Jumpgate Multiplayer Preview: Shades Of Descent
We descended into the depths of a hollow space station to try out the player-versus-player combat in NetDevil’s Jumpgate Evolution.
What Is It?
What do you mean, what is it? It’s Jumpgate Evolution, the massively multiplayer online space shooter that’s so thick and rich you can play it with a joystick. Rather than sticking to a strict leveling system with higher level players far overpowering newbs, the game’s combat is about skill…if you can hit the ship, eventually you’ll kill your opponent, as long as they don’t get you first.
What We Saw
I got to play through a couple of rounds of multiplayer in a completely enclosed space station map appropriately called “The Descent” on a rather lovely triple-monitor set up.
How Far Along Is It?
The game looks highly polished, but of course that’s only half the battle in an MMO game. Beta should be coming up soonishly, with a planned release sometime this year.
What Needs Improvement?
Skill Balance: Right now there really isn’t any method in place to separate the novice players from the more advanced ones, and in a skill-based game that can lead to some frustrating situations. NetDevil has no plans to fix this at the moment, so it might be a matter of just ganging up on the more skilled player until he or she gives up.
Control Tweaking: The ship I was flying had dampers on that were supposed to make it easier to navigate for a novice player, but I just couldn’t quite get the hang of it. Once I took off the dampers, however, I was flying around like a seasoned Descent veteran. This might just be a problem of personal experience – one just feels more natural than the other.
What Should Stay The Same?
Interior Battlegrounds: Fighting in space is nice, but you can only do so much in space. Battling in a confined area with huge space ships adds a welcome bit of variety to the game’s multiplayer. The Descent level I played through was quite true to its namesake, with round tunnels and twisting passages leaving the skilled triumphant and the uncoordinated hopelessly bumping into walls. I fell somewhere in-between.
Space Magic: Every time I think we’ve done all we could with computer graphics in space, some developer comes along and proves me wrong. Jumpgate is gorgeous, utilizing some interesting tricks and alien technology to keep something as bland and empty as space colorful and full of life.
It’s In The Way That You Use It: While the skill-based game play has its down side, it also has its upside. No matter how far a player has progressed through the game, they can still be taken out. They might have access to tougher ships or better equipment, but that means nothing if you can out-fly them. It gives players a chance to shine without having to invest all of their time in the game, which is still relatively rare in MMO-space.
Final Thoughts
This was my first time actually playing Jumpgate after watching others play for a year, and damn if it wasn’t worth the wait. If the adventure and excitement of the multiplayer game play carries over to the player-versus-environment sections, this could be exactly what fans of Wing Commander, Privateer, and Decent could want in a massively multiplayer game.
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
Skill should win vs Levels every time.
Do. Not. Change.
What? An MMO where I don't have to dedicate every waking hour of my life too in order to barly survive? Impossible!
Sounds good... might be one I pick up.
lolomfgisuck
I Descent game sounds mighty nice... hell, I'd even settle for Forsaken right about now :(
@PsycheE: Yeah I broke at least one Wingman joystick playing Descent (probably descent 2 actually). Man I loved that - I remember when the 3DFX patch came out we were all losing our minds with how smooth and slick everything looked.
the-hypnotoad
I goddamn love Descent.
ahh! Been waiting forever for Jumpgate, this couldn't come out faster. Hopefully it makes it this year. I have a serious Space Sim itch, and if this game is as epic as it's being reported, well worth it.
dozerking
@MaxDragon7: I have the sequel... In my PANTs!!!
... I'm sorry.
Spiderbait
@LCOS: Hurray for Freelancer! I was always waiting for the sequel and was giddy with glee when I saw Jumpgate. The very first thing I thought when I heard the name was "Wait! They used jumpgates in Freelancer!!!"
Spiderbait
@Kyoya: Does this seem to be it?
[en.wikipedia.org]
Note: This game had a sequel on the Dreamcast, [en.wikipedia.org]
A compilation of the the first two on the Gamecube, [en.wikipedia.org]
And a port to the Neo Geo Pocket Color, [en.wikipedia.org]
Joystick, you say?
Definitely going to have to get this when I invest in a desktop again.
Aidan_
Descen-esque, eh? I am suddenly very, very interested.
@DarkSonic999: OH MY CRAP! YOUR REMARKS ARE SO POIGNANT!
is the exact opposite of what I'm thinking... -_-;
(inb4 I see what u did thar)
It's a sequel to Jumpgate, which they've already got a trademark on AND at least a small internet footprint of recognition to go along with it.
There's only so many things to call a sequel. They're obviously not going to drop the main title for something completely different.
Solution: Add a numerical value, a subtitle, or extend the main title with a word that emphasizes progression.
@MaxDragon7: What about Evolution for the Dreamcast? That was a fun game, not sure exactly what the title had to do with the game though. Haven't really played it since I beat it when it first came out 9 years ago so my memory on the story is a little fuzzy.
Think it had something to do with some sort of evolving stuff, maybe? The one guy had a giant mechanical arm that was pretty bad ass though, I remember that.
Kyoya
@UrbanKnight: I'm pretty sure that the starfighter-only gameplay should mean that NetDevil would include plenty of features as to not make it boring after a while. Don't forget about the visuals. The game is supposedly very beautiful, with amazing graphics, after all.
@UrbanKnight: NetDevil also created the now-defunct MMO Auto Assault, about vehicular combat. There were cities in that game where you got out of your car and walked around. I would not be surprised if you could dock at space stations and walk around in Jumpgate.
@MaxDragon7: I crack up every time I see that. I need to buy that from some offworld Korean site. Not like I'd play it, but it'd make nice room decor.
@DarkSonic999: Anything with 'Evolution' in the title is definitely an unthoughtful title. Just look at Dragonball Evolution. (even though it is a movie, but generally speaking, the title is very generic)
It could have been given more thought. 'Evolution' just screams, "Hey! We can't think of a name of a sequel, so we used 'Evolution' to say that it is next in the series."
Unless of course the game has something to do with evolving species. (Spore, I'm looking at you. :D)
Yup.
Very much looking forward to the beta of this. It's coming along really nicely from what I've seen and with any luck, it'll be worth the wait.
-MasterDex-
@DarkSonic999: Are you high or something? You of all people should not be judging things based solely on their names.
@PsycheE: Ah, that was the best name for a joystick ever. I miss my old thrustmaster, killed it one day by accidentally dropping it... at my brothers face from across the room... He probably deserved it.
Kyoya
@Neonox: I think it's a mixture of both ala WoW where you have the arena and battlegrounds but also PvP in the world.
-MasterDex-
@DarkSonic999: Oh, my bad, I though it was in game titles general.
Oops.
I hope it's accepted anyway. :P
@LCOS: Likewise, In my naivety I bought eve for 10 bucks back in the day hoping it would be a bit like an MMO Freelancer. It was a sad day.
@DarkSonic999: It's a sequel, an "evolution" of the first Jumpgate game, if you will.
So.... yeah. Shut up.
@DarkSonic999: This is undoubtedly the worst title, ever:
Lols all around.
Rofl!
@Cutedge: Ah. That makes sense.
The title is still lame though. I mean, seriously..
''Jumpgate Evolution''
How can you evolve a gate that jumps? By giving it legs?
DarkSonic999
this game looks wicked. I have been missing a GOOD starfighter game like privateer or Tie Fighter, though the concept of constantly being in the ship might wear thin.
@DarkSonic999: The title of the game is actually "Jumpgate Evolution" (this is a sequel to their older Jumpgate title). "Shades of Descent" is Fahey's comments, in that the game is reminiscent to the old Descent game with it's interior battlegrounds (see picture).
Cutedge
I am definitely digging the Descent allusion. The premise of the game looks great, it would give me a reason to dust off that old thrstmaster.
PsycheE
So how does the PVP work in this game? Is it world PVP, or PVP in certain areas or what?
HOLY CRAP! THIS IS AWESOME!
is the exact opposite of my feelings for this game. Seriously. Jumpgate? Sounds like Stargate. 'Shades of Descent'? How can descending have a shade?
Seriously. What's the worst gametitle you can think of? Can you top Jumpgate: Shades of Descent?
DarkSonic999
I miss the whole Descent franchise! An MMO that I can actually get into? Ah shit.
Eville1 rocks out with his rooster out.
Really looking forward to this one. As someone who played Freelancer and MODs for years, I hope this game delivers.
LCOS