MAG




What makes MAG so special? It looks like just another FPS to me.

It’s Battlefield 2 with 256 players. Other than that, MAG adds nothing new to the genre.

256 players on a console? Damn. How’s the lag?

Thus far, I’ve put in over 10 hours of gameplay, leveled my soldier to level 16, played every mode at least 20 times each, and played in some of the most action-packed scenarios the game has to offer. During all that time, I’ve only encountered one game-impairing lag spike. It only lasted 5 seconds, but during that time I was shooting a prone enemy without him taking a scratch. When the lag spike ended, I was dead without knowing how I died.

What kind of gameplay modes are there?

There’s five if you exclude the embarrassingly basic Training Mode. Suppression is 64-player team deathmatch. Sabotage is 64-player king-of-the-hill-style hold the objectives. Acquisition is 128-player “Grand Theft Auto.” It requires you to steal a vehicle from behind enemy lines. And last but not least, is Domination. It’s the highlight of the game. 256-players defending and fighting for control of 8 HQ information terminals.

How many maps?

There’s only one map per gameplay mode. Hopefully there will be free DLC down the road.

How’s the singleplayer?

Heh, there is none. This game is 100% online multiplayer only.

Is there any story? Or is it just point and shoot?

The story is the hilariously generic “We’re in the future and we want oil, mother fuckers.” Other than the welcome text and audio before each match, that’s all the story you get.

Since this game is multiplayer only, do you get a free headset like with Warhawk?

No headset. Just the game.

Is there any customization?

Character customization is very minimal. It’s just pick a faction, head, and voice. But the game does have a pretty deep talent tree. Every time you gain a level, you are awarded a skill point that can be used to get perks such as faster reload speed or the ability to revive downed teammates. Below is the full list of skills as they appear and must be unlocked.

Assault: Assault Rifle Reload Speed Decrease (1p), Foregrip (2p), Reflex Sight (2p), SFCR-LW Assault Rifle (3p), Improved Stability (1p), Bipod (2p), Steady Aim Increase (2p), 4X Optical Sight (2p), SFCR-HW Battle Rifle (5p), Suppressor (2p), Grenade Launcher Reload Speed Decrease (1p).

Personal Defense: Side-Arm Reload Speed Decrease (1p), Side-Arm Swap Speed Decrease (1p), Hollis MP Uzi (3p), Side-Arm Refire Team Decrease (2p), Side-Arm Suppressor (2p), Improved Knife Swipe Speed (2p), Expanded Knife Reach (2p).

Athleticism: Impact Damage Resistance (1p), Improved Shot Detection (1p), Improved Sprint Recovery (1p), More Control While Parachuting (2p), Improved Stealth (2p), Increased Endurance (2p), Chemical Damage Resistance (4p), Increased Health (5p).

Close Quarters: Reload Speed Decrease (2p), KP5 SMG (3p), Improved Stability (2p), Relex Sight (2p), 12 Gauge Pump Shotgun (5p), SMG Suppressor (2p)

Electronics: Acoustic Locator (2p), Explosives Detector (2p), Sensor Jammer (3p), Motion Sensor (5p).

Marksman: 4X Optical Sight (2p), Sniper Rifle Reload Speed Decrease (1p), Foregrip (2p), L96AW Sniper Rifle (3p), Bipod (2p), High Power Scope (2p), Steady Aim Increase (2p), Rollins LRSS Sniper Rifle (5p), Suppressor (2p), Variable Power Scope (2p).

Heavy: Machine Gun Reload Speed Decrease (1p), Bipod (2p), Reflex Sight (2p), Rocket Launcher Reload Speed Decrease (1p), MK 153 Mod 2 SMAWG Rocket Launcher (5p), Foregrip (2p), Improved Stability (3p), MK 43 Mod 1 Machine Gun (5p).

Explosives: Anti-Personnel Mine (2p), Advanced Grenade Throwing Distance (1p), Anti-Tank Mine (2p), Explosive Arm/Disarm Time Decrease (1p), M2 Poison Gas Grenade (3p).

Support: Ability To Heal Teammates (2p), Repair Time Decrease (1p), Ability To Revive Downed Teammates (2p), Improved Healing (3p), Improved Resuscitation (5p).

How many servers are there?

You don’t get the option of selecting the servers you play on. As soon as you click on the gameplay mode you wish to play, you are placed in a queue. It’s unclear how many servers MAG has. Every time I’ve queued, I was at the spawn area in less than 20 seconds.

I read on this website that there’s server maintenance from time to time and during that time you can’t play the game. Is this true?

That’s true. Much like other server-intensive games (World of Warcraft), there’s scheduled and unscheduled downtime. The scheduled downtime is Monday through Friday at 2-4am PST (5-7am EST, 4-6am CST, and 3-5 MST). And the unscheduled downtime is… well… unscheduled and can hit at anytime the servers need it.

Is this game worth $60?

Unless you’re really inching for a massive Battlefield 2-ish experience, no, it’s not. While I loved my time with MAG, I can’t suggest it to the average gamer. You’re paying $60 for just another FPS with no singleplayer and only 5 maps to play on. If you add in the server downtime when you can’t even play your game at all, it makes it really hard to defend MAG’s $60 price tag. Unless you’re a crazy Sony fanboy that has to buy every exclusive, do yourself a favor and wait until a price-drop.