Limafoxtrot

The game plays different that its an RPG - but it shooter controls. One must aim to hit anything (standard ASWD and mouse look) Crouching and taking cover are key. Most mmo's you just select a target and the hit a series of numbers. This one is all left click (primary fire) and right click (secondary fire) - secondary fire can be filled with anything from magic like skills to grenades to healing kits.

Another difference is the world. The game does not force you to group. I haven't hit a mission yet that requires it. However - team play ends up important - you are on an alien world and the Bane (the bad guys for this romp) are constantly trying to take over - which includes full scale assaults with wave after wave landing in drop ships at towns. If your in town - well - start firing otherwise as you are trying to shop you are likely to get shot. These assault times are frantic and a blast to play. Bane seem to come from every where. The towns must be held if you want to use them, and there are quests around defense tokens to encourage further participation. Players seem to form defensive lines - support class are running around healing an buffing whoever needs it in order to hold the line. Its a very cool dynamic and different. Even playing the game mostly solo it puts you smack into the work and a part of a larger effort.

There is crafting in the game - honestly I haven't looked much at it. You get schematics in some of the loot drops (or you can buy them) and make about anything in the game. The parts you can salvage or find in loot drops. - Speaking of looting is fantastic - you just run over your kill and you pick up everything. No special keys needed. anther interesting twist is cloning. After finding a clone credit, you can then make a copy of your self say before making a choice on the class advancement tree. This lets you play out two different skill trees from the same character. Save doing the base intro sections over and a lot of rework on early quests.

Negatives? Nothing that really hampers my fun. I find my self wanting to use Q and E to strafe - however those cycle primary and secondary weapons. Sometimes the state of war gets annoying because you are looking for a quest or a place or something and suddenly war erupts around you or something is taking pot shots at you and you'll need to spend 5 or 10 min in battle. Sometimes its more like a squad ambushes you and it may be only 3-5 guys and take a min or other times suddenly you are in all out war. Fun but distracting when you are trying to do something specific.

Graphics are great for an MMO and really set the atmosphere. If you are looking for something different this is a great game. It is an MMO - so there is a fee. - 1st month is included when you buy the game. Not sure how long I'll play - probably until mass effect. But I needed something other than a standard shooter in my gaming and this fills the bill nicely.

Overall I'd say 8.5 to 9 as a rating. A fresh twist on MMOs for sure.