by charliebrownau » 26 Aug 12, 7:40 pm
Ghost Recon Online Beta Review
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Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online (GRO) is a free to play 3D third-person, cover-based shooter developed by Ubisoft Singapore
It is an ""free2play"" title unlike the pay GRFS PC game that has the
WORST MULTIPLAYER system Ive seen on the PC platform
(My first network multiplayer pc game was Doom 1 when it first was released as shareware back at 1993)
GRO is shaping up to be a really fun online only multiplayer game. It has some issues to be addressed but if your looking
between buying GRFS and playing GRO with zero or a little of micro transations . I would suggest playing GRO.
Where GRO is let down by the players thou is the eight person squad (aka team) does not have enough Assault
or a single Specialist class soldier, meaning you dont have access to abilities like Blitz, Heat ,AEGIS-Shield, and EMP.
Think of it as an eight-man MMO raiding party without a healer or tank. Get used of a team almost filled by Recon Snipers.
System I tested the game on:
OS:- Windows 7
8 gig of RAM (2x4gig)
Intel Core2Duo 6420 (2.13ghz)
Gigabtye GF GTX 560ti OC 1gig
Western Digital 2TB Black Sata2 HDD
Logitech G19 Keyboard
MS basic Mouse
Logitech Clearchat USB Headset
Class's:
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Ghost Recon Online offers players the ability to choose between three different classes of Ghost: Assault, Recon and Specialist.
Specialists:
These can deploy a bullet-deflecting AEGIS Shield , basically an energy bubble big enough to protect the person and a handful of squadmates. The bubble doesn't last long, but it's perfect for pushing forward and seizing objectives in GRO's Conquest and Capture modes. Watch out though, because the perfect counter to the bubble shield is the EMP Blackout, also part of the Specialist's bag of tricks, which briefly shorts out all electrical equipment. Advancing under the cover of the AEGIS Shield only to have it shorted out by EMP Blackout while out in the open is a dive for cover experience.
Assault
The battering leroy of the game. With the shield and power-boosting using the Blitz ability
allows you to perform high-speed charges into enemy nests and clear the way for my squad like a true tank.
To combat the shield rush or shield bubble you can use HEAT weapon
a funky backpack device that microwaves targets to disorient and fry them.
Finding games online and match making
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Its easier to jump in and have a game , the matching puts you in a game a lot quicker as its hosted by hidden dedicated servers.
So this means you dont view the servers via the normal server browser like most shooter games. But it ""Match's"" you with
""Apprently"" simular skilled players.
Unfortnatly the matching doesnt acount for your playing on international servers, you have people with multiple languages
and multiple countrys/regions.
The matching doesnt limit the amount of recons (aka snipers) so expect each round to have often 3 to 5 recons per side.
Im surpised you cant class switch in GRO like you can in Battlefield (1942-BC2)
Also not having a proper medic class forces you to run away like a girl and hide behind something,
often while finding a safe spot you die.
Pay2Win
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Probly the most annoying thing about GRO I am finding is the constant need to buy nades.
Now if you have seen me play any other shooter, espically BC2 you will know I love an Mxx gun with nade attactment and
throwing nades. Often people are raging saying dont i use anything but nades.
I find myself buying at least 15-20 nades per day , now thats after wining 20 free nades as part of the daily challages
There are also consumable items to give you a temporary boost - you can buy special ammo to do extra damage, but after that's depleted,
you have to buy more. You can buy "armor inserts" that offer health regeneration or added resistance but quickly expire.
Game Installer
I found the game installer a let down , for 3 reasons
1. You have two beta game installers, one locked to USA servers, one locked to EU Server.WHY not a single game client to allow you to choose ? so thats another 2 gig download just to connect to another server.
2. Seems to download and upload as an bit torrent client without a way of disabling this feature.
3. Install path , at no point was i asked were to install the game nor could steam detect it as its not a standard add/remove entry . It hides itself in my users folder. The windows shortcut was useless and refers to itself as ClickOnce Application Reference.
Good about GRO
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Dedicated Servers
Reduced wait time between finding a game
Game supports a party (aka fireteam) of 4 players
Free
Friends system works unlike GRFS
Can whipser friends
Can text type in game , team and server
can type in lobby correctly unlike GRFS
Does not lauch from website
Does not need uplay/steam/origin
Bad about GRO
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Shouldnt be called GRO , should be called - Ubisoft Future Soldier online
2 rounds then your back to finding players
Game does not support a squad or clan of 6 to 8 players
Cant link two parties of 4 on the same server
Game does not support CLAN/Guild/Squad TAGS and squad/clan/guild scoring as a group
One backpack for 3 class's
Nades arnt free
No medic
No engieer
No recon balls
No Asian or AU/NZ server to play on
GRO Client seems to act as an bit torrent seeder, be carefull of this.
you cant class switch in GRO like you can in Battlefield & TF2
installer
Cant buy more nades if your out in storage
Annoying blue lines between you and team mate , please get rid of it
No storyline or setup of any kind
no class requirement slots for teams
