They say no one expects the spanish inquisition... well, no one expects the amount of fun you can have with this game.
When you've been playing it for a while, you get to KNOW in what way its long development time has affected the game we have on our hands now. The balance, the gameplay, it's all perfect. Read on to find out why...
Gameplay
Team Fortress 2 (TF2 from now on) is a deathmatch class-based online multiplayer game. Two teams, RED and BLU, battle it out in different maps with different objectives, such as stealing a briefcase (referred to as intelligence) from the enemy, capture control points on different parts of the map, or get hold of the entire map zone by zone.
Below a seemingly simplistic and depthless gameplay lies what makes this game so special: that the game is universal. In short terms, everybody with a bit of knowing of the classes and maps can play the game and rack up some kills. Everybody has a purpose.
Let's compare TF2 to Counter-Strike: Source for a moment. CS:S is all about aim and who notices who first, and where. But those things aren't everything in TF2. That's what makes the game fun for everybody, that everybody has a purpose.
The maps and classes are mostly perfectly balanced. Except for a few issues with the soldier, the game seems no better with one class than with another depending on your skill with it.
The game, by default, and at the time of writing this review, has 6 maps: ctf_2fort, cp_well/ctf_well, tc_hydro, cp_gravelpit, cp_dustbowl and cp_granary. More are expected to come, the only ones which we have details of is Badlands, a remake from a Team Fortress Classic map.
There are 9 classes in TF2:
Offense:
Scout
Armed with a underlevel shotgun, a pistol, a baseball bat, his double jumping ability and a tremendous speed, the Scout is perfect for weakening targets, "en masse" assaults, and overall, capturing points and intelligence once the enemy isn't focusing on defending them.
Soldier
The Soldier is a good all-around class, armed with a rocket launcher, a shotgun, and an entrenching tool. He's the slowest class after the Heavy, but can also take quite a bit of damage. He's ideal to take out sentry guns with little cover from long range and as a defending force in key choke points.
Pyro
A rather unusual class, the Pyro is in theory the most powerful class for close range fighting. He's armed with a deadly flamethrower, a shotgun and a fire axe. He has average armor and good running speed. A bunch of pyros are deadly in most situations, although one by himself can be very disruptive agaisnt weak classes and bad placed sentries.
Defensive:
Demoman
Armed with a timed grenade launcher, a sticky bomb gun, an empty bottle of whisky and a funny intoxicated scotish accent, the Demoman makes the most versatile class in the game, better suited for defense thanks to the sticky bomb launcher, but also deadly in offensive if used right. The demoman is a killer class in tight spaces, like corridors and sewers.
Heavy
The tank class of the game. The Heavy is the slowest class in the game, but also the one who can absorb the most damage before dieing. The Heavy's minigun is a deadly weapon when holding enemies off a big radius and blocking their advance. He's also armed with a shotgun and his fists for melee.
Engineer
One of the most unique classes, the Engineer has light armour and below average running speed, and is armed only with a shotgun, a pistol, a wrench and a building tool. He goes around those shortcomes by his ability to build sentry guns, dispensers and one-way teleporters using Metal he can obtain from ammo caches, weapons lying on the floor or other dispensers.
Support:
Sniper
The one and only long range killer machine. The sniper is armed with a sniper rifle, a submachinegun and a machete. His sniper rifle deals a huge amount of damage when fully loaded, and shooting to the head is a 100% chance crit. He's the only class, along the Pyro and the Soldier, able to take out a Heavy + Medic combination alone, and the only one able to do so without sustaining any damage at all.
Medic
With one of the lightest armours and the second fastest running speed of all the classes, the Medic is pretty much useless when it comes to offensive. However, things can turn different when he uses the Medigun to heal team mates. The Medigun can boost up a team mate's HP up to 150% if used continuously.
The Medigun builds up an "Ubercharge" while healing team mates. The Ubercharge, when activated, turns the Medic and his healed team mate invincible for 10 seconds as long as the Medigun is used on the target.
The Medic's HP regenerates slowly over time.
Spy
The Spy is the hardest class to master in the game and the most unique. The Spy has very light armour and fast running speed, and is armed with a powerful revolver, a butterfly knife, Electrosappers, a Disguise Kit and a cloaking device.
The Spy has the unique ability to disguise as any class from either team using his Disguise Kit. This allows him to sneak past the enemy front and into their backlines. Once there, he can destroy anything the engineers can build using his Electrosapper (as long as it's not deattached with 2 wrench whacks). His butterfly knife is an instant kill weapon if it hits at the back, sides or head of the enemy (from above). However, using any weapon but the electrosapper will make his disguise dissappear and be vulnerable to enemies and sentries.
His Cloaking Device allows him to infiltrate the enemy's backlines without suspect.
Graphics
TF2's graphics are unique among the gaming industry. Its style is a combination of some of Pixar's movies and cel-shading techniques, although it was influenced mostly by actual drawn cartoons, and not computer generated stuff.
TF2 runs smoothly with a pretty good level of detail on mid-end computers. Low-end computers will not be able to enjoy the graphics at their best, but the smooth gameplay does persist.
One of the most unique features of TF2 is the artistic direction. The humouristic approach of it is further empowered by the classes' animations, each of them matching their respective class. For example, the Scout's are fast and monotone, while the Soldier's are clumsy and slow.
Facial expressions and voices add to this value.
Sound
Normally, sound isn't emphasized on in online multiplayer games. But, once again, TF2 is an exception. Very high quality and variated sounds for everything, from weapons shooting, to footsteps depending on the material, to voices, bullet impacts, explosions, gibs, miscellaneous special effects, everything.
One remarkable thing about the general sond overall is the emphasis put on making each of them characteristic. They're all purposedly made so they are all recognizable between more generic, overheard sounds.
Replayability
Well, it's an online multiplayer game... there's no replayability in its main sense. You'll find yourself playing for pure addiction and fun.
The 6 default maps will end up being dull, but custom maps easily solve this, and there are some so good in quality and balance that are up there with the defaults, such as cp_castle. Some others try to bring on different and fun ideas, such as cp_meleebarn.
Overall
TF2 is one of the best online games, if not the best, you'll ever play. Balance is perfect, and you just need a computer, internet connection and the game to play and have fun.
The Best:
-Simply fun.
-Pick up and play, easy for everybody.
-The variety of classes and game styles for each of them.
-Good graphics and cartoony atmosphere.
-The sounds and voices.
-It's funny.
The Worst:
-Source engine means unstability, although the revamped Source 2007 is far more stable than before.
-Only 6 official maps get boring, but more are coming, plus, custom maps.
-Some classes need some tweaking to achieve the perfect balance.
-Overshadowed by other games from popular sagas released recently, such as Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4, attracting people away from TF2.
Misc. Notes:
Buy it! You won't regret it.
Learning Curve: Takes a second
Gameplay:
Graphics:
Replay Value:
Fun Factor:
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