Starhawk

[Makο]

The Open Beta is up on PSN, so go ahead and get it!


Anyway, Starhawk is the spiritual successor to the PS Exclusive "Warhawk".

[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starhawk_%282012_video_game%29"]http://en.wikipedia....2_video_game%29[/url]

Wiki awaaaaaay!


This is one of those games that makes me wonder: "Why am I still playing Call of Duty?"

This game is incredibly fun, imo. It's a Third Person Shooter with a mix of Vehicular Combat and RTS elements. With 32 player online, how can you say no to it?

A notable element of the game is the "Build & Battle" system, which is the RTS element of the game. While on the ground (or in a vehicle if you're good at it), you can press and hold Triangle. This brings up a small HUD with several building options, including an armory, a motor pool, a sniper tower, and various defensive structure. As of now, we have the following list.

[spoiler=List] - Supply Depot - Where you grab the Rocket Launcher, Shotgun, and ammo and grenade supplies.

- Razor Garage - Where you can construct a Razor, which is basically a Light Attack vehicle with a gunner, driver, and man in the side seat.

- Watchtower - A tall tower that has a Sniper Rifle (I think it's actually called a Rail-gun or something to that effect) and ammo for it.

- Wall - A wall that can be linked to OTHER walls. Can be upgraded into a gate.

- Auto Turret - A weak machine gun turret that targets nearby enemies.

- Vulture Station - A small structure from which you may grab a jet pack. Vital to being successful at this game.

- Beam Turret - A larger defensive turret that fires a long beam of energy. Can be manually operated.

- Pod Beacon - A small structure used as a spawn location.

- Hawk Pad - A structure where you can construct and deploy Hawks.

- Energy Shield - A defensive structure that create a bubble of energy. It keeps weapon fire from going in or out of the shield.

-(NEW) Corral - Deploys Sidewinders.

-(NEW) Ox Bay - Deploys the Ox Heavy Tank.
[/spoiler]

Construction is based on something called Rift Energy, which you can gain from your main base, a Pod Beacon, or from various Rift Energy Containers spread around the map. You can also collect it by killing enemies or enemy structures. More powerful structures cost/drop more Rift Energy than others, making wise spending vital. There's also a limit to how many structure a team can place on the map.

Another cool feature is the spawning system. Instead of just popping out of nowhere, you are launched down from space is a pod, similar to how Section 8's spawning works. However, instead of being able to drop down almost anywhere, you are limited to friendly territory. This is where Pod Beacons come most in handy.

One of the major attractions to the game (for me, at least) is the vehicle known as a Hawk. This assault mech is about 3-4 times taller than a character, and has a (kind of) unique ability. It can transform from a ground based siege mech to a swift aerial fighter jet. This makes popping in and out of enemy bases a blast as a harassment technique, and it looks pretty dang cool too.

As of now, in the beta, there are 2 maps (or at least 2 types), and 2 game modes. Capture the Flag and Team Deathmatch.

Over all, this game is just a blast to play, and is one of those games where you DON'T get frustrated, even if you die.

Probably one of the best features in the beta is the server system, where we can host our own servers with our own set of rules, including time limit, game modes, and a password (temp disabled) to enter. This could lead to us having matches just between us YCMers!

So...anyone else play the beta?

...oh, great. Now I have to decide between WoW, a 3DS, AND the preorder for this May 8th release. GOD DAMMIT

[ragnarok1945]

just flip a coin between which you want to buy first, Mako

[Makο]

...There's such thing as a 3-sided coin?

Also, stay on topic Rag.

[ragnarok1945]

yes if you get a trick one that can also land on its edge

is this beta like Battlefield?

[Makο]

It kind of is, as I feel the same as when I die in Battlefield. Not mad. At all.


But it's leaps and bounds ahead in terms of in-game technology, unless you can show me a transforming mech in the Battlefield series. However, this game is a Third Person shooter, and has smaller (actually not by much) maps.

I think the game isn't that high yet, but it'll support 16 on 16 matches, which I'm EXCITED for.

[ragnarok1945]

yeah I cannot do much in 3rd person Shooters (except Dead Space for some reason)

in-game technology........

You know I never played Battlefield 2142 before, could it be like that?

[Makο]

Naw, those mechs are still a little low on the tech scale. I mean, they might be more dangerous in terms of weaponry, but they're also less agile and versatile.

[ragnarok1945]

then please show me the picture of the transforming meh

[Makο]

How about a video instead?

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaXPg5TSXTA&feature=player_embedded[/media]

Note that he called them Warhawks, which is actually incorrect. He also said that L1 fires lasers, when it clearly fires missiles. But still. It's a very good overview.


EDIT: My mistake. They're actually called Swarming Lasers, so he is correct.

[ragnarok1945]

someone's clearly been too obessessed with Mech Warrior and Transformers....

[Makο]

...Define who you are referring to with that little comment.


Anyway, I thought you don't even have a PS3. Why are you talking about this PS3 exclusive?

[ragnarok1945]

because my friend has one, and maybe I can convince him to get the game and I can go over to his house and play it

[Makο]

Oh, ok.

[quote name='Mako109' timestamp='1330670749' post='5851492']
...Define who you are referring to with that little comment.
[/quote]

[ragnarok1945]

if you look at the mech, then compare to Bay's 3 Transformer films, you can see the resemblance

similarly, if you had ever played MechAssault, you can see the resemblance there too

[Makο]

I know WHAT you're talking about with the comment, I want to know WHO you are talking about when you say this:

[quote name='ragnarok1945' timestamp='1330670684' post='5851489']
someone's clearly been [b]too obessessed[/b] with Mech Warrior and Transformers....
[/quote]

The makers of the game, I presume?

[ragnarok1945]

well obviously, who else would I have referred to?

[Makο]

You're Rag. You could be referring to anyone.

[ragnarok1945]

well whatever, that's just what I think they combined it with by becoming too obsessed with those

[Makο]

Having ONE vehicle in the game that can transform between a ground mech and aerial fighter does not make them obsessed with them. That's like saying "Oh, man, you have 1 Yu-Gi-Oh! card. You must be OBSESSED with Yu-Gi-Oh!"

[ragnarok1945]

wait, so that's the only one that can transform?

[Makο]

...Yeah. -.- The other vehicles are a light attack vehicle (works about identically to a Warthog from halo) and a jetpack, if you consider it one.

[ragnarok1945]

then the developers must have just had their obsession for a moment

[Makο]

...No. Not at all. There WAS no obsession, and there IS no obsession. They thought it was a cool idea, as did MANY others, and they implemented it. Stop trying to press any sort of obsession.

[ragnarok1945]

figures

well either way if it has its ties with Battlefield, I may show interest

[Makο]

BIIIIIG Update as of recent!

If you missed my status earlier, a whole BUNCH of new stuff was added to the beta! This includes:

1 New Large Map
Officially Added 32 Player matches
2 New Vehicles
New Weapon type for the Hawk
New Music
New Sound Effects
Some New Layouts
2 New Structures (One for each of the new vehicles)
New Clan System (My Clan is the Crazy Unit-X clan, or just CRUX)
New settings for server creation

I barfed rainbows when I saw the new stuff, and even now, I think I may have missed some!

Grab and play the beta while you can, as it ends March 28. Thankfully, the game releases May 8th, so you won't have to wait long for the game afterwards!