War Rock Review
28 February 2007 | By JanaLee Stocks
The idea behind K2 Network's War Rock is much the same as the Battlefield series or Counter Strike, games that I've enjoyed
The idea behind K2 Network’s War Rock is much the same as the BattleField series or Counter Strike, games that I’ve enjoyed, a chance to get in there and mix it up with the big boys toe to toe, or vehicle to vehicle. While there is a first person training mode included in the gameplay, the heart of the game is in the multiplayer and there are many things that the game does right. However, the number of technical glitches that plague this offering may be a turn off to many and a frustration to just about all players. In the end I found myself appreciating the cost benefits of War Rock, the basic download is free, but anxious to return to a more stable playing platform.
Whether training or in a multiplayer game War Rock’s maps are based on various goals, some that are story based, but most the fairly typical fodder of combat multiplayers: such as defending a base or capturing a specific objective. Otherwise you have deathmatch team or single play and modes such as ‘explosive’ where one team is trying to detonate a bomb and the other trying to stop it. These modes and objectives set the scene where you can choose to play either of the represented teams: Derbaran Military or NIU forces, and one of five different character classes. The difference between the teams is pretty much one of uniform as you get the same beginning equipment and stats. The five character classes are: Medic (Why must female soldiers run around with bared stomachs? It makes no sense and is just plain embarrassing.), Engineer, Heavy trooper, Sniper and Assault Soldier. Of these the sniper and assault soldier are by far the most universal with the heavy trooper allowing you to use mines and heavy weaponry as well as being proficient with vehicle classes, the medic tossed in as the human band aid and the engineer to keep your equipment up to snuff.
As you compete in online matches you can earn experience which bestows rank, and make cash, called Dinar, which allows you to go into the items menu and go shopping. While I like the ability to spend your in game cash I find it odd and rather infuriating that the weapons you buy are only on load and after thirty days goes back into the system. What is the point of spending all the time to earn a shiny new toy that is just going to get taken away?
The actual functionality once you’re in a game offers a few nice features as you can roll and dodge in order to preserve yourself and try to get a bead on the enemy forces, but mostly it’s business as usual for an FPS. The online matches allow for three modes: Close Quarters Combat, Urban Ops and Battle Groups, each with a good set of maps which allows for a lot of flexibility as to where you want to play. The community of players is fairly active and I never had problems finding folks online to join in with.
Graphically War Rock is fairly dated and a bit on the ugly side. It does mean that the graphics load decently on a lower end machine – I tried my laptop for kicks and giggles, but even at the highest resolution the graphics never seemed really polished. Likewise the sound options are limited. The effects are repetitive and while some of the music is nice, the five themes get old fairly quickly and I found myself just turning the sound off.
My biggest complaint with the game was in the stability and connectivity issues. I was running on a machine that should have easily been able to handle the best War Rock could throw at it, (2.6 gig dual core processor, 1 gig ram, GeForce 7300, cable modem connection with 800 down) but found the connection laggy and the special advanced graphics options unuseable. Depending on the day I’d get five or six program crashes before I could finally get into a game and still might crash out once in the game as soon as close combat was joined. This completely wrecked the experience for me as the lag always chose just the wrong moment to spike. Nothing more frustrating than having someone right in your sights and then be staring at a Microsoft error message indicating your game is toast.
If you don’t might pushing your way through the difficulties there is some good play at the core of War Rock, and potential for the game to grow into something bigger with staying power. It just feels like it still needs some shaking out to get there. Right now the basic download is free with pay for packages available. Each level comes with its own perks that give unique advantage in game play, the boxed package offering its own additions as well.
Top Game Moment:
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| The initial art looks good | Combat options |
Whether training or in a multiplayer game War Rock’s maps are based on various goals, some that are story based, but most the fairly typical fodder of combat multiplayers: such as defending a base or capturing a specific objective. Otherwise you have deathmatch team or single play and modes such as ‘explosive’ where one team is trying to detonate a bomb and the other trying to stop it. These modes and objectives set the scene where you can choose to play either of the represented teams: Derbaran Military or NIU forces, and one of five different character classes. The difference between the teams is pretty much one of uniform as you get the same beginning equipment and stats. The five character classes are: Medic (Why must female soldiers run around with bared stomachs? It makes no sense and is just plain embarrassing.), Engineer, Heavy trooper, Sniper and Assault Soldier. Of these the sniper and assault soldier are by far the most universal with the heavy trooper allowing you to use mines and heavy weaponry as well as being proficient with vehicle classes, the medic tossed in as the human band aid and the engineer to keep your equipment up to snuff.
As you compete in online matches you can earn experience which bestows rank, and make cash, called Dinar, which allows you to go into the items menu and go shopping. While I like the ability to spend your in game cash I find it odd and rather infuriating that the weapons you buy are only on load and after thirty days goes back into the system. What is the point of spending all the time to earn a shiny new toy that is just going to get taken away?
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 |
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| Choose your weapons wisely | Yes, the medic has stupid clothes |
The actual functionality once you’re in a game offers a few nice features as you can roll and dodge in order to preserve yourself and try to get a bead on the enemy forces, but mostly it’s business as usual for an FPS. The online matches allow for three modes: Close Quarters Combat, Urban Ops and Battle Groups, each with a good set of maps which allows for a lot of flexibility as to where you want to play. The community of players is fairly active and I never had problems finding folks online to join in with.
Graphically War Rock is fairly dated and a bit on the ugly side. It does mean that the graphics load decently on a lower end machine – I tried my laptop for kicks and giggles, but even at the highest resolution the graphics never seemed really polished. Likewise the sound options are limited. The effects are repetitive and while some of the music is nice, the five themes get old fairly quickly and I found myself just turning the sound off.
My biggest complaint with the game was in the stability and connectivity issues. I was running on a machine that should have easily been able to handle the best War Rock could throw at it, (2.6 gig dual core processor, 1 gig ram, GeForce 7300, cable modem connection with 800 down) but found the connection laggy and the special advanced graphics options unuseable. Depending on the day I’d get five or six program crashes before I could finally get into a game and still might crash out once in the game as soon as close combat was joined. This completely wrecked the experience for me as the lag always chose just the wrong moment to spike. Nothing more frustrating than having someone right in your sights and then be staring at a Microsoft error message indicating your game is toast.
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| Combat brief, goals and objectives made clear | I want the big gun |
If you don’t might pushing your way through the difficulties there is some good play at the core of War Rock, and potential for the game to grow into something bigger with staying power. It just feels like it still needs some shaking out to get there. Right now the basic download is free with pay for packages available. Each level comes with its own perks that give unique advantage in game play, the boxed package offering its own additions as well.
Top Game Moment:
TOP GAME MOMENT
I enjoyed using the motorbikes once I got a feel for them. Great way to get around a combat field.
