PSC Gamer

MAG Open Beta Impressions

January 8, 2010 at 1:02 pm (PS3) (beta, Games, impressions, M.A.G., MAG, Massive Action Game, PS3, review, reviews, spawn camping, Video Games)

I desperately want to like MAG. As a PS3 exclusive, I feel duty bound to at least try and give it support. But I fear that the game’s core design is flawed. I’ve been playing the MAG beta since it went open and although there are 2 game modes available (64 player sabotage and domination 128 player). I have only been able to play sabotage as there are never any domination games available and the one time I got into a game the lag forced me to quit (before anyone says the problem was at my end, I played sabotage before and after without any problems, and without restarting the console or my router).

Part of the problems is the limitation of only three maps to a game type (at this time that is, I don’t know if they will add more maps per game mode). In fact, Zipper Interactive have kind of shot themselves in the foot by limiting you to only playing as defender or attacker (depending on the map) and therefore halving the variation in game play you can get out of each map. It also makes familiarising yourself with the maps difficult as the only view you ever get of the enemy half of the map is the hectic dash to your objective.

The second problem is the use of fixed spawn points, which encourages spawn camping. In sabotage, after securing the first 2 objectives you can spawn closer by parachuting in. Except sometimes your parachute doesn’t open, so you die instantly. If your parachute does open you still have to contend with an army of enemy snipers all lining up head shots on your slowly descending noggin.

On a more positive note I will say that the sounds in this game are great. The weapons are satisfying to fire and the gunfire and explosions heard across the battlefield create a great chaotic atmosphere. Also, if you listen carefully, you can hear an eagle from Assassin’s Creed.

Another thing I think has been done really well is grenades. Having gone from Uncharted 2 multiplayer to the MAG beta you really do notice a difference in the effect grenades have on gameplay. In MAG there is no cross-hairs for aiming the grenades and you have to switch weapons to use them. Compare this to Uncharted 2 where you can aim grenades with pinpoint accuracy and they have their own dedicated throw button which leads to grenade mayhem. The grenades in MAG are more like suppressive fire, which I think is a good thing.

MAG seems like a great idea on paper, but when you get down to it the large battles it offers are simply a collection of smaller fights. While 256 multiplayer is an astounding technical achievement (providing it does work), in reality it is more like eight 32-player matches on a really big map.

What’s your opinion on MAG? Will you be buying the game when it comes out later this month? Leave your comments in the section below.