The Settler, which should be the most unique path of all, still needs some work to fully come into its own, but this is geared towards people who like to help others. Soldiers in the early levels seem only good for extra opportunities to kill things – bonus XP and loot perhaps. Choosing between Soldier, Settler, Explorer and Scientist unlocks unique content for that path, along with unique quests and unique ways of interacting with the environment. You’ll have heard a lot about the Paths by now – this secondary class choice that allows you to tailor your journey in specific ways. It certainly keeps you on your toes, although sometimes I find myself staring at the floor (where the telegraphs are) as much as I do at anything else. Movement is key, and each class's special skill means you have to learn how to combo and chain your opponents in different ways. And there are far too many ‘kill ten rats’ quests.Īt least combat is interesting – Wildstar’s ‘telegraph’ system is definitely unique, and forces you to play in a completely different way. Carbine has put some effort into it, but it’s almost like it has done so well in some areas, that when you come across something that isn't as accomplished, it’s painfully obvious. Wildstar also makes decent use of micro-instancing, where the game world will change at key times depending on where the player is in a quest. There are also some well thought out multi-part quests, and overall, you’re gently tugged through the world at a respectable pace. It’s not that the quest design is lazy – there are some rather funny, quirky tasks that you’re asked to do. But it’s inconsistent, and almost jarringly so. Some are more inspired than others, and every now and again you’ll have a kill quest, or a fetch quest, that’s presented in a much better way then what is typical. Wildstar has its fair share of stock quests. Questing is the meat and potatoes of any MMO, and this is where things start to get a little complicated. It makes some of the less impressive parts more bearable. The Exiles, while less endearing, are never-the-less portrayed as the plucky pioneers wanting to escape the oppressive yoke of the Dominion. Being the evil autocratic empire that they are, they’re wonderfully and humorously portrayed in the opening levels as evil snobs who have very set, and very inaccurate, views on the world. I’ve enjoyed playing as the competing faction, The Dominion, the most so far. The story itself is actually pretty forgettable – ten levels into the Exile game and I still wasn’t really sure why I was doing what I was doing – but as you can see from the trailers, that refreshing willingness to be just a little bit silly is everywhere. The game’s single biggest strength is definitely its atmosphere – it permeates everything from quest-design to visuals. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Both of the games’ main factions, the Dominion and the Exiles, want to settle and claim Nexus for themselves and you, plucky adventurer/tyrant-wannabe, are going to be part of this glorious journey. Wildstar is set on the distant planet of Nexus - Home of the ancient and suspiciously absent Elden. It’s a unique game that feels like a breath of fresh air, while at the same time telling you that the past ten years of MMO design just didn’t happen. Perhaps it’s Carbine’s heritage, or perhaps they are just one those companies that decided to iterate and improve, instead of trying to reinvent Blizzard’s wheel. Playing Wildstar is a lot like looking into the past. Does this game have a shot at becoming a new MMO favourite? As always, the answer is never that simple. Wildstar is a sci-fi/fantasy mash-up by Carbine Studios, a company formed in 2005 by former members of Blizzard Entertainment. But to date none has managed to capture the business and interest as Blizzard’s behemoth.īut now we have a new contender. Sure, there have been more experimental MMOs, better designed MMOs, even prettier MMOs. "It’s a unique game that feels like a breath of fresh air, while at the same time telling you that the past ten years of MMO design just didn’t happen."įor the past decade, the MMO agenda has been firmly and irrefutably set by World of Warcraft. It’s sassy, it’s got some good ideas, but it also seems haunted by the spectre of its spiritual ancestor, says Joe Robinson. Wildstar is a new MMO from NCSoft, developed by ex-Blizzard developers Carbine Studios.
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