Cresky's Wonderful list of Wonders! | Forums

[CreskyChan]

Have to start the post with what everybody expects, the initial reaction, and a little history behind me and the Ghost series. I started playing back with the original, didnt bother with the Tropic Thunder expansion (because I was on a at the time fast, but slow, Mac.) and spent a lot of my time personally editing the files to make the guns a lot more realistic than they were in that version of the game, even went out to find a fun little tweak to a few. (Such as "Betsy" my trusty M82a1) But I have never failed to give each new installment a fair trial, and they have met expectations in some aspects, and on others pissed me off. AW, was kind of a letdown, as with AW2. But I have always expected them to be a more realistic shooter, and require tactics. Sadly they are dropping a LONG ways away from that expectation, but the gameplay has always been decent, so I must give them kudo's for that. Honestly I had no idea that a F2P online version was coming out, so when I saw the email in my inbox, i instantly called BS. Called my buddy up and told him about it, and we both got a good laugh, then he went to the site and told me I must have missed the short bus that day, because it was 100% real. Needless to say, I must have started downloading the installation client like 6 times in my ferver to get it going. Yes, I was STOKED.

Once I got my login information set (still forget my PW sometimes.... Must be playing too many games that require one >.<) I placed my pinky toe into the waters to see what the beta had to offer. Was I shocked? You better believe it. For a F2P game, I was expecting something more like Combat Arms (which makes my shins hurt...(dont ask why the shins... they just do) and was VERY pleasantly surprised to see that they actually took some time with the textures and graphics to make it presentable. The only other F2P game that comes to mind with that mentality is World Of Tanks. Few minor hiccups while trying to navigate through the initial tutorials, I finally got into working on my first character! Of course, like many others (but one of the few that actually knows what the hell he's doin) I went with the recon. Loved the initial option for taking a sniper rifle OR the SMG, as it is with every other class, you get your first initial burst and choice of weapons, NOT both. Yes, I had a BIG grin on my face when I saw that EVERYTHING had to be purchased minus the ammo after dying (premium ammo needs to be purchased and SUPER awsome on that) Going through the store and seeing 21+ guns in EACH section minus the pistols made me cackle madly and once again, call my buddy to gloat about getting into the beta and he didnt (third game in a row between us )

The overall customization that is available with the weapons, armor and everything else completely blew me away. Being able to add plates to your body armor, upgrade said body armor, change your headgear, mess with scopes, magazines, side mounts, barrels, bipods the like I felt like a kid in a candy store... Or like myself in a gun store... (I have to keep my hands in my pockets when I go in now v.v ) The difference between the guns is amazing, even though it doesnt seem like much it really adds up, and the major sorrow that I have is that most people that play this game have been tainted by CoD. They feel its run and gun, that one gun is "broken" compared to others, etc. The only thing broken is abilities (and I'll hit on that later) but the higher level you are, the better guns you get. LOVE IT. It focuses your grind. If you want to play with a big toy, you have to grow up and get the money... (I will own you one day Betsy.... I promise ) An inset list of achievements that require previous ones to unlock a SET is fan-freakin-tastic.

Another portion that really intrigued me and is keeping me tweaking and playing with different setups on my rifles, is the minor RPG element. The HP, Critical damage, headshot multiplier and the like. There are minor things that I feel should be tweaked just a little. But from what ive seen it actually balances out rather well and thinking on it, it might just be because of the small player base that I have had the opportunity to run with.

Current issues that I personally have:
Too many people are "stair glitching" Meaning laying prone around the top of the stairs and essentially shooting through the top 2 steps, while not taking any damage, even if you have a 100% stable shot, and looking right down the scope (as you see it on your screen) and they do not take ANY damage, but drop you like you were standing up 2 feet in front of them and turned around from your screen to talk to the wife or GF/BF.
There are a few clipping issues with some locations that seem to be a one way issue. I cant shoot between 2 pipes, but the player on the other side can zing me a copper jacketed sammich just fine. Very few area's but they are in key sniper locations, and it does get rather irksome.
The Heat ability for the soldier.... Do I really need to bring this out? Really? I think having an abilty called "Icy hot in the Jock" would be better, and of more use. It doesnt do anything, it wastes your cooldown, does VERY little if any damage to enemies, and removes your ability to shoot. No thank you, I'd rather take the blitz, knock somebody down like he's a delinquant paper boy that just broke my window, and empty my magazine into his face. Changing it, 100% chill with that, maybe give them a flashbang ability, 2 flashbangs worth of charge, and a VERY long recharge for one bang.
Lastly in my rantings of hatred, is the Specialists shield ability. Of all of the abilities in the game, this one is perhaps the most BOGUS, for 3 reasons. its size (area of coverage) Duration, and once again, 1 sided-ness....ness. Your team can shoot through it, you can shoot through it with NO penalty, but enemies trying to shoot into it, find there rounds impacting the ceiling or hunting down that lowly crow that decided to finger paint on your car. Making whoever is near, inside, behind or around the shield, invincible while they continue to just push punishment! Drop its radius, that would nullify a lot of issues, and either drop its duration, OR. Yes OR, make it so that not every single round that goes in goes skyward. Allow a few to actually go in to hit its target. And apply that shifting effect to EVERYBODIES rounds. Not just the enemies. Makes people not want to make a squad of specialists that just rotate the shield with Shotguns and sit next to your spawn treating you to a buckshot smoothie.


Thank you to anybody who took the time to read this, I will post more as I find it, and will probably have a second posting within the next 24 hours, by my friend who is coming by the try it out on my machine.

Cresky =^.^=

[DegenesisRein]

Good review, just wanted to comment on a few things you probably already know for the benefit of those that don't.

Heat Ability - It is best used as a suppressive weapon and one of the best utility abilities able to make a significant push on the frontline. Any opponents hit by the heat takes damage, the damage portion of the ability is relativly minor but the damage starts to multply making each progressive hit almost double the damage of the last hit. So it may start at 3 DMG, but turns to 6,12,24,48 so on and such as. The major portion of the ability is that anyone hit is unable to fire their weapons, use abilities, sprint, throw grenades or do anything other than attempt to crawl to cover.

It's a well designed ability that in the hands of a team that communicated well can make massive pushes down the heavily defended objectives. It's worth taking another look at, but is primary a Team Ability. Which means you need the rest of your team to be aware of what you are doing and to take advantage of it, it's where you will reap the best results.

The Speicalist's Shield ability isn't nessisarly all it's cracked up to be. It's extremely useful, but can also be countered provided you know it's limations. Incomming fire impacting the shield reduce's the duration of the shield uptime. ( I can't confirm this, but I am like 80% sure having tested it) So massed fire even though seemly ineffective will shorten his duration.

The bubble only stops bullets outside of it from entering, getting inside the radius of the bubble dosn't effect your bullets at all. It's why most people who pop this ability will try to stay in the open and away from corners where people can easily circumvent the radius.

The bubble-teer can't sprint, they are stuck at walking speed which makes it easy for those that listen for the bubble to charge up or see them walking to easily run around Flank the Bubble-Teer, enter the bubble and pop a few rounds to the bo-bo.

The bubble dosn't deflect grenades, so toss'n a frag is easily the best way to pop his bubble, as he can not sprint to get away. Impact grenades work best.

Lastly, the the next best thing to stop a Bubble-teer in it's tracks is to use the above heat ability. Not only will you stop the bubble-teer in his tracks but anyone else with him. What started as a juggernaut bullrush to push up the side can instantly be turned into a turkey shoot for your side.

Anyways, Good stuff man.
Peace
-Crow

[schulznfels]

Thanks for the helpful tips regarding heat. I am currently stuck trying to achieve the 3 kills using heat. I purchased the Heat II upgrade and seems to be a waste of money.
I can kill anyone with it, only assist or kill after heat shuts down. Apparently I have hit over 200 people with heat, but never killed anyone. Kind of BS. Why put that kind of an achievement if it meant to be used for suppression? They are making it sound like you can go around killing with heat. Nope.

Please remove the 3 kill heat achievement!