Massive Assault Network Preview

When Massive Assault was released last fall, it provided gamers with an excellent formula of addicting and easy-to-learn gameplay.  Now, several months later, Wargaming.net is updating the game, with the release of Massive Assault Network.  We at GameZone had the opportunity to take a look at the recently closed beta test, and the results were pretty impressive.  While the fundamental gameplay is the same and the graphics and sound has been largely left untouched, Massive Assault Network gives gamers a deeper online experience with improved server abilities and options.

For those unfamiliar with the original Massive Assault, it offered addicting gameplay in the form of futuristic turn-based strategy.  Much attention was paid to the positioning of units and their specific abilities, meaning that one wrong move could spell disaster and turn the tides of a match.  This gave the game a bit of a board game feel, kind of like a variation on chess.  For the most part, Massive Assault Network works with the same gameplay, except on a much larger scale.

Massive Assault Network will use a special dedicated server that will only connect a player to the server if they have either made a turn or are in the process of looking for one, meaning that matches between two-players could go on for a very long time, which each of them making a move whenever they feel that they are ready. Even though they can play several games concurrently, Wargaming.net anticipates that players will finish about a dozen games per month.

Also among the additions to the game are a chat system, which allows players to converse even during matches and a forum where gamers can discuss any aspect of the game they wish.

The graphics in Massive Assault Network have been pretty much unchanged, and that’s not at all a bad thing.  The units are well rendered and the cloud and explosion effects are great.  The environments look very nice and possess a lot of detail.  All in all, the solid graphical presentation from the original Massive Assault is still here and looks great.

The sound in Massive Assault Network is also pretty much the same as it was in the original game.  The music is a mix of techno and marches, appropriate for the theme of futuristic war and conquest.  The sound effects are good, with laser beams and explosions occurring crisply and without distortion.  There is some voice acting, as a female narrator will provide commentary on the action as it happens on screen.

Massive Assault Network will expand on the original game by enhancing the multiplayer aspect and giving gamers an updateable gameplay experience while maintaining the great gameplay that made Massive Assault so fun in the first place.  While the new focus on multiplayer isn’t free (the game will now require a monthly payment), Wargaming.net promises that the game will be constantly updated with new maps and features, making the experience a worthwhile one for fans of Massive Assault.

Massive Assault Network is scheduled for release on April 12, 2004.