MAG: Massive Action Game

MAG (Massive Action Game) Review

Published by: US: Sony Computer Entertainment

Developed by: Zipper Interactive

Genre: Online Shooter

Number of Players: 64-256 (multiplayer only)

Release Date: January 26, 2010

The problem with consol online gaming is that it has always been so limited to how many players could be in a match. 64 players is the highest amount anyone had in a game on a consol. That’s where MAG comes in, 64 is the lowest amount you can have in a game and the max is an astounding 256 players. Users are divided into eight-player squads, with four squads forming a platoon, and four platoons forming a company. Each squad is led by a player who has advanced through the game’s ranking system. Character statistics and development also increase with frequent gameplay. The players assigned leadership positions are able to simultaneously direct the battle and participate directly in combat.

When creating a character there are 3 different factions you can choose from. There’s S.V.E.R. (pronounced ‘sever’) who look like gorilla fighters from the middle east and russia; Valor looks like marines from the US, Canada, and UK; Raven is the european hi-tech private army looking company. Careful picking who you choose though, there are defined differences between them that can greatly impact your success in battle. I suggest picking one and playing for a little while then delete to pick another faction then repeat. Because of the differences between the stats of the factions there is a tendency for people to delete characters to join the more popular faction. Well that’s pretty much it as far as story goes. There are three factions fighting to control all the fuel in the world there by controlling the world.

There are 4 different game modes besides training. Training is of course basic as hell showing you how to control you character and perform various tasks, but not how to use vehicles and your minimap though. First is suppression, basic deathmatch, 32 vs. 32 players. Second sabotage; 64 vs. 64; as the attacking team you must acquire 2 objective points then attack the defending teams base then plant a charge and defend until explosion. The only thing is that if the defending team doesn’t lose their base before the time limit they win. Third acquisition; capture the flag; 64 vs. 64. Finally there’s domination, the largest game mode and only one to have all leadership positions. Its 128 vs. 128, 256 players in other words. The maps are divided into four sections from the center of the map with the defending team spawning from and defending the center. The attacking team must destroy and hold cooldown towers then unlocking the objective of destroying AAA’s. Once you have done all that you then move on to attack the center base of the defending team. There are letter objectives in the base and holding them will raise the damage bar until the defending team loses. The only thing I didn’t like was that with the map divided into quadrents assures that you don’t see anyone outside your platoon. Plus it just doesn’t really feel like a 256 player battle.

You can customize your face, hairstyle, and even the voice of your character. You are also able to customize your equipment, earning more equipment while leveling of course. You also obtain points to put into a skill tree while leveling. The different class skill trees are Assault, Marksman, Close Quarters, Special Ops, Engineering, Athleticism, Vehicles, and Resistances. The level cap in this game is 70 and once reached you may enter veteran mode. Veteran mode will wipe everything on your character except for medals and awards you’ve earned, you may then to choose to go to a different faction or stay in your own. Veteran mode also will give you +10% experience and a star for evertime.

I found in this game that the majority of players want to be medics. The medic tool can heal yourself plus heal and revive others. For that very fact it is the easiest way to rack up points and is exploited to the extreme. I found this game extremely fun but it only has 9 maps and four game modes. They tried to impress by having 256 players in a match but like I said before, because of the way they designed the gameplay you don’t have any chance of encountering more than a platoon and doesn’t feel like a 256 player game. I give MAG 8 out of 10.

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