Clone D
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Posted - 2014.07.15 13:08:00 -
[1] - Quote
I will rate it subjectively from my own perspective of what the game has meant to me.
I have had so much fun playing this game.
I have never been more irritated than at times when I have played this game.
Fittings 9/10
I found it amusing planning ahead for what I could equip in those little boxes before I had maxed my CPU and PG. Minus 1 for having to perform so many manual calculations to get a firm understanding of the ewar etc. capabilities of my build.
MCC 5/10
We should be able to interact with the MCC in other ways, like mount an onboard gun, land our dropships in bays, etc. Also, it is parked, but would be cooler if it moved around.
Vehicles 10/10
All of the vehicles have their own individual feel. I am impressed with the various personalities of the war machines, whether I'm driving/piloting or taking them down with A/V.
Soldiering 9/10
Foot soldier warfare in Dust is gripping and engaging. There are diverse play styles and challenges to overcome and I have never spent a dull moment on the field. While there are technical problems with the gear and servers that cause severe frustration, I rate the intended soldiering experience as nearly exactly what I want from a FPS. We need work on cover and terrain glitches, but the actual soldiering feel is strong.
Team Play and Autonomy 10/10
Dust works as a squad based game or for lone wolves. Kudos to CCP for achieving this balance. There are enough communication channels to manage squads or tutor individuals over text/mic.
TACNET 5/10
This system for battlefield intel has merit, but the execution is mediocre at best. From stealth tanks to dot aliasing, this system could use a significant overhaul.
Game Design 5/10
CCP has created a battlefield theater that allows gamers to express themselves in a variety of ways, experience myriad roles and watch their buddies die repeatedly. They have also created a new fog of war with their convoluted ewar scheme. The mechanics of the game are exceedingly contrived. We have begged to be able to deny revives, we have tolerated the shifting rules of ewar over the various versions, and we have not transposed from the "that was bullsh*t" reaction to "that was believable" response. The game design does not appear to align with the needs of the community as a whole and needs more than tweaks.
Server Capabilities 1/10
I have a solid ISP (25 Mbps speed and <1ms jitter), and yet I have never experienced as much lag with anything ever as Dust 514. What the hell? CCP please double the budget for your server health. Jesus
Community 5/10
There is a generous amount of hostility in our community. I hope that newcomers are not deterred by the abrasiveness of our interactions. But there is also friendly support to be found here, so thanks everyone for just being who you are.
Development Team 3/10
Here's a group of guys who, historically, have needed some training on integration testing, regression testing, user acceptance testing and quality assurance. I have to admit, though, when I deploy to the battlefield and see a pinkish atmosphere and an enormous neighboring planet lingering over the horizon, I am mentally transported to that planet. So, well done on the game setting and look of the game. Also, when nanite injectors work correctly, it feels like I just stuck the guy with a needle, so well done on feel too. But there's certainly a notable degree of neglect concerning the final product: needs a lot more repair and polish.
Marketing 2/10
CCP released some strong trailers for this game but didn't live up to the hype. I don't know how much revenue was generated because of this game, but Dust 514 has attracted something of a stigma now. I don't foresee this game making much in the future unless the marketing and business model surrounding it change significantly. IMO we need ways other than microtransactions and boosters to spend money on the game. I personally would like to purchase some BPO goodies or buy some SP because I like paying for semi-permanent things.
Overall 6/10
While the game is supremely fun when it works, there are sundry drawbacks and irritants that pull this title down from the one-of-a-kind MMOFPS that it should be. CCP, if you ever revisit Dust 514, I hope you have the technical proficiency and budget to materialize your vision.
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