Ok, so I just started playing the beta last night. So far I cannot see this becoming successful, not because of the bugs or glitches (those will be worked out, hopefully) but because of the gameplay, controls and utterly confusing element regarding skills, upgrades etc etc.

My biggest issue right now is the controls. Pretty much everything about the controls feels wrong, I don't even know where to start.

First off I will point out the weapon selection wheel. 1.Right now you hold R2 and use the right stick to select a weapon, sadly this is contrary to every other game on the PS3 that has weapon wheel selections. it should be this: Bring up weapon wheel, use LEFT stick to highlight weapon, release the weapon wheel button, and get selected weapon. Also note that currently you have to HOLD the right stick in the direction of the weapon upon releasing the weapon wheel button to select that weapon, this is NOT GOOD. Having to hold the stick in that direction is horribly inconvenient. It should be move-and-drop, meaning I simply move the stick in the direction of the weapon I want, release the stick (thus selecting the weapon), and release the weapon wheel button to select it. This is instinctual, natural and what most players are used to. The fact I have to hold the right stick on the weapon, then release the weapon wheel button while still holding the right stick in that direction, is absolutely awful and awkward.

2.Secondly are the vehicle controls. What were you guys thinking? Practically every other vehicle based game on the PS3 has R2 as acceleration, L2 as brake/reverse, and left stick for steering. You guys have the acceleration, brake, reverse AND steering assigned to the left analog stick?! This needs to be changed to something more natural with what 99.9% of the PS3 gamers are used to. R2 for acceleration, L2 for brake and reverse, and left analog stick for steering. I'm not even going to get into position changing, one fix at a time. However I suggest CCP play some Warhawk to know how vehicles are supposed to be controlled/operated on the PS3.

3.Thirdly is the control aspect of the game (aiming, moving etc). All I can say is that the aiming/movement is horrendous in so many ways. It is not smooth at all, and is an unnatural struggle to aim and move around. I suggest you guys contact Activision and ask for the source code of the COD controls. Those games may be copy-and-paste redundancies, but one thing they have down PERFECTLY is the feel, movement, and aiming. Dust 514 is very linear in the aiming/control department, and it feels wrong and unnatural. My character doesn't aim where my brain is telling it to aim to, which is a problem. On games with fluid and responsive controls, this is not an issue.

4.Fourthly is the overall confusing-as-heck upgrade system. I have no idea what the frik is going on, probably would take me several months of experimenting to figure out how the system is setup. As it stands now, whoever has even a remote clue at how to properly do upgrades in this game, will have a HUGE advantage (already present with those who have those dang invulnerable tanks). I suggest that new players are introduced to things slowly, so they can learn how to properly use and purchase items at peak efficiency to their play-style. Giving the player access to everything right at the start is monumentally confusing, things need to be introduced slowly so the player can get a better feel for how to upgrade and what these skills and upgrades do. Perhaps some kind of ranking system could apply, at each rank you get introduced to new items and possibilities. But it is done relatively slowly/incrementally so the player knows what they need to do to play at their best without being utterly overwhelmed by all the options.


I have a lot of other issues with this game, especially TDM matches... but I'll leave that rant for another post.