Let's get the easy trolling out of the way, shall we?



Despite all that.

I honestly feel that all of the little things that went into this patch have finally pushed DUST over some invisible boundary into "really fun shooter territory." I'll try to break it down:

1) The new Gallente sockets/maps are a whole new class of fun.
Playing on these things has been the first time that I've felt DUST has delivered on the frantic, back-and-forth action CCP shows in all the trailers and promo videos for the game. Every sniper's nest is defendable, but has multiple access points. Vehicles can penetrate the complexes and really wreak havok, but infantry has plenty of cover and passages to duck out of the line of fire. The enterances are defensible, but there are too many for a 16 man team to cover effectively.

It really, honestly, is the first time CCP has pulled off a true AAA shooter map, and I think it deserves all the love threads the maps have gotten for it and more. (This one included.) The caveat of this is that CCP set a high bar for themselves now, and they're going to have to deliver on more maps/sockets like this to keep it going.

2) Blue dots are useful. Red dots are lethal.
Complain all you want about aimbot. It isn't nearly as strong as people make it out to be. But that fact that it exists and is noticeably useful means that games aren't dominated by 2-3 vet players and 15-16 useless lumps of cannon fodder anymore.

If bullets are coming your way now, you damn well pay attention. And sticking with your blue dots is good for more than using them as damage sponges. That makes the game more fun, at least in pubs. (sorry, but lol PC)

3) Radar changes made the game interesting.
For the last few days, I've been able to play a role I haven't been able to do since Chromosome: Ninja Fatty. Even a fat heavy like me can sneak up on people now, which means flanking is a valid tactic again. I couldn't believe it until I started playing this patch, but the radar really did give you too much information previously.

Now the battle lines feel more fluid, and the action ranges over more parts of the map than the same usual defensible positions. Also, someone on your team having an Active Scanner is a huge asset right now, WP reward or not.

4) Things are shiny.
Sure it's superficial. But one of the consistent criticisms DUST has received have been about the graphics. And the textures and new designs look spiffy now. I happen to be really impressed with the new matchmaking starmap as well. It's 100% cosmetic, but it helps with the immersion of feeling like DUST is part of the EVE universe, even though in the back of my head I know is and likely will stay a lobby shooter.

There were a lot of nice little touches this time around. Good stuff, CCP.

5) CCP is actually fixing stuff.
I noticed this after the 1.2 release, and they're at it again. Even though day 1 after a patch is buggy as a warm turd in a fly farm, CCP fixes the slop incredibly fast by console standards. Contrast them against, say, Bethesda and PS3 Skyrim fixes/updates, and they look like saints. This is the one thing that I will consistently and uncynically give them credit for.


Now, be good little forum goers and start ripping this apart point by point. I, for one, and going to put my grizzled vet hat back on and continue making snide barbs about how racial Heavy and Scout suits aren't in game yet. I just had to get these positive feelings off my chest, first.