Savage 2: A Tortured Soul
Preview
An online only sport that combines the best of RTS and FPS action with elements from the RPG genre
by CrazyCanuck
previewed on PC
Find a friend, or two, or sixty-three...
Savage 2, while offering an in-depth single player tutorial and practice modes, the game is really an online, multiplayer experience. The game offers 64-player capabilities - two players take on the role of commander while up to 62 other "Action-Mode" players execute the commander's tactical instructions while pushing for battlefield supremacy. More than 30 unique weapons and special equipment are available for each race and powerful siege weapons can also be employed to try to shift the battle in your favour. There is no CPU artificial intelligence here though, which will definitely lead to some very intense and interesting conflicts!
The developers have also introduced a system they refer to as "Snap Casting" that allows for more depth of control for launching spells. As you select the spell you want to cast and move your cursor over the map it will "snap" onto targets to show you the area and number of creatures affected. It adds a new dimension to the game while not overly complicating the mechanism.
Of course a game's units are important to the experience and Savage 2 offers a variety of them to play with. For example, the Legion of Man units include an elite heavy warrior in the "Legionnaire", the all-round "Savage" warrior, the covert "Scout" and supporting "Builder" and "Chaplain" roles. Siege weapons include the upgradeable catapult "Steambuchet" and "Battering Ram" which will make short work of your enemies' fortifications. The Beast Horde offers similar units with the added benefit of being able to cast a variety of spells.
The environments are typical of a fantasy world setting with a variety of topographical features. S2 Games feels that the key to making the game fun is having an extremely well-balanced game map. To that end, Savage 2 will initially make only a few maps available but the ones included will make for significant depth of play. Similarly, there will be one "Conquest" game mode available at launch. It is a mode carried over from the first Savage game in which the simple goal is to destroy the enemy's main base. A simple goal however, does not mean simple execution and it will be up to the players to decide what strategy to employ to meet their end goal.
No Jacket Required
S2 Games is also assuming a bit of a risk by taking the self-publishing route with Savage 2. The game will only be offered via digital distribution so don't go looking at your local games store for this one. The developer/publisher feels that by eliminating the middle-man they can create a high-quality title and pass the savings on to gamers. It seems like an appropriate model for a game that is online-only but consumers haven't typically fully embraced digital distribution channels and it will be interesting to see how successful this will be.
The first Savage game was considered to be somewhat difficult to initially wrap your hands around and offered an interface that could definitely have been improved upon. Savage 2 looks to address those complaints while expanding upon the scope, functionality and polish of the game. Sporting better graphics, more interesting maps, snap casting and a more fluid melee system, Savage 2 may truly deliver a fully online sport at a budget price.
