Comments on: Natural Selection 2 Monster Mash

By: Crispy

Crispy — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:22:27 +0000

There’s no need to refer to NS in the past tense: NS is still played today. There are a good three-to-four 18-32 player ‘Classic’-only servers still operating in Europe and they’re always 60-100% full (most time I can’t get a spot on my preferred server), not to mention the US, Australia and the ‘Combat’-only servers.

The details about the Gorge are very encouraging. Currently in NS a Gorge really shouldn’t be dropping the ‘wrong’ chamber because it can veer from being completely ineffective on a local scale to completely screwing up the entire team’s ability to goe toe-to-toe with Marines. But in NS2 it seems they have taken all the tech-tree stuff away from the Gorge and either removed it completely or given it to the new ‘Alien Commander’ class. It sounds like this means the Gorge is free to build whatever he wants without dictating the rest of the team’s enjoyment.

If this example of preserving the enjoyment factor while improving gameplay and removing player frustration is the mantra they’re applying to the whole game, NS2 could be as deep as NS without the steep learning curve. There is a lot more to be said on the core gameplay mechanics, but this one item alone is encouraging to me.

By: Breaker Morant's ghost

Breaker Morant's ghost — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 02:53:03 +0000

Excellent. To be honest, the new skulk looks a bit too bulky though, I like the sleek and deadly look of the original. The new animations make them all look really organic though. Can’t wait to see the lerk and fade.

By: Logo

Logo — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:55:45 +0000

Can’t… Wait…

By: yutt

yutt — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:06:41 +0000

Yes this game will be on Steam. Also, those are the actual in-game models.

By: Heliocentric

Heliocentric — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:57:12 +0000

Fades are incredible in a skilled players hands. Especially if he allows skulks to move with him and a gorge to keep him healthy. The onos is a blunt weapon, only useful when applied with overwhelming force. 1 soldier backed into a corner might have a 5% chance of killing a fade, but with an onos its over.

Gorges will always have a place on the frontline, even if only as a medic and suppression fire.

By: EyeMessiah

EyeMessiah — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:48:12 +0000

Fade? What?? Where!!

Ah, so many fond memories of sheer panic after someone spotted, or thought they spotted a fade early in a match.

I was always more scared of fades than of onos’s. That said I did once kill a fade with only my knife, so woohoo – go marines!

By: Army of None

Army of None — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:24:50 +0000

I played so much N.S. back in the versions before they added the Action-mode crap. The slow tense buildup, the horror of hearing over the voice comm that aliens were headed to clear out the little outpost you had just set up and not knowing which vent duct they’d come out of… God I want NS II

By: Noc

Noc — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:53:10 +0000

BUTT WORMS.

BUUTTTTTTT WOOOOOOOOOOORMS.

. . . that is all.

By: diebroken

diebroken — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:39:19 +0000

@AlexW : Gorge is my favorite Kharaa class (I just can’t stop building chambers, it’s too addictive!), and I’m not too worried – hopefully it’ll be balanced all round. That defensive posture/stance/damage absorption could be good.

Wonder if the belly slide will make it in as well… ;)

By: AlexW

AlexW — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:09:02 +0000

diebroken, the actual article suggests it’s more of an aesthetic similarity to the function of the Hive. There’d be hell to pay if they started limiting Gorges like that, I imagine.

And Bryan, they’ve said before that they will get it on Steam. The question is whether or not they’ll be able to get the pre-Steam pre-orders to link up with Steam.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:43:12 +0000

Is this going to be on steam?

By: diebroken

diebroken — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:19:29 +0000

“is glowing enormo-belly keeps him plugged into the hive rather than roaming the frontlines”

No more bile bomb support at the Marine base? No more piggybacking/riding a lerk? :(