WarpForce: Blog Post Number One!

Here it is! The first of many WarpForce blog posts! I’ll be going over the main points of the Beta release in this blog post.

Space, the.. Largest, Frontier (WarpForce Beta)

Now, since this isn’t a standard blog post, I’ll just analyze things by major parts of gameplay. Story, combat, etc.

Getting Started

WF functions a little differently than AQ in its starting phases. First, the name. Then you can choose one of two classes, Striker or Gunner. Obviously, Strikers use energy blades and the like, while Gunners use.. Guns. You’ll then choose from one of three races: Human, Elves and, my personal favorite, Drakel. There are a large number of different combinations for these three races, so you can really be however you like. Now, it’s time to get started!

Story-Line

Well as we all know, WF takes place at the same time as AQ, right after the Devourer Saga.

You play as a young adventurer on Lore. While exploring the area, you meet Zorbak, who arranges a small battle for you, to introduce you to the game’s battle system.

This launches into a long cutscene, telling you of The’Galin, the Network, and just where your place will be in this new world.

Celestra, AKA The Huntress has been told of all the potential you have by her now deceased father Garavin, The Eternal.  After beating down a Virin, one of the powerful, parasitic creatures of the Network, she invites you to join the WarpForce! As is the way of RPG’s, you accept.

This sends you to an old Amiliani (Water Drakel) outpost, where Admiral Amada welcomes you to the WarpForce. From there, you lift off in the LSS Alteon and head to V’eld Valkan. A V’eld is like a K’eld, a Drakel domed city, save for one thing.. It floats in space! And with that, you head off into the sea of stars, to fight the Network, and fight their evil.

Art/Cutscene

One word.. Wow. Just, wow. The faces that make up your character are very well-done, and are drawn beautifully. The enemies themselves are works of art, I will admit, but the cutscenes are some of the best I have ever seen. From the movement and animations of V’eld Valkan, to Lore which almost seems to breathe when viewed from orbit, the artwork in WF takes advantage of the AQ engine perfectly!

This is all very good, especially when you consider where it will put WF. WF gets the best of AQ’s graphics from the very start. It won’t have to worry about the older, bad graphics, it can start fresh with a great look!

Battle

Battle in WF is very similar to AQ. Shields are replaced with Gauntlets, weapons that add an extra offensive twist to fighting, and can be very useful. Spells are now Skills/Technologies, mostly using technological powers, since magic is rather rare in space. Barring that, this battle system is the same as AQ’s, which is understandable since it uses AQ’s engine.

My Main Concerns

Battle

While the battle system in AQ is handled quite well, I know that it turns a lot of people off to AQ. This is a small concern I have, though the extra things that WF seems to be adding should be sufficient to kill most boredom. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Similarities to AQ

This is similar to my last point, just on a broader scale. Many worry that WF is too similar to AQ. I understand this to a certain extent, since almost everything is like AQ. From shops, to battle, to even NPC’s, it is a bit too reminiscent of AQ. However, as I detailed in my Art/Cutscenes section, they may be able to combat this rather well. After all, one could view this as an expansion pack to AQ.

My Overall Thoughts on the Beta Release

Well, the WF Beta is very interesting so far. It’s shown us just what we can expect, both for the standard player area, to the WarpGuardian section. It’s definitely a good way to start off WF, and with the things they’ve layed down– the great art, the amazing story, the amazing NPC’s– AE can make WF a solid, amazing game, and a very welcome addition to the ranks of the AE games. I give the WF Beta Release 9 1337 Starships, out of 10.