OXCGN’s Tribes: Ascend Preview

Multiplayer Evolved

by exterminat

©2011 Nicholas Laborde

Sometimes, in the midst of the madness that is the Fall release season, (Spring-Summer for all you Aussie gamers) a game can stand out among the fray.

Tribes: Ascend is the newest, multiplayer-only iteration in the esteemed Tribes franchise.

Tackled by a new developer, Hi-Rez Studios, and going free-to-play, devoted fans have every right to be apprehensive about what some may view as a bad business decision.

Fans and newcomers alike will be pleased to hear that Tribes: Ascend not only impresses despite the pedigree of its background, but due to the simple fact that the game provides a fun factor rarely seen in a modern multiplayer game.

The game is currently in a closed beta stage, and OXCGN has you at the front lines: not only do you get to read our wonderful preview of the game, but we also have a giveaway in conjunction with our three million unique views celebration!

Details to follow at the end.

Ascending to stardom

If you’re anything like me, you think of one thing when you hear that a title is “free-to-play”: the correct interpretation is “pay to win”, where to do well or have the full experience you tend to have to purchase ‘extras’.

Not only that, but it may simply just be a cash-in on a beloved franchise.

Tribes: Ascend manages to overcome both of these initial barriers that plague many, and manages to do it extremely well.

I was particularly astounded at the simplicity of the title. There are two factions at war: Blood Eagle and Diamond Sword. Across three game modes, the factions fight it out for ultimate supremacy.

There’s a part of me that feels as if I’m doing the game a dishonor by not elaborating further, but that’s the thing: there’s nothing else to say!

After all, it is a title focused purely on multiplayer.

In terms of functionality, the game doesn’t do anything radically new or different; but at the same time, it does many things right that lead to an excellent execution rarely seen in a modern multiplayer experience.

Ascend gives us Team Deathmatch, Capture The Flag, and Rabbit.

Team Deathmatch and CTF are self-explanatory, and Rabbit is a very nostalgic trip back to the classic “it” game mode.

Supporting a free-for-all scenario, Rabbit is very similar to Halo‘s long-forgotten Juggernaut mode.

The goal is to hold and maintain control of a flag, but there’s a catch – when you pick up the flag, you become the central enemy that everyone else is allied against.

Holding the flag racks up points, but everyone else is out for your head. It’s one of many ways in which Tribes: Ascend goes back to the roots of classic multiplayer.

Ascension or dissension?

An accurate description of Ascend‘s gameplay would be that of the classic FPS formula we all know and love, but with a bit of modern amenities thrown in.

There are classes and perks to choose from, able to suit nearly every playstyle. The default character is your standard trooper, equipped with a grenade launcher and pistol, along with your standard hand grenade.

After playing and accruing certain amounts of points per match, special things can be called down such as an ammo station, or even a massive orbital strike that will obliterate anyone within its path.

Other classes are available to unlock, and this is where the F2P aspect arrives in full force. Additional classes and abilities are unlocked by gaining experience, which can be used to purchase new things, but it does in fact take a while.

Need a change of pace, but don’t want to  play for exceedingly long periods of time? No problem! Simply mosey on over to the store, and buy “gold” that can be used in place of experience credits to purchase your upgrades.

It’s one of the most well-done F2P systems I’ve encountered so far, giving neither side an advantage; the only thing buyers have over “free-ers” is time, which makes absolutely zero difference when it comes to skill and actually duking it out.

To duke it out in Tribes: Ascend, though, is a challenge in and of itself. Do you recall how I said that it is very reminiscent of the classic FPS multiplayer you know and love from over the years? This also extends to aim assist.

Now, I am a manly man. I never use aim assist, except in the odd mainstream console game where it cannot be turned off, only reduced.

Tribes: Ascend laughs in the face of aim assist and hopes you have pinpoint accuracy, because you’re going to need it; to be good at this game is to perform a magnificent feat.

If you ever pull off a headshot, it can be described in no other way than divine intervention.

The gameplay as a whole in Ascend is easy to get sucked into, and will please anyone who appreciates the delightful fractiousness of a core FPS experience.

Simplicity is key

Tribes: Ascend is a simple game with simple concepts, and that simplicity extends to the design.

Levels may not be the most detailed, realistic things you’ve ever seen, but they function in accordance with all of the player abilities and manage to make a connection that I can’t completely describe.

As a budding independent developer myself, I am extremely familiar with UDK (the Unreal Development Kit) and how it functions. When I first gazed upon the vivacious vistas in my initial match, I was skeptical; the entire thing looked as if the developers went to edit the terrain and put hills everywhere.

After I began to descend my first hill and discovered the jetpack, I began to smile. After I hit the ground and activated my skis while dodging explosions, I decided that Ascend would forever hold a place in my heart.

Tribes: Ascend is currently in closed beta, with the official free-to-play release being sometime in 2012.

Celebrate 3 million unique views!

OXCGN is celebrating its 3 million unique views mark, which for an independent, unfunded, international multiplatform gaming site that started as an Australian Xbox blog, isn’t too shabby a number at all.

Because we owe this momentous occasion to you, the readers, Hi-Rez – the developers behind Tribes: Ascend – have given us 100 beta keys to give away.

Exact details on how to enter can be found here.

OXCGN thanks Hi-Rez for their generous support, and wishes you all a Merry Christmas!

©2011 Nicholas Laborde

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Filed under: 3rd Party Games, Editorial, Game Industry News, Industry News, New Game Information, PC News, PC Reviews Tagged: | Capture the Flag, Deathmatch, Free-to-play, High Rez Studios, Multiplayer game, OXCGN, Software release life cycle, Tribes, Tribes Ascend previews, tribes ascend review, Tribes Ascend reviews, Tribes: Ascend