So I got my hands on a MAG Beta code a few days ago and have had the oppertunity to get some hands on combat experience with this innovative first person shooter releasing on the PS3 in early 2010. I didn't have any expectations of the game prior to booting it up. I've seen some footage of it, and have had my eyes on it since it first was announced, but I've been very sceptical about it due to the 256 player battle concept, and also for being a FPS game on a console. I tend to dislike those coming from a PC background. But here we go, some hands on impressions of my experiences with MAG.

Graphics
Its been stated before, and i can agree, that it's nothing spectacular. Nothing like recent videos of Uncharted 2 etc, but it sure isn't bad. I like the colorscheme and it has a nice mix of good looking enviorments. Even when parachuting down when you respawn and you have a clear view of what is happening below, the graphics looks good. The available maps and areas within the maps, for the Beta atleast, are bright enviorments with very little particles flying around obscuring your vision alá Killzone 2, which makes it very enjoyable experience. And a hell of alot easier to see the enemies infront of you. The in game HUD is not in the way either unlike some games out there. The smoke, from grenades, are aslo well done as they truly gives you cover and theres no graphical advantage like the smoke nades from the PC version of COD2/COD4.

Though some animations look a little weak and the veichles are a bit rough-looking, i was overall impressed by the standard it had.

Sound
The sound is one of the greatest things in the game. Everything you hear is generated by a real players action in the battlefield. The weapon sounds are very well done and it adds a nice feel to emptying your mags on a foe. Orders and pre-game introductions are also well done.

Gameplay
There are TONS of customizations and unlockables. You can customize your characters inventory with weapons, secondary weapon, attachment to primary weapons like scopes etc. Add first aid kits if you want to play as a suport character, or add RPGs for taking down troop transportations. You can add heavier armor to be able to be in the thick of things with heavy gun fire, or lighter armor if you want to focus on more blitz action. If played competetive this feature can work very well when deciding on how you want your group to approach the fight. You also gain skill points that can help upgrade your characters reload speed, recovery, sprint, steady aim etc.

In game actions allows you to mark objectives, call for medics and support. Target enemy areas with airstrikes, call for UAVs and so forth, depending on your situation.

You can unlock and purchase new items as you go along aswell, some based on experience points but some seem to be purchased buy spending money earned. I still haven't really figured out how it all works, because theres alot to learn. But the basic story is that you fight for money and contracts, and as you start up the game for the first time you have to make a choice of what army you would like to join out of the three. I don't really know if you can change later on, or if you can creat 3 different characters? But Zipper wants you to feel "apart of something", and your army competes with the other two on all game modes. And winning seem to be profitable for the team aswell as the individual, not sure.

Its alot to take in at first, because there's alot of icons, objectives, large maps and tactics within the game. But if played with some friends as a group of 8, i think this game can deliver one of the best online FPS experiences i've had on a console. And if they bundle it with a headset of some sort, i think this game will shape up quite well.

Controllers
The game controls are really good. The character feels light (again, nothing like KZ2) and its a smooth experience toggeling through the different weapons and inventory your character have avaiable. Quick down the sight animations and easy prone to full stand button layout. When engaging in combat theres no lag when switching weapons and doging bullets while jumping over obstacles. It all feels great, quick, and complete, and i think Zipper has done an amazing job with how your character feels and how easy the controller is.

The aiming is great aswell, atleast for us who tend to play FPS games on PCs. You dont have to pixleshoot and/or smash the controller in frustration when failing to aim with the analog sticks. The aim sensetivity is great and it's really easy to just pick up and play, while also being able to actually kill someone. Theres some small auto aim aid that really makes it fun to play FPS on with a controller.

And there you have it. I've been very sceptical about this game prior to my hands on with the game. I've feared the huge 256 battle and how one is suppose to stay true to the objective, but they've done a good job with limitations, experience points and awards to help you stay true to your group of eight. The game have potential and it seems as if you'll get massive amout of hours of game time with this game before finishing ranking up. The tactical aspects seems solid aswell once you get enough XP to play the roll as an in game leader.

Atm, i feel this game is about a 87/100. And it was way better than my expectations prior to playing the game. Good job Zipper!

You know, we're not supposed to be discussing the game. But whatever, the servers are up right now :P

With COD:MW2 around the corner and so many incredible games coming, even as a Playstation supporter I have little to no hype for this game. Wish I could get a hands on for myself to see if it will be worth buying, renting or avoiding. Right now I'll probably just get it from gamefly for a couple weeks.

i have to agree on what you wrote MAFKKA, i'm also very impresed there are no lags on any map or mode (64 vs 64 or 128 vs 128). that game will be a good counter part, like Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising will be too, to arcade fps like COD where is mostly for young kids/gun-nuts but not really for guys (girls?) where want a game with an tactical aspect.

I really want this game but I know most of my time will probably be locked up in MW2. The only game that may tear me away from MW2 will be GT5

COD isn't an arcade series. It is a serious FPS, but PC guys try to put the game down just like they do Halo. Virtua Cop and House of the Dead are exmples of an Arcade FPS. Arcade FPS consists of a peripheral device to be used in a point and click manner. General FPS is just FPS. If young kids play COD that shouldn't reflect  on the mature players.

@ OP:

I agree with the crew on Game Trailers 'Invisible Walls' when they said that MAG is for people who are interested in team combat. A large amount of people who play MAG will probably never rank up because they will play like chickens with their heads cut off and have no sense of direction (even when you tell them where to go). A small percentage of the people who play this game with gain rank for actually fulfilling objectives and getting kills on the way to completing those objectives. I suggest you find a squad if you want to get serious about this game, otherwise its not that impressive.

Something that has been catching my attention more than MAG and even MW2 is Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising. It's looking like a pretty decent title overall, probably end up being a sleeper. But if I can afford it, I believe I'll be buying it October 6th.

I dont know if you've played it or not, but the times i've played it it dosent act out at all to what you're saying. Everybody plays it quite agressivly and fight hard in trying to take out objectives, because if not, the map wont unfold. And everyone spawn in close range to their respective objectives, which allows for constant fighting. Its not like you can run around the entire map and sabotage missions. Theres 3 objectives on each side (off/def), and the spawnpoints move back/forth depending on your success. And you're tied down to an area of where you're objective is, atleast when trying to defend the outer turret thingys.

I've wandered off a few times myself away from my squad, but that was because i was new to the map and had no clue of where to go, and found myself out of range from my objective and died. 

And this is not just about tactics, it does a very good job with making sure that you as and individual dont feel overwhelmed by the scale of the battle. Since it breaks down the map to segments you can still make a difference.

They have good reasons for putting it down. Play CoD1 (or even better, the UO expansion) and you'll see what they mean. Maps were larger, all weapons had MUCH more recoil, and it took more than 1-2 shots to drop a player. Controlling a weapon as you shoot it actually used to be a challenge. It's not like CoD4/5 where you can get tons of bs kills just by spraying in your enemey's general direction (since all autos got buffed). Best of all, Maryrdom didn't exist in CoD1.

The series went casual with CoD2. I still remember all the angry folk on the IW forums after it was released.....mass complaints about how many "assist" features were added to the game. If I remember right, I read somewhere that MW2 would be slightly more casual than MW1. Still though, CoD4/5 are really fun and I'm getting MW2, I just miss some things about the original =/

This game is a POS. Quite honestly there isn't one part of this game that is compelling other than the player count.

It think that ziper made a huge mistake by making the game this ambitious. I think that they should have put more resources into improving the quality of the gameplay rather than attempting to add more players.