![]() Each role carries blocks, a different weapon, and prefabricated block segments for the purposes of quick construction. The classes-“commando,” “sharpshooter,” “rocketeer,” and “miner”-seem to comprise the basic roster of a class-based FPS, but I found myself feeling limited nonetheless. Jagex has found a happy intersection (or mash-up?) in Ace of Spades, but I wonder if it’s truly a “creative FPS.”Īce of Spades sports a stripped-down, essentialist aesthetic: there are four playable classes, and every map is a cube-world with terrain composed of uniformly-sized blocks. Surprisingly, here is an instance where blending two great game concepts has actually resulted in exciting gameplay. It’s a classic set-up of one team (green) versus another (blue) in an endless contest over flags and points. In fact, Jagex has come up with something of a hybrid: at first blush, their game combines the aesthetics, mechanics, and expansiveness of Minecraft with the frantic, class-based multiplayer of TF2. ![]() ![]() It undeniably parallels the style and concept of both games. Jagex? Where have I heard that name before? Ah yes, the British-based game developer responsible for Runescape (affirmed by Guinness in 2012 to be “the world’s most popular free MMORPG.”) My friends and I lost innumerable hours to that game and even though Runescape was eventually eclipsed in our minds by World of Warcraft and the Halo series, the name still brings up strong feelings of nostalgia.Īce of Spades bills itself as the “creative shooter,” which immediately brings up a comparison to two of its predecessors: Mojang’s Minecraft and Valve’s Team Fortress 2. My interest was piqued by a few factors-the five dollar price tag, the intriguing concept, and the developer. That’s how I found Ace of Spades, a new experiment in online multiplayer gaming from Jagex Games Studio. I found myself caught between studio release cycles, but Valve, dutifully fulfilling its role as champion of the independent developer, proffers bargain basement prices on emerging indie hopefuls. Far Cry 3, Assassin’s Creed 3, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, etc.) already seemed stale. The sale came (as it always does) at a most fortuitous time: by this point, the big titles (i.e. It also heralds the approach of what’s become a great tradition in the realm of digital consumerism: “ The Steam Sale.” Twice yearly, Valve offers a substantial collection of its games with reduced price tags via their online store. When Christmas comes around, major game development studios push out their franchise titles for the big sell. If a gamester wisely scheduled his or her life during the past month (and wasn’t afraid to dig deep into their wallets), leaving the house wouldn’t be an option. For gamers, the holiday season brings about a similar deluge of offerings. Ace of Spades is pure fun to play, but I’m not sure smashing two games together qualifies as innovation.Įvery summer, movie-goers anticipate an onrush of big budget, blockbuster titles.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |