SOFTWARE REVIEW

Communications Report:

Planetside: Core Combat

Category:
First-Person Shooter/MMORPG

Players:
Massively Multiplayer

Type/#:
CD / 1

Minimum System Requirements:

A Copy of Planetside, Windows 89/2000/ME/XP, 1GHz Processor, 256 MB RAM, 64 MB Video Card, 56k Internet Connection, 600 MB Free Hard Disk Space

Test System:

Windows XP, 1.4GHz AMD Athlon, GeForce FX 5200 128MB video card, 40 gig hard drive, 56x CD-ROM, 256MB DDR Ram, Sound Blaster Live! sound card, T1 Internet connection

Graphics and Sound:

While Core Combat does improve some of the other aspects of Planetside, it doesn't really do much for the bells and whistles. The graphics remain virtually unchanged, besides the addition of new weapons and vehicles, and the new underground caverns. These caverns, as can be expected, are dark and slightly claustrophobic and lined with large, blocky crystals all over the place. The graphics weren't bad in the first place, they just haven't evolved much farther since the game was launched.

The music takes the same path as the graphics, as it is totally appropriate within Planetside, but still not all that awe-inspiring. There are some new sound effects, however, for the new weapons and vehicles. These add a little more variety than there was before, but the effects also remain mostly unchanged.

Gameplay:

Planetside, the massively multiplayer online FPS, hasn't seen a radical change since it's launch. Now, with the first expansion to be released for it, Core Combat, fans have something new to sink their teeth into. Core Combat brings to the world of Planetside some new weapons, new vehicles and new underground caves that will be host to urban-like battles.

These caves house new modules that factions can steal and install at any surface base in order to build the new vehicles. Though the caves were meant to hold a lot of intense battles, you'll mostly find them empty. The underground modules are stolen rather quickly and then whisked to the surface to be installed at the nearest base. If you're lucky enough to find one of these modules being fought over, you're in for a good time. Otherwise, you'll have to settle for trudging over the five surface continents being contended for.

Players without the Core Combat expansion can still help out with the modules. They can make a difference on the surface, intercepting and stealing modules being transported to a base, but they can't go underground and help the fight there. They also can't use any of the new weapons or vehicles, which doesn't matter all that much because people seem to be sticking with the original ones anyway.

Difficulty:

The only real challenge that's been added in Core Combat is the newer type of fighting that takes place underground. Though the caverns themselves are huge, the caves that hold the modules within them are tiny. This close quarters combat is usually quick and dirty, with the winner being the lucky guys who sneak up on their enemies first.

Game Mechanics:

Even though not many people are using the new equipment included with Core Combat, you're still going to want to check them out. A new assault and heavy rifle have been added, as well as a smaller weapon that deals area effect damage. Amongst the vehicles are a hovering turret gun that's good for base defense and a long range artillery cannon that fires at locations that your team mates relay to you.

Though there are some intriguing things within Core Combat, only die hard players who go out of their way to utilize them will get the greatest experience. Also, none of the major problems of the original game have been fixed, such as the atrocious lag, meaning you're still going to be in for a bumpy ride. But if you're really into Planetside, then this purchase will definitely be worth your time and money.