Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

After our media presentation and discussion we were led across the complex, which is a sight to behold. Had I been a hardcore Star Wars fan I’m sure I would have found it even more awe inspiring. We proceeded to the employee cafeteria where we were able to conduct some interviews and mingle a bit while we waited our turns for some hands on game time.
 
The proof, it’s been said, is in the pudding and let me tell you that this is one tasty dish. One of the tenets of any BioWare game is that story is tantamount, and SW:TOR has been no exception, but the team also wanted to impress upon us that combat is just as important…and impressive. The four cornerstones of the game are combat, exploration, progression and story. During our play session I was surprisingly able to see all four of these elements in a short amount of time.

The Sith Inquisitor

Our gameplay session opened with us in the role of a young Sith Inquisitor, a powerful class that combines both saber play with crushing force abilities--think Palpatine, for those familiar with the lore. We were sent off to explore the Imperial base and complete some introductory quests. Our first task-giver, along with every NPC in the game, was 100% voiced and really impressed upon us the brutal and ruthless persona of the Inquisitor class. This is a class that allows players to unleash their inner villains and wreak havoc with the formidable powers they develop.

The early build UI wasclean and well laid out: while not a carbon copy of any existing game, anyone who has played a second-gen MMOG should find it familiar and easy to grasp. Movement was fluid and responsive with the standard WASD keyset as the default and the mouse to provide direction, look and targeting functionality. Even for an early pre-beta build the game ran smoothly and looks to be friendly to most existing computers, a formula that has worked well for other games. One of the nicest features being implemented is an opaque map feature that allows you to gather your bearings quickly. This works very well with the games fast combat pacing and helps minimize downtime. 

Quashing rebellion, Inquisitor style.

After taking my first task, to go into the mines and stamp out a mini-revolt, I found several other side quests along the way which flowed well with my main objective and maximized my play time. With my quest log plumped up and my character having met some interesting NPCs, each with their own agendas, I set into the mines to face rebel miners, their reprogrammed droids, and cave dwelling beasts.

I’d like to add one note about the voice acting I experienced in Star Wars: The Old Republic. One of the complaints I have heard from other gamers about Dragon Age Origins, BioWare’s single-player RPG, is that while the voicing is well done it tends to be rather long winded. That isn’t the case here; voiceovers allow you to get the needed information quickly and keep you immersed in the game without putting you to sleep.  

The famous Master Yoda Fountain

Combat was just as I had seen in the live play demo earlier: fast, immersive, and a lot of fun. My Imperial Agent was both deadly with his saber and impressive with his force powers. I could crowd control one mob, knock down two others, and impale my main target with the press of a few buttons, which gave combat a very real-time, cinematic feel. By the end of the play test I felt comfortable with the class and that, to me, is an important selling point in a game’s success.

 

I walked into LucasArts HQ a moderate fan of the franchise (the NGE in Star Wars Galaxies didn’t help foster much goodwill) and walked out a convert, and I don’t think they slipped anything into the wine and cheese to manipulate the process. Star Wars: The Old Republic, even at this early stage, has all the ingredients of a long term successful MMOG. I can’t wait to see more.