During PAX Australia, Bethesda Softworks dropped a new gameplay video for the upcoming free-to-play, multiplayer action game, Battlecry. Earlier this year, I got the chance to play an early demo for the game during the Electronic Entertainment Expo. The game has a unique, interesting setting. I really enjoyed the combat that the game offered. The latest video from PAX indicates that the game has is coming along well, and Battlecry Studios has incorporated some exciting new features.
The graphics and models look sharper and more defined than those I recall playing at E3. Per the video, the footage is from the pre-alpha stage of the game. The WarZone environments look more varied. It appears that more WarZones have been built since the E3 demo, which only had two different playable WarZones available. The soldiers from the various factions now have audio dialogue to go along with their characters. The E3 demo did not have dialogue for the characters, so that is another positive addition.
The new PAX video revealed a new gameplay mode for Battlecry–Land Grab. Basically, Land Grab looks like a zone control multiplayer battle. I am glad there will be alternate modes besides a basic team deathmatch mode. I expect more gameplay modes will be incorporated to the game later.
One of the more interesting new features introduced in the video was a social feature where soldiers may “commend” their comrades from the battle after the match. Players may even commend enemy soldiers. From the footage, it looks like commending or saluting other soldiers may grant bonus points or “iron.” In the demo, the aftermath of the battles was presented in old-school newspaper clippings. With the PAX video, it looks like the commendation of players will also be reflected in the newspaper clippings. I am curious to see how interactive the feature will be and what type of rewards may be gained from the commendation system.
In addition, the video confirmed that the beta version of the game launches in 2015. Per the footage, Australia and New Zealand will be the first countries to test the beta version. So, it looks like the game is on track.
At E3, the developers mentioned the possibility of a third Empire coming into the fold for Battlecry. Currently, only two factions–the Cossacks and the Royal Marines, are available in the game. I would like to see a third faction inspired by Japan or America. I am looking forward to playing the game when it goes to beta. Hopefully some of the bugs from the E3 demo have been ironed out.
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