About Metal War Online just heard a few. Indeed, the game has not even a trailer and no tangible gameplay description yet. However, applications for ZAT (closed alpha testing) are already being accepted, which means that something is known about the game after all. Today we will share this well-known information and some of its analysis.
So, first of all, let's designate the genre - a session client online racing arcade game with a third-person view. Although "racing" is not quite an accurate definition - "racing-destructive" rather (in English there is a word "racing", under which any type of vehicle control is suitable; here it is very relevant). If someone has such a description leaves questions, then remember the order-bearing World of Tanks... She has about the same words in the “genre” column. The only difference is that here are not slow tanks, but nimble futuristic cars. Nevertheless, from afar, a certain similarity is observed: you need to download the client, the active phase of the game is represented by battles, in the intervals between which the players return to their hangars, where they repair their fighting friends, buy improvements for them and mentally prepare for the next battle.
The prehistory of the conflict is spelled out in sufficient detail, albeit quite predictable. In the not too distant future, Morgan Industries and the Global Resource Network are battling for the fossil resource required to create artificial... blood! Of course, no corporation wants to concede this tidbit to another. What began as an invisible war, quite unexpectedly turned into a global conflict with the involvement of mercenary military organizations and other vultures of the war, who want to weld on someone else's death.
In the role of just one of these vultures who entered the service of one of the private military organizations serving the aforementioned corporations, we will have to play. And, apparently, it is not necessary to swear allegiance to any one office.
Since this is happening in the not very distant future (but far enough not to be too similar to our modern realities), the means of transportation on which we have to fight each other over territories look somewhat futuristic and militarily correct. And most importantly, they have a recognizable and uniform style. The concept is to harmoniously combine militarism and futurism in the car.
The main combat power is borne by the so-called BShMs, that is, armored assault vehicles. These are heavily armed, well-protected mobile destroyers of everything and everyone. The most advanced weapons are placed on them, and due to the non-rigid fastening of the guns, the BShM can bring down all its power in almost any direction at any time. It copes well with any types of destructive tasks, but it is most effective against its relatives. The main disadvantage is low maneuverability.
BShMs TYPES help to stay on wheels, and in Russian - engineering support transports. These are a kind of multipurpose "mules", engaged in repairs right on the battlefield, installing minefields, aerosol screens, as well as creating electromagnetic interference that knocks down the enemy's electronic guidance systems. They are equipped with medium armament and medium protection, they may well support in battle or cover during defense, but in a one-on-one collision they are rather weak.
The smallest combat units on the battlefields of Metal War Online are BRMs, military reconnaissance vehicles, if completely. These predominantly jeep-like comrades have increased maneuverability and maneuverability, which affects both their weapons and the thickness of their armor. Their main task is intelligence. They, like real spies, dart across the battlefield, trying not to catch the eye of anyone, but at the same time sniffing out who and where is and where they are moving. Due to multiple launch rocket systems, they can deliver sudden point and very painful strikes, but they are not able to fight for any length of time, therefore they quickly retreat.
And their complete opposite is the MACs, that is, mobile artillery systems. These are heavy artillery mounts placed on wheeled platforms. Their main purpose is the elimination of fortifications and various ground structures, the destruction of enemy forces at great distances. With a huge selection of wheelbases and artillery towers, you can find a middle ground between mobility and firepower. Equipped with medium armor and a minimum of external weapons to protect against attacks from short distances.
Each class has several basic models that the player can modify in any way: change parts, weapons. Let's consider this gradation using the example of TYPES:
Rank: 1
Name: Jumper
Description:
Nimble TYPE, the fastest assistant on the battlefield. Most often he lives somewhere on the front lines, helping those who urgently need support. Despite its size, it does its job very well.
Rank: 2
Name: Runner
Description:
"Workhorse" among the TYPES. Less fast when compared to the Jumper, but much more "pumped" from the technical point of view, an assistant capable of carrying missile weapons. Reliable, convenient, simple.
Rank: 3
Name: Outpost
Description:
Outpost is already an elite of TYPES. It has a full range of engineering support and protection tools. If there is one in the detachment, this is already quite a serious trump card. He fixes quickly, hits painfully, puts mines when and where necessary.
Rank: 4
Name: Kepper
Description:
Kepper can do everything. This is more of a super-TYPE than just a TYPE, because of the entire class it has the most powerful weapons, the thickest armor, and even in one-on-one combat it can cause a lot of trouble, and only in the company of BShMov, which he can periodically repair, generating interference for enemy targeting systems, Kepper forms an almost invincible strike force.
A similar gradation takes place in each of the machine classes, when at the lower rank we have at our disposal a very narrowly focused type of equipment, and at the fourth we have practically a universal, capable of performing a huge number of combat missions.
There are not many maps yet, and specifically - two: "Base in the Desert" and "Australian City". The first has so far a couple of art pieces and the general concept of a very tricky map with various elevation differences and battle tactics based on this.
If you do dry pomace, it turns out that Metal War Online is a conceptual sister of World of Tanks, brewed on stylistic cabbage soup with the flavor of Twisted Metal and the likes of Ex Machina, but a little more smoothed and insane. At the moment, there is only one big question for the game: how is it played? Because MWO looks good, but everyone can successfully spoil the high ping, not very direct distribution of players in the match, incomprehensible balance, inconvenient driving physics and a curve model of car damage, and a bunch of other little things. But this will become known during the ZAT, which starts soon. And personally, I am optimistic about the future.