Tera has to
be my favorite MMO game, but I usually find it being shoved into obscurity
and not get enough recognition. So here’s my review of the game.
The good stuff
What
originally got me so hooked on Tera was the gameplay. I find most RPG MMOs to be just a case of
target-lock and all just a battle of skills and stats from there on out. The
dodging done is mostly just displayed in the combat log with no real active
effort on your part. Tera is different as it uses third person combat. Your
character is still allowed to move to get out of harm’s way and even choose
which side of the monster he’ll attack. That not only makes the combat more engaging,
but also gives you a chance to minimize the damage taken and so avoids the
annoying wait after each bigger battle where your character’s health points
come literacy within an inch of your character’s life. Also, the game provides
a “skill chaining” option, making you think about the best order to use your skills
and attacks, chaining tem and then just activate them with one trigger button.
It may not seem like much, but it can give you an edge in combat, and it also
elevates the game from simple button mashing.
There is also
a big diversity in classes as the game features 8 of them. Pair this up with
the game’s dynamic gameplay and you’ll really be able to create your very own
fighting style. However, some classes
are more challenging to play then others, so try to start from the bottom,
especially if you aren’t used to MMOs.
Now, you might
have compared all of this to some other games and said: “Only 7 races and 8
classes? There are games with a lot more like World of Warcraft.” However,
unlike WoW, Tera is a free-to-play game. Meaning all of this won’t even cost
you a cent. There are some additional items you can purchase with real money of
course, but they’re mostly only for appearance as far as I’ve seen. I’ve played
the game for some time now and never felt like there was a major aspect of it
missing because I’m not a paid user. A lot of games say they’re free-to-play,
but he free gameplay is severely crippled with some basic functions taken away
like trading objects with other player (I’m looking at you, Star wars: the old
republic). Tera is not such a game and that only makes me appreciate the
producers more. They promised something and they delivered.
The bad stuff
I almost
feel bad criticizing the game as you have to consider everything is provided
for free, but I do feel like I should point them out.
The thing
that bugs me most about the game is its crafting system. I mean, it works just
fine; you gather items, you buy designs and materials and out make something
out of them. Simple, but pointless when you actually take a closer look. Let’s
make a little crafting list, shall we?
Take
something basic, like the Airy vedracloth tunic, able to be used by priests,
mystics and sorcerers above level 10. The sell value of this item is 1 silver
coin, or 100 copper ones. We’ll use S for silver and C for copper for
simplicity’s sake.
For this
item you require: 2 vedracloths, one paverune of Anur and 2 apprentice armor kits
(these kits you HAVE to buy as no monster will ever drop them and you will
never receive them as a mission reward).
Now, you
will have to make your vedracloths and for that you will need: 2 vedra fibers and 2 apprentice refining
kits. (again, have to buy this kit too)
So, let’s calculate:
Starting
off with the production of 2 vedracloths: 2x(2 vedra fibers (2 C)+ 2 apprentice
refining kits (64 C)= 2 S 96 C (sell value of 1 vedracloth= 99 C)
Now for the
tunic: 2 vedracloths (2 S 96 C) + 1 Paverune o Anur (5 C)+ 2x( apprentice armor
kit (2 S 14 C))= 7 S 74 C (sell value of the tunic= 1 S)
To
recapitulate: in the whole process of producing one tunic you lost 6 S and 74
C! Meaning there is no way you can make money off of crafting unless you find an
extremely gullible player who would be ready to blow that much money on it. There are
some, but do you really want to be that jerk, cheating people out of their
money in a computer game?
This price might
be understandable if the items you were making offered severe perks and were
that much better than the items you would get under normal circumstances like
looting or mission rewards, but they’re not. In fact, by the time you have earned
enough money to actually dabble with crafting a bit, you already have a far
better gear than you can make. So there is literally no reason to craft armor
and weapons by yourself. The only slightly useful crafting option is alchemy,
where you can craft your own health, mana and other useful potions. You will
still lose a lot of money on them, but hey, at least you will be well prepared
or battle. This is about the only thing that makes me go: “Hey, maybe I should
give WoW another try.”
Missed opportunities
Not as much
as what’s bad about the game, but more of the things I think would be really cool
to see being realized.
Tera is
really a beautiful game and nowhere is that more apparent than riding on top of
your Pegasus, the game’s fast travel system. It is far better than just a simple
loading screen. The Pegasus usually makes a small round around the city you’re
departing from before flying into the portal that teleports him to portal
nearest to your destination; where the horse gives you chance to see the new
city as well. It’s really a nice experience, but lately I have been thinking
that Tera is really a game that would really benefit from a flying mount. Everything
looks so amazing and I would also like to see some other areas from the horse’s
back. So I think that a flying mount would also be a welcome addition. I’m fine
with it being restricted to maybe higher levels and the lower levels would
still have to take the public transport like the envious freshmen on a bus
glaring at the seniors driving around in their new cars. Yet, I’m aware that
that would probably require some major re-confinements and I don’t think we’ll
see the day where it happens, but if there’s a donation poll for a flying mount
in Tera, count me in!
The other
thing also has to do, partly, with crafting. This isn’t just Tera’s missed opportunity,
but a lot of other games as well. The things you can make are pretty limited to
weapons, armor and potions. The only game that also featured some other, more
life-like skills like cooking, fishing and crafting medical supplies was World
of Warcraft and I haven’t seen this ever since. Is there a WoW license on these
skills and I have been committing copy right infringement every time I pick up
a pot in the kitchen? I really don’t get it and I really miss it since it made
the game feel a lot more real and Tera does feel real in a sense. It has a
political system that I haven’t quite figured out and really am just voting for
the guy whose avatar I find appealing (just like in real life!), and the
community is pretty active. So adding some more ‘real life’ skills in would
also make it that much more fun. It already encourages you to put up camp fires
to recharge your stamina, so it’d be cool to spice of the wait with a friendly
barbeque with your whole party. Hmm, now I just realized I’m dying to play a
game that would be a mix between Tera and the Sims.
Conclusion
All that
said, I still can’t praise Tera enough. It has great graphics, beautiful
designs, addictive gameplay and a nice community to booth, and all of it for free!
So I really, really prompt you to go download it right now if you have been
looking for a game to play… and even if you weren’t. it would probably be time
better spent than reading my blog. So, happy gaming!
Tera’s home
page: http://en.tera.gameforge.com/news/index
No comments:
Post a Comment