran, but I played ps2 in beta for quite a while. Yesterday I logged in for the first time since the game went live and, honestly, I'm not impressed. I was about to write this post few weeks ago but I didnt have enough time, so here we go:

1) Technical problems.

Lots of them to be honest. I have a decent rig and the game runs way better then in beta now but I still have fps issues in huge fights (the game looks like crap since I'm playing on everything low). Warping, LOD problems in huge fights (ppl appear after a short time), absolutely terrible hit registration.
I understand that this is MMOFPS and probably it's extremely hard to sort out these issues but it's hardly a legit excuse for a potential customer.

2) Meta

Meta is a huge problem imo because it's pretty much nonexistent. In openworld (gw2) and instanced territory control (global agenda) pvp games meta is built up around the final goal. You take control over the bases because they will help you to win. End game goal can even justify some annoying but necessary game elements like freecaps.

3) Gameplay

I found gun play quite disapointing. Nearly everything is messing up with your aim, crosshair is shaking like crazy in any more or less decent fight.
Infiltrator is a terribly designed class;
I like idea of FF in general (and it's necessary to balance the game) but sometimes it goes out of control and pisses me off (I'm sure not only me); Map design is not realy great at very least;
Threeways are still very common and very annoying.
Overall balance of the game is realy weak because player numbers are too high and the whole game is numbers vs numbers in general, balanced fights are extremely rare.
I'll say high player numbers and way too cheap way to deliver the zerg to any point of the map are the maybe the main problems of the game.

Of course, it's completely subjective and I will be happy if PS2 will succeed, but at this point I'm afraid it wont (I mean it will be profitable but wont become the "next big thing").

ps: sorry for my terrible english, not my first language.

Tooterfish · 2012-11-27, 06:07 PM

It sounds like you're looking for a Call of Duty, Battlefield, or Counter-Strike type of game, in reading your final paragraphs. I like these games a lot, because they offer both teams equal opportunities for success, all the time. They offer a highly competitive environment at the individual level. Taking a step back, when becoming acquainted with Planetside for the first time, to realize this isn't your typical FPS - should be the first step to really appreciating what it is. Sadly, Planetside is a very difficult concept for the typical FPS enthusiast to grasp, and I don't fault you or anyone else for running out of patience. There are bugs, performance issues and the game is overall very complex, items only true Planetside fans can ignore completely without losing their minds most of the time. I just hope you try again in a month or two, maybe you'll get into a groove and fall in love with it.

bpostal · 2012-11-27, 06:17 PM

I agree with tooter, take a break for a bit then come back. With luck it'll feel more like Planetside by then once more of these details (technical and otherwise) get hammered out. That's what I'm planning on doing anyway.
Keep up with the PS2 news here and on the twitters, etc. That should give ya a good indication on what they're doing to address these issues.

Maidere · 2012-11-27, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by Tooterfish

Sadly, Planetside is a very difficult concept for the typical FPS enthusiast to grasp, and I don't fault you or anyone else for running out of patience.

Not realy, I'm not FPS-only gamer. I'm ok with tactical openworld/territory control gameplay when there is some meta behind it, some end game goal that brings the flow. You can take a look at gw2 - the game is not perfect at all, but the openworld pvp ("World vs World") meta is quite strong.
It looks like ANet invented meta first, then built the game mode around it; In case of SOE&ps2 it looks like they built a huge "sandbox" battlefield-like game on a new engine and only then tried to bring the flow to the game and write some rules.

AThreatToYou · 2012-11-27, 06:52 PM

hitreg problems?

As far as I understand and have seen, PlanetSide 2 has client-side hitreg. If you hit someone on your screen, then you hit them. This is the least laggy way to do it and probably the best for a game like PlanetSide 2.
I've had nothing but joyous experience from the hitreg in PS2. It rewards skillful shots as you see them. The only disadvantage is there will be times where an enemy will clip you around a corner because you have a relatively high ping, and I manage to avoid these situations like the plague.
As far as network lag goes, PS2 is one the best games I've ever played right up until people start warp-glitching around.

And as far as metagame goes, I judge there is enough meta-game right now because no one has won it yet. More will be needed quite soon, but for immediately post-launch it is fine.
Game performance has not irked me either. Try not to play as a member of the zerg; hop in a tank or something. You'll get more points and low fps will not be as annoying, and if you have a decent video card there is absolutely no need to turn down your graphics settings. The only issue I can agree is a serious problem is the LOD on infantry units.

I don't know about you, but I have fun in three-ways. Maybe it's just your server or maybe you just want to fight at a three-way unconsciously. I don't see them all the time, but they are as fun as any other battle.

Maidere · 2012-11-28, 02:50 PM

Clientside hit registration doesnt garantee you good hit registration. BF3 is a perfect proof. In fact, clientside hitreg together with LOD problems cause a lot of troubles. On my inf I tried to hit engi on the turret so many times when I know exactly where he is and cant see him

TheDrone · 2012-11-28, 03:33 PM

Right about now I'm so very few up with "first impression reviews" that I'll probably kiss the person doing a review in a month.

Minor note: No way anyone will be doing that.

Jaybonaut · 2012-11-28, 04:41 PM

How does it compare to other free to play games that are similar in genre?

VaderShake · 2012-11-28, 04:48 PM

My first impression are that the game is a benchmark in FPS and there is nothing else that even compares to it in size, scope, and ambition. It has just begun which is consistant with what the devs told us to expect out of the gate. We will see what the future holds.

Also my first impression is that people are crying over things the devs said they are working on and details that are so small for a game of this scope that it makes them look pathedic. If you have been playing games for as long as I have and remember thinking how cools DOOM was or Wolfenstein 3d (I also played the original on Apple 2c) or Golden Eye, the original Medal of Honor Series and much much more you would really appriciate what the SOE team has accomplished and be more positive about the future if this is just the foundation of the game. Plus you have no upfront investment of cash unless you chose to so you have nothing but time invested. How about instead of crying you just wait to play the game when you hear the content you are waiting for is in???

sylphaen · 2012-11-28, 04:54 PM

So a few days after, here is my little story about launch. I tried DLing the game on hour 0 but as everyone know, it all blew up: PS2 website down, PSU super super slow, etc... The big survivor was steam.

Suprisingly, things picked up quite fast with SOE and PSU (+1 for Hamma) and I found a link on PSU to go directly on the URL to download the Launchpad.

Things installed fine and 6 hours later, the game was up and running.Being in the beta, I knew how to play already and played for 20 minutes or so.

After a small 1 minute queue, I fired up the game and got launched straight into battle in the Tawrich part of Indar which was like new. The little fight was awesome and the feeling of getting thrown into battle was a lot of fun. Especially since there were lots of enemies but also friendles and I did not get immediately mauled upon landing.

The fever of a new game with every new and discovering the PS2 shop and the bundles, items, etc... was really nice. It felt like my first day in World of Warcraft beta. Maybe it's because I had also started in a desert (Trolls started in the Den/Durotar, a desert area like Indar).

Overall, I felt like it was a very good launch. Servers still have hiccups but it was very smooth overall.

Great job SOE !