Gameplay
The gameplay focuses on a central mechanic, the frontline. This is designed to keep the action in one place, by focusing objectives closer together on the battlefield. The frontline also has bonuses. By moving it back and forth across the battlefield, the player may gain or lose weapons and equipment.[8] The frontline mechanic will be used in all gametypes, which forces players to choose which objectives they will pursue or defend, adding a strategic level to the gameplay.
The UCAV Drone will play a crucial role in gathering information in real time on the battlefield. The drone will reconnoiter enemy units, which are visible through walls, and then show them on the player's HUD and map. Some drones can also be used as a kamikaze bomb, by running them into enemy infantry and self destructing them.[8]
There are four other drones, the Assault Drone, a small treaded vehicle with a mounted Gatling gun, a Mortar Drone, with a mounted four barrelled mortar, an RC drone, which can be packed with C4 and used to destroy armored targets and finally a variant of the UAV drone equipped with anti-infantry rockets.[9][8]
In an interview, Kaos stated that there will be more than 60 vehicles and weapons in the final game.[8] Airstrikes will also play a large part in gameplay, being an effective way to destroy an opposing force from a distance.[8]
In an interview with developer Joe Halper, Kaos has stated that 32 player multiplayer will be supported for the console version.[8] However, near release the maximum player count was claimed to be raised to 50 although this was a lie and games that did support 50 players were given to reviewers but not the general public.[10] The PC version of the game will support 64 players online.[8] Near release it was confirmed that the game will not support cross-platform play, but the developers have stated that they are considering eventually moving the franchise towards becoming a Live Anywhere title.[11]
[edit] Unit Classes
There are six unit classes in total, and four different roles. The six classes are Anti-Vehicle, Assault, Heavy Assault, Sniper, Special Operations, and Close Combat classes.
Anti-Vehicle
Designed to combat enemy armor, the Anti-Vehicle class is armed with anti-tank landmines capable of dealing large damage to enemy armor. The Anti-Vehicle class also utilizes a heat seaking rocket launcher that allows him to track the target, lock on, and select the rocket’s trajectory before firing. These missiles can be blocked by vehicles by deploying thermal flares.
Assault
The Assault classes comes equipped with a standard Assault Rifle, as well as a grenade launcher that allows him to deal with lightly armored threats.
Heavy Assault
The Heavy Assault class trades mobility and accuracy for firepower. Their heavy assault rifle is capable of firing a constant stream of bullets, helping suppress enemy soldiers. By using the crouch or prone position, the Heavy Assault soldier can become more accurate at the cost of mobility.
Sniper
Utilizing a sniper rifle, the sniper can locate and eliminate enemy soldiers at long range.
Special Operations
Armed with a scoped Sub-Machine Gun, the Spec Ops class is designed for both short and medium ranged combat. Spec Ops can also use their C4 to destroy armored vehicles. In the single-player campaign, the C4 can also be utilized to destroy cover and some barricades.
Close Combat
Armed with a shotgun, the Close Combat class excels in close-quarters situations, but is very vulnerable to both medium and long range fire due to the shotgun’s lack of range.
[edit] Roles
The roles are as follows: Ground Support, EMP Tech, Drone Tech, and Air Support. Ground Support focuses on in its first stage is passive, repairing vehicles, but the next two stages allow powerful weapon emplacements to be put in place. EMP, or countermeasures Tech is a somewhat passive, but essential role, with the ability to disable vehicles and communications. Drone Tech has the ability to use remote controlled drones for reconnaissance and fighting. Air Support mostly consists of the ability to call in airstrikes. The roles are upgradeable three times. Depending on the role, each upgrade gives the player access to better equipment or new abilities such as Radar Absorption.[12]
Each of these classes allow three different uses. They vary on which side you are on Western Colition or Red Star Alliance.
Ground Support
The Ground Support subclass has a repair torch that allows you to fix any vehicle, turret, or drone. In some cases only the ground support class can take objectives back because of his ability to repair structures. Depending on which faction you play as in multiplayer you can acquire different turrets as you rank up in your class. Western Coalition has the grenade launcher which is effective at taking out groups of infantry. Red Star Alliance has the mini-gun which is effective against light armor and infantry. High ranking Ground Support allows for the rail gun and an automated turret. The rail gun is effective against all vehicles with the exception of fighter jets available to WC forces. The automated turret can be placed in strategic locations for defense and is available to Red Star forces.
EMP Tech
The EMP tech Role starts out with "mini-map stealth". It allows one to walk past a UAV Drone without showing up on the enemy radar. Mid role EMP techs are granted a lighting rod that disables any electronic device in its radius. It also removes any threat of air-strikes in the vicinity. High ranking EMP Techs have a prototype EMP Rocket launcher, which releases an EMP rocket on impact instead of exploding. It doesn't affect infantry unless they're in a vehicle.
Drone Tech
Drone Techs use a wide variety of drones. They start out with UAVs that highlight any enemy in the vicinity (with the exception of the EMP Tech Class). Mid-ranked Drone Techs have access to two different types of drones. The C4 drone is available to the Red Star Alliance and uses a RC car to deliver its ordinance. It is powerful enough to take out any armored vehicle. Western Coalition uses a drone outfitted with a mini-gun. While it has the edge in firepower, it is also slow and useless against armored vehicles. High ranking Red Star Drone techs use a Tiger Claw Attack Drone which is outfitted with mini rockets. The Western Coalition uses a mortar drone which uses four mortars.
Air Support
The Western Coalition Air Support role has a precision bombing which will destroy anything in one hit. These bombs are easily dodged, though, so they work best when they target a checkpoint or objective. The second level can use a cluster bomb that is very efficient at taking out men and clearing objective points. The third level can use a gunship that flies above a designated area and kills any enemy in that location.
Red Star Alliance Air Support subclass has the same precision bomb but instead of a cluster bomb they receive a carpet bomb instead, which can easily clear an enemy battle line. Their third level is a fuel air bomb that will kill any in a wide area.
| [hide]Reception | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||
[edit] Maps
Frontlines shipped with a total of eight multiplayer maps. These maps range in size and location from a small city block to a solar array over 4 square miles in size.[13]. Kaos Studios stated they were looking into releasing extra maps in the future as downloadable content.[14]
This began with the brand new map: "Boneyard". The map was released as a free download on Xbox 360's Marketplace. The map not only offered another well-sized map, but more Weapons and Vehicles. This included: an all-new Automatic Shotgun, a Carrier Helicopter for the Red Star Alliance and a "Rocket Jeep".
In addition, the downloadable content clearly stated that this new Map was the first of Five to be released.
The other Four Maps are named "Sunder", "Wide Awake", "Hind Sight" and "Infiltration".
[edit] Dedicated Servers
The game features dedicated servers similar to Battlefield 2: Modern Combat as well as client-side hosting found in the majority of Live-enabled Xbox 360 games. This is done in order to support the 50 player limit, which is unprecedented on the console. Client-side hosting will still be available, but will only support a 16 player maximum.[10]
[edit] Retail bonuses
[edit] Collector's Edition
A Collector's Edition of the game was released in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. The Xbox 360 Collector's Edition contained a t-shirt, an Art of Frontlines book, a poster, and a bonus disk containing the game sound, behind the scenes videos, and more. The PC Collector's Edition contained an official strategy guide, Stray Dogs insignia patch, a deck of Frontlines playing cards, an Art of Frontlines book, a poster, and a collectors tin. This edition was never released in North America.
[edit] GameStop & Best Buy
Players who ordered Frontlines: Fuel of War from GameStop or Best Buy were given a special code which gave access to one of two Challenge Maps. This code has since been distributed on the Internet.[15]
[edit] Circuit City
Players who purchased Frontlines: Fuel of War from Circuit City received a copy of the Frontlines: Fuel of War soundtrack.
[edit] Amazon.com
Players who ordered Frontlines from online retailer Amazon.com were given a limited edition Collector's Tin.
System requirements CPU: Pentium 4 2.8GHz+ or equivalent AMD Athlon 2800+
RAM: 768MB for Windows XP / 1GB RAM for Windows Vista
HD: 11.5GB
GPU: nVidia 6800GT (SM3) or ATI X800XT (SM2)
Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
No comments:
Post a Comment