12-01-2007, 04:41 AM
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#206 (permalink)
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Marios's Mustache Wax
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 11
Reputation: 10
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I posted this way back in page 16, but the moderator seems to have been inactive during that time. Here's my review of Savage: Battle for Newerth. I'm pretty proud of it since it took me more than 2 minutes to type up  The original review has been edited for clarity and completeness.
Quote:
I think this hasn't been posted yet. I'll try to make this as detailed as possible.
The game "Savage - Battle for Newerth" was released as freeware on September 1st, 2006 by S2 Games to promote their upcoming release Savage 2: A Tortured Soul. It's an online RTS/FPS hybrid.
Story: Basically, after an apocalypse, mankind is beginning to rebuild and rediscover long-lost technology, but now they have to compete with highly-evolved intelligent animals using magic weapons. Legion of Man vs. Beast Horde.
Gameplay: This game is multiplayer-only. The ultimate objective of each time is to destroy the opposing team's Stronghold (Men) or Lair (Beasts). Games typically last around 30 minutes, but some particularly drawn-out battles can last over an hour if the time limit allows. Also, cooperative teamwork is ESSENTIAL if you even hope to win a game.
Each team has a commander that can command NPCs and PCs from a top-down RTS point of view. The commander orders units to build structures and gather resources (gold and redstone). The commander also researches weapons, equipment, and new unit classes which can be bought by PCs at the loadout screen when respawning. That said, the commander is central to the success of the team; sadly, skilled commanders are rare, because of the steep learning curve.
As for the player characters, they play from either 3rd person (melee) or 1st person (ranged weapon) perspectives. They can choose whether to follow the commander's orders or go off killing enemies and wild NPC animals. PCs also gain experience from kills, building structures, and mining resources. When players level up, they automatically receive upgrades such as improved melee weapons, stamina, and armor, regardless of class. Gold, which is used to buy available weapons, equpiment, and classes upon respawning, is dropped as "loot" by fallen enemies, and can also be gained in small amounts by attacking enemy structures. The commander can appoint officers on his/her own team. Officers are PCs who can issue orders to fellow players, although obedience is of course optional. Don't get me wrong - skilled officers can rally their teammates to quickly overwhelm the enemy!
Each team has different, but similar equipment and classes. The Human team has technology branches of Archery, Magnetism (bullet guns), Electricity (energy weapons), and Chemical (explosives). The Beast team has Melee powers, Entropy magic (earth), Fire magic, and Strata magic (ice and lightning). Each branch of tech/magic is also used to research items such as mines, sensors, cloaking devices, etc. The first level of each branch of weaponry is also free for PCs to equip.
Each team also has a variety of unit classes to choose from. Generally, there is the light, fast, basic class for free, the medium class with a balance between power/speed/health, and the slow but STRONG heavy class. There are also the specialized healer (human: Chaplain; beast: Shaman) and building-wrecking siege classes (human: Ballista, Catapult beast: magic-slinging Summoner, tree-swinging Behemoth).
I think that covers gameplay.
Specifications: For a completely free game, Savage's graphics are rather decent. The system requirements are not high-end, so computers that are 5 years old should be able to play Savage well, although on slightly reduced settings. Music and sound effects are average, but eventually you forget about them in the midst of the carnage.
Minimum System Requirements:
Windows® 98, ME, 2000, XP or Linux
Controls: Mouse and Keyboard
CPU: 600 MHz processor
Memory: 128 MB RAM
Drives: 4x CD-ROM and 600 MB Hard Drive space for installation
Video: GeForce or Radeon series graphics cards
Online Connection: 56k modem
Recommended System Requirements:
Controls: 3 button mouse with a scroll wheel
CPU: 1000 MHz CPU or better (subject to change)
Memory: 256 MB RAM
Video: GeForce4 or better (OpenGL compatible Video Adapter)
Online Connection: Broadband (Cable Modem, DSL, or better)
Download:
http://www.s2games.com/savage/downloads.php
Other Important Notes: Most servers now run the Savage Enhancement Pack. This is basically a massive fan-created expansion pack, and adds TONS of new content to the game such as weather effects, new props, new NPCs, abilities, etc. It also allows the player limit to be raised from 64 to 128, and has support for 4-team battles. Most players have it too, so I HIGHLY reocommend that everyone gets it after installing the latest version of Savage (2.00e as of October 2, 2006).
GET IT HERE: http://www.notforidiots.com/SEP
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Oh, and thanks for adding Far Cry. Gonna d/l that now.
Last edited by mewarmor990; 12-01-2007 at 04:53 AM.
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