What a difference a player population boost can make to a
server. I had been barely logging into Planetside 2 over the past couple of
months due to new releases until last weekend. Suddenly the population on the
Miller server has shot up, no doubt thanks to the game being promoted at Rezzed
recently and Rock Paper Shotgun frequently running some big community events.
The difference the population boost has made is drastic. The
game feels almost new again with constant large scale battles that haven’t been
seen since release. And now is a great time for new players to jump in.
SOE have been very busy getting in the key features
scheduled on the Roadmap. In one of the most recent game updates, the tutorial
was finally implemented. I took a quick tour just to see what it covered and as
expected, it covered the full range of basics. It’s voice acted and takes you
through a little facility with various training objectives complete, explaining
each element along the way. A help option has also been added to all the menu
windows to clarify all the individual elements. Planetside 2 isn’t the most
complex game, but there’s no doubt that these features will help new players
get going in the game a lot quicker.
Another great addition for all players has been the
introduction of the virtual reality training area. It’s a simple little box
area with some static targets and firing ranges where you can try out any
options and set-ups you want before purchase. I’ve found it really helpful on
more than one occasion, and it’s certainly allowed me to make much more
informed buying decisions for my hard earned certifications. It’s also had a
recent update to allow players to try out the aesthetic customisations as well.
It was really a feature the game should have launched with, but I’m glad it has
made it in after only a few months.
The largest change to game mechanics has been the revamp of
Indar. Indar was the first continent created for the game and is currently the
only one of the three to be using the new lattice system. Before, you could assault
any adjacent territory and begin capping it for your faction; even if the territory
you left was under attack itself. Now, the lattice system links adjacent
territories in a rigid system where you must have complete control of an area
before moving on. At certain points the system branches out, usually around
main bases which will have multiple routes in and out, adding to their
strategic importance on the map.
At first it may seem like a very restrictive system that
denies you tactical options, but that freedom of choice was often used by large
outfits to avoid bulky groups of enemies; simply doing large unopposed land
grabs by taking undefended outposts behind the front line. It became farcical at
points as some outfits would just manoeuvre around each other. Now, the lattice
focus players into set attack and defend avenues which helps to naturally
create the large scale battles the game is meant to be about. There’s still
plenty of scope for flanking attacks and covert operations, whilst allowing
players to better predict the flow of battle across the continent.
Other gameplay updates have included the class revamp of the
Max suit, although this turned out to be more of a tweak with weapon balances
and the addition of faction abilities. The new abilities add a little extra
flavour to the class, with Vanu getting the most interesting option. Their max
suits with the right certifications can now gain a temporary damage and speed boost,
at the cost of also increase the damage they receive. It’s an excellent risk-reward
option that’s caught me ought on more than one occasion, as your health is
obliterated when you’re caught on the receiving end of angry Vanu Max’s
bullets.
New weapons have also started to make an appearance,
although many deride the pump action shotguns for their ability to one-hit-kill
opponents in close quarters. SMGs added some extra choice for all classes, with
Infiltrators in particular benefitting. They’ve allowed players such as me that aren’t
so keen on sniping to have some fun causing havoc behind enemy lines.
There’s been plenty of smaller quality of life tweaks over
the past couple of months as well. The UI has gone through a couple of
iterations. Players can now customise the colour coding for all enemy and friendly
indictors individually. The map for each continent highlights where battles are
currently occurring, as well as the status of generators in facilities and how
long it will take any point under attack to be capped. Customising your
appearance is now a lot easier with quick camouflage selections available. It’s
also a lot easier to restock your consumables such as grenades, as they now
have a prominent place on the menu rather than been buried under other layers.
Weapons stats are now also clearly displayed, showing all the details such as
accuracy values and damage dealt over range. This replaced the absolutely
useless bar graph system which obscured all the really helpful information.
It’s good to see that SOE have continued to be committed to
developing and updating the game at the pace they have. It’s surprising how
much the game has evolved over the past six months. Annoyingly they still haven’t
delivered any major performance update with many players still suffering from
low frame rates in busy areas. The game is still a monster for any CPU that is
slightly old.
But if I had one wish for the game, it wouldn’t be
performance improvements. It would be for SOE to make sure that new players are
attracted to the game and to keep them playing. As I said at the beginning, the
difference new players have made is very noticeable. Yet any new player will
still have contended with an experienced player base that is much better equipped
than them. Overcoming the experience gap will always require time; however SOE
can tackle the equipment problem. I think new characters should start out with
a least a few suit upgrades for each class. They would no doubt help a new
player to be more durable on the battlefield. Hopefully SOE will take some
action on this sooner rather than later.
If you’re interested in giving Planetside 2 a go, you can
make an account and download the game here. If you want to know more than what
has been updated, you can read my first impressions and follow up where I
discuss the gameplay in more detail.
