The Secret World Hand’s On Preview
Developer Funcom
Publisher EA
Platform PC (Online MMO)
Release Date 19th-June-2012
Imagine it was all true everything you have ever been told, every ghost story, every myth and legend from the darkest recess of your imagination. That is the premise of the upcoming MMO The Secret World. Developed by Funcom it joins EA’s growing library of online games and promises to stand up alongside other MMO heavy hitters like Star Wars The Old Republic.
Choose from Three factions:
The Dragons- an Asian group and the most secret of all the societies. They think that the only way for society to reamin in harmony is to embrace chaos. The constant destruction and rebuilding of society is the natural way.
The Illuminati – Power hungry and willing to stop at nothing to to become a corporate superpower,
And finally the Templars – a European “old guard”, a sophisticated outfit with a military might.
All three factions must play a dangerous game. Each battles for power over the other two, while still relying on each other to battle the emerging darkness.
Built on their very own “Dreamworld” engine (also used for Age of Conan) The Secret World is an impressive looking game. The open world is as beautiful as any you could hope to see in a MMO. When we got to sit in on a session with some of the dev team it was of course playing on very serious machines, but we have been assured that the game runs smoothly on any reasonable moderate set up.
We got to run through a new section that has never been seen before called “the Haunted Atlantic Island Amusement Park”. As we approach we meet the parks creepy owner who then goes on to explain through a cut scene that he has been left the derelict haunted park by his father and needs your help. As you progress through the park you encounter zombies, the boogie man, haunted dodgems and other carnival rides out to kill you. We had to move from one haunted park ride to another each with its own small boss to the ultimate quest boss the Boogie man!
Although it was only one section it did feel different from most MMO’s where you move from NPC to NPC fighting a set number of enemies. It wasn’t caught up in the usual level grinding, we can’t be sure about the rest of the game but from what we have seen The Secret World is bringing something new to the table. It is very much story driven and also with characters that are more memorable than simple quest portals this is looking like an adventure worth getting into.
Another departure from the norm is the lack of a levelling or class system. So how does it work? Players can still take their normal roles such as Healers or Tanks should they wish but rather than being restricted to follow a specific liner progression players are given the freedom to select the abilities they want to focus on. If you want to focus on guns then stick to shotgun or assault rifle abilities and build them up.
You can build your character up from the 500 abilities available to carve your own role within the game. Players can save a number of load-outs so you can sift between them with ease. The developers have included “Decks” which are premade load-outs made to suit a particular style. You are not locked into it but rather it gives you a head start.
The secret world is a big impressive MMO, it is entering the subscription market it needs to be good and from the hour or so we spent with it, it certainly is impressive.
The Secret World Launches in June this year.
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