New World Previews
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Amazon Game Studios’ conquistador-flavored MMORPG New World is aiming for a May 2020 release, but at the moment we know very little about this game’s actual systems and mechanics, especially since the developers seem keen on drastically changing them as time goes on. Still, we can now check out several hands-on previews for the game that describe it in its current state. Have a look:
Earlier versions of Amazon Game Studios' MMO nagged players with thirst and hunger, but now a sip from the bucket of river water in my inventory just replenishes a little health. Camping also feels a little like a vestigial organ from New World's old life as a survival game, even if campsites are still useful as respawn sites. Little seems to be precious to this dev team: If it isn't working it gets sanded down or reshaped into something else. The survival systems didn't make it, but you can still cook up useful buffs.
On the other hand, if players really want something new they're open to it. Another visitor at the Irvine studio asked if there were mounts. No, but they’ll add them if players want them. Naval combat? No, but maybe if players want it.
I pointed out later that naval combat doesn't make much sense in an MMO about being shipwrecked on an island. The response: Maybe the monsters on the island want to spread their corruption to the rest of the world and you have to stop them. Touché.
IGN:
As it stands, New World feels like it’s struggling to find its identity. As a response to alpha concerns from fans, Amazon walked back many of its PvP-centric ideas to accommodate a wider range of players, but the end-game still seems to revolve around faction disputes and territory Wars which will inherently be driven by PvP conflict. But ultimately since the path to reach this PvP-focused end-game is a one-way road littered with monotonous PvE content, I’m not sure how many people will stick it out. Granted, I only got to try the game out in two relatively quick spurts equaling less than six hours total, but when you combine that with the interviews and presentations packed into that same day, I feel like I’ve got a well-rounded idea of what this game aims to be, and more importantly, what this game actually is.
If the PvP side of things can live up to its promises it may convert me into a believer purely on the depth and intensity of its combat and inter-faction disputes alone. But until I see more creativity from the PvE side of things or a clearer picture of what the path to end-game actually looks like, I’m not sure it can hold my interest long enough to get there.
Encounters with enemies were pretty easy at my low level, but it was a great introduction to the combat. Once I got the hang of it, I was able to better prepare my blocking, dodging, and parrying. Strikes with swords feel rewarding and forceful. Throwing an axe and then switching to your bow is quick and easy. And it’s a thrill to see your weapon sticking out of an enemy’s head while you finish them off.
Weapon swapping is not a skill you have to unlock, it’s just there from the beginning. AGS wants you to experience their action-based combat, so weapon swapping was key to that. And there will be enough opportunities in the game to max out every weapon, meaning you can change your playstyle based on who you’re grouped with, what boss you’re facing, or just to try something different.
But combat isn’t all there is to New World. The land of Aeternum has so much to explore, see, and do. The team emphasized they didn't want to create a large map (40 square kilometers) just for the sake of it. They wanted to fill it with meaningful encounters and discoveries to ensure your time in-game is not wasted. It’s hard to walk for more than a few seconds in one direction without finding enemies, chests, or long-collapsed relics of a time gone by. Aeternum is the home of a mysterious mineral called Azoth, which amplifies things and can make its users immortal. The world is beautifully designed, with stark contrasts from area to area. And with four enemy families to keep you busy, you’re going to have your hands full.
