5punk

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_in_Conflict

It's a more tactical game than a strategy game, focused on a lot of action from what I've heard. I'm in the Gamespot closed beta, so I'll let you know how well I like it when I get around to playing it.

When I'm done I'll pass on my beta key to someone.

I had a quick go, it's pretty good. The camera controls are pretty different, WASD to move the camera around the map, mouse to change angles. You choose your role from Infantry, Armor, Support, and Air. You select your units from the menu and call them in. They're airdropped to your drop zone and then you go to work. I've been mostly playing support because you get artillery and anti-air. You move your units around the battlefield and shoot shit up. It's not a RTS, you don't build buildings or anything, just call in your units. Thus, you never have a huge number to worry about. In my last game, I ended it with 2 medium atry pieces and 4 anti-air pieces.

The best way for me to describe it is it's like MechCommander with late 80's tanks, apcs, and helicopters. It's pretty cool so far.

Oh I should mention, this is a multiplayer beta, so that's where the different roles come in. In the single player you control all the units together.

So it's a bit like the missions in Warcraft etc where you have to get through a cave or dungeon and save someone with only the troops you start with? It tends to be the large numbers of things to do at once that scuppers me in RTS games causing me to crash and burn fairly early on.

Lateralus wrote:So it's a bit like the missions in Warcraft etc where you have to get through a cave or dungeon and save someone with only the troops you start with? It tends to be the large numbers of things to do at once that scuppers me in RTS games causing me to crash and burn fairly early on.

not exactly. You have a set number of points to spend on units, but those points will regenerate when a unit is destroyed. So you effectively have unlimited resources, but you have a limit of how much stuff you can have. I don't have any idea how the single player is going to balance handling all the different stuff, but the multiplayer is built for teamwork. If you're a tank guy, you're going to need anti-air defense because the attack helicopters will tear you up. If you're a helicopter, you're going to need someone to take out the anti-air defenses.


WiC also has a kind of special abilities menu that uses "Tactical Points." I haven't figured out exactly how you get them yet, but you can do things like call in a tank buster, napalm strike, anti-air run, or a tactical nuke. I've only spent about an hour and a half but it looks like it has some promise.

To show you how awesome this game looks, have some screens:








So, to explain a little more how the multiplayer works, it's definitely not a regular RTS style play. It has a round based system similar to BF2's, and anyone can join a game that's already started (which rocks). Also, the maps have a control point system, vaguely similar to BF2's conquest mode; Areas around the map can be captured which gives your side the edge on winning. The only real problem with the multiplayer is that it is very much a team game. A bunch of random people might do OK if the other team also isn't working together very well, but someone organized will destroy their enemy.

Looks like an RTS from those screenshots, could be good for some BEEF-like 5punky team play

mrbobbins wrote:Looks like an RTS from those screenshots, could be good for some BEEF-like 5punky team play

You can call it an RTS, but it's there's no base building or resource collection at all, which is why it works. The reason I hate Blizzard's RTS games is that I can't perform the necessary unit-micromanagement while trying to build a base and such. What I like about this is that you can focus entirely on directing your units without worrying about making sure all your peons are doing what they're supposed to.

mrbobbins wrote:Looks like an RTS from those screenshots, could be good for some BEEF-like 5punky team play

My thoughts exactly. Time to look at some videos I think.

edit: is it any kind of FPS? A video seems to suggest not.

This video gives a good picture of what the beta plays like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZEHzhJ4FWs

It's not an FPS for sure. It's a real-time tactical battle game. It has RTS unit controls, but a RTS/FPS hybrid camera control.

more good videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfMc0VM_1L0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOVKpT8_oPg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s7prhhp8x0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j90V2HMf-a0

Hmm, seems kinda like a beef-RTS hybrid to me, which could be good fun with a team of 5punkers.

Gunslinger42 wrote:Hmm, seems kinda like a beef-RTS hybrid to me, which could be good fun with a team of 5punkers.

Yeah it has a lot of potential for awesome, but right now it's hard to jump into a random game and really do well. Teamwork is essential really.

Pure unit control of the Blitzkreig series meets modern RTS of Act of War.
Right?

I've never played Blitzkrieg or Act of War, but I'm guessing it's somewhat kinda similar to Blitzkrieg. I've heard a lot of Ground Control comparisons. you essentially have infinite resources and units, but you can only have so much in play at once.