Play alone or with others! David Kidd sticks his hands down his pants.
The result, for those that know Tribes, is less weapons, simpler gameplay, better graphics, and a single player campaign. If you don't know Tribes, think BF and UT with skis and jetpacks. The question that really needs answering, then, is why would someone not interested in Tribes defect from BF or UT, and why would a Tribes freak be interested in a sequel with the meat taken out?
The answer is, simply, that it works. Jetpacks and skiing are better than ever, and the new game modes, borrowed from UT, are great. The hardcore Tribes players will flinch at some of the casualties, though - the multiple grenade types and extensive base building options have been pared back, and the commander screens and troop transports are nowhere to be seen.
That said, there are some new additions, like the grappling hook, which refresh the franchise and bring new strategies to the game. We haven't talked about the single player campaign, which is really just a series of training levels. Its key selling point is the option to play through the eyes of several characters, but it's largely unremarkable - we would have preferred a solid skirmish option to hone our skills. However, it does serve to flesh out the rich game world which, until now, hasn't been capitalised on.
Ultimately, IG has delivered a game that should appeal to those outside the Tribes sphere, while still retaining the fans. But, like all multiplayer games, it will live or die on the servers, and currently the local situation isn't too hot. As such, here's hoping the mainstream community will embrace it.
Issue: 133 | February, 2012