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Monday, June 06, 2011

Valve Games Review (Part 1 of 2): Team Fortress 2

I'm starting off this week with a game review/rant, the first of two. I've been a pretty avid gamer over the years and there are two specific games that I've kept coming to, one being Team Fortress 2. Team Fortress 2, or TF2 for short, first came out as a package with some other games called "The Orange Box", during the fall of 2007 and was later released as a standalone game during the following year. TF2 is essentially a team based FPS (First Person Shooter) where you can choose classes to fit a certain style of game play. Each class has their own specific roles and abilities. Their abilities are dictated by innate skills and by various weapons/items. And heres a quick run through of all the classes, their names should be pretty explanatory: Scout, Demoman, Sniper, Spy, Soldier, Medic, Heavy, Engineer and Pyro.
Actual Game-play of TF2. Here a medic is healing a soldier
while a pyro attacks.

     For me, this game has been "the best bang for my buck", even though I bought this game at it's highest cost ($19.99) where as it's lowest cost has been $2.00 during promotion periods. There are a few things that keep this game exciting and fresh, and that is through constant updates. New maps, weapons and items are periodically added, but this can be viewed as both positive and negative.

   There are a few things that annoy some players, one being the number of weapons available and two, a specific type of item hats. First off are the weapons, there are probably over 60 weapons currently available (more weapons are constantly added), but the problem comes with the balance of all the weapons. Every update, there will be moaners and groaners about the "OP" of certain items and etc.., and I don't blame them. Take for example the "Natascha", this weapon came out for the heavy a few years back, but only last year did they alter the damage and attributes of the weapon. If it takes that long to "fix" a weapon, how do they manage to keep up with all the new weapons they add?

    Secondly, are hats. Most of these "hats" are just for your visual pleasure (some hats give a class a bonus gameplay effect). Hats are constantly added and traded (a trade system was implemented a year back where players can exchange weapons, hats and other items) and has become a huge part of TF2. Since the implementation of the trading system, there are many servers dedicated just for trading purposes. Now for hats in particular, there is a very high demand because of the rarity of them. Some go as far as to purchase hats from the TF2 Mann-Co store or even from other players. Some hats (unusual hats), fetch as much as a thousand dollars. I've personally haven't ever bought a weapon or hat, but I have sold numerous hats and I've taken advantage of this market. I've since detached my association with trading and I just play TF2 for what it really is about. 

    But overall, there are many things that players can explore and experiment with. Whether if you fancy the hats, or the always exciting game-play though constant map additions and an ever growing selection of weapons, there is always something for you to enjoy. 

Satirically speaking, some people dub TF2 as a great hat simulation game, rather than a team and class based FPS.

I do not own or take credit for all of the above image, if you would like them to be taken down, please message me.

If you play TF2, how do you find it? Any good FPS recommendations for 2011? How to you find other valve games?

   

22 comments:

Alice said...

I used to quite enjoy being a Sniper, staying at the back and picking people off, but then I found the Pyro, and now it's just amazing, charging in and burning everyone!

Best time I've had was when someone on the enemy team had set up a teleporter near our spawn hidden away. I found out what direction they were facing when they came out of the teleporter and had the primary weapon which caused critical hits when hitting from behind, then just stat there for a while till they finally gave up =D

Sean said...

love this game

Dvallej said...

is it ony team play? just multiplayer?

animestan said...

Well team play is essentially multiplayer.
There are offline/single player modes where you can practice on bots or do training.
There are also some mods on servers where its a deathmatch/free for all, so it becomes a non-team based multiplayer.

The Hammer said...

That game look sick

John said...

I've heard a lot about this game. Might have to get into it.

Earl said...

I like this game, but I completely suck at it. I prefer first person shooters on consoles. Aiming with a mouse is hard as hell.

Zander said...

good stuff... thanks for VIEWing my page :)

HiFi said...

I heard this game was super fun to play. I've yet to try it myself however.

Anonymous said...

I must too try it myself.

Mike said...

I can't wait for Half Life 3 if they're ever going to make it.

Germs said...

Just got brain slug and whiskers for pyro, my two favourite items

chika said...

Such a classic game.
I love it!
great post sir.

Stay CRITICAL of EVERYTHING said...

that game looks awesome!!

mindlessfrk said...

Must. Play. NOW.

InfoTube said...

Looks like a cool game.

Xenototh said...

I bought the Orange Box, but I only ever played CS out of it. Kinda regret it now, hearing how great the other games were, but I don't think I have the time to go back and play the others.

freightblog said...

a very good review.

Anonymous said...

One of the best of valve games

Kopite said...

Gabe Newell is taking milking the game alright.
Everyweek at least 2 new hats. I try to stay away from the trade servers and focus on the gaming but i'm saving for a Team Captain or Noh Mercy.

DieNand said...

Can't remember, think I had a copy of this that came with Half-Life one. Never played it though...... Probably an older version.

DieNand said...

Did enjoy playing half-life though, just got my 350mhz Compaq desktop, Good times... :)

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